Any suggestions for info on Buddhism?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2005
Any suggestions for info on Buddhism?
12
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 9:32pm
Hi.  i've never posted on this board.  Actually, i just found it.  Anyway, long story short:  i'm on my personal spiritual journey.  I was raised Catholic but I become more and more discouraged with the Catholic church as time goes by.  I've been doing a lot of reading on Buddhism and I am loving what I am reading.  I'm interested in learning as much as possible about it and the different "types".  Does anyone have any suggestions on books, etc?  Thank you so much.



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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 04-30-2006 - 7:57pm

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2005
Mon, 05-01-2006 - 6:49pm
Thanks so much for the welcome!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2004
Mon, 05-01-2006 - 7:36pm

I typed in Buddhism in the "find messages about" above and found many older messages that may be of interest to you.


welcome,


nancy

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Tue, 05-02-2006 - 1:43pm

Hi, Beth and welcome to F&S!


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-2004
Tue, 05-02-2006 - 6:31pm

The way that I found books on Buddhism, was to go to the library and type in Buddhism.
Here are some of the books that I have found interesting.

1 What the Buddha taught
2 Daily Wisdom 365 Buddhist Inspirations
3 Mindfulness In Plain English
4 Meditation made easy
5 Transforming Problems into Happiness
6 ultimate Healing The power of Compassion
7 Imagine all the People

You may find others that you may like better. If I think of any other ones I will let you know.

Good Luck and remember:

The Key during both life and death is to recognize illusions as illusions, projections as projections, and fantasies as fantasies. In this way we become free.

Lama Thubten Yeshe Introduction to Tantra (another good Book)

Sophie

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2005
Wed, 05-03-2006 - 6:29pm
Thanks everyone!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-04-2006
Thu, 05-04-2006 - 1:25pm

Hello, I just happened to find your question. I am a Zen Buddhist priest and mother and the author of a soon to be published book called "Momma Zen: Walking the Crooked Path of Motherhood." My experience of motherhood is that it IS a spiritual path and completely affirms everything I have come to appreciate about Buddhism. The Buddha taught that all truth is revealed in this very moment, and the best way to awaken to this moment is to practice meditation. I know! How do you find the time or energy?! It is best not to approach your search philosophically, as in looking for a new way to think or believe, but rather to wake up and take care of what is in front of you. Just asking the question is the most important part. You can check more out at www.mommazen.com or at the library, or by finding a Zen Center and teacher near you. See what you find out for yourself and take good care.

Karen Maezen Miller

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2002
Thu, 05-04-2006 - 5:24pm

Hello Hannah and Welcome,

I just recently started perusing around here myself since I am starting up my spiritual journey again after taking a hiatus. I'm a former Catholic as well and have turned to Buddhism to develop a meditation practice. I also appreciate the practical life philosophies that it offers. As you explore the tradition, you'll be surprised to see quite a few parallels to Catholicism, including the stories of the Buddha and Christ. They are eerily similar in many ways and for good reason - all of the worlds great religions beg, borrow, and steal from each other.

There are a lot of resources out there that can help you learn more about it, especially ones that cater to Westerners. I highly recommend listening to podcasts on itunes that are taped dharma talks. You can download itunes for free on your computer if you don't currently have it. They really opened up my mind to some of the teachings and how they can be applied in our modern life. Many of them are sans-dogma, which I prefer since that is what I'm trying to get away from in the Christian tradition! Here are the ones I enjoy:

21st Century Buddhism: young, hip, and down-to-earth explanations of the major Buddhist tenants. I think the teacher is of the Shambhala tradition.

A Quiet Mind: short audio clips that cover major principles.

Audio Dharma: a series of one-hour lectures broadcasted from the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. Talks are given by leading Buddhist teachers from both Zen and Vipassana traditions. My absolute favorite is Richard Shankman. There are also come guided meditations available.

Zencast - A mix of music, lectures, and poetry about Buddhism - many of the lectures are copied from the Insight Meditation Center listed above.

All of these podcasts also have corresponding websites with lots more info. I also recommend books by Lama Surya Das and Thich Naht Han, as well as a textbook entitled Introduction to Asian Religions by Bradley Hawkins for some history.

Enjoy and best of luck on your journey.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 05-04-2006 - 10:32pm


Welcome to the board Karen!
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-04-2006
Fri, 05-05-2006 - 12:40am
Sure. Spiritual practice is the pursuit of our true nature, the return to our universal source. No matter how you define that "source," getting there requires that we set aside our small "selves" or ego. In my experience as a mother, this is exactly what we come face to face with every minute. It doesn't sound cozy, but in real life, we are in ego warfare with our children. They almost never do what we want, when we want, how we want! And gradually we learn ways to cope, relax, release and change in order to take care of things. We learn how to be aware, pay attention, give up, get by, get things done and every bit of it requires that we let go of "our way." Over time and with a lot of this kind of practice, we become more natural and at ease, more wise, more intuitive and sensitive, more compassionate. Sure, we still stumble, but we are spiritually evolving, we just don't often give ourselves credit for it!

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