i am studying buddhism?

Question

i am african american and am interested in buddhism.. i am looking for like a church or temple to go and study and learn basically..i am trying to find out how to become a buddist or if i even can but seeing that i am black and not asian decent i am running into barriers..any suggestions on where to start any websites...again i am african american and i live in atlanta ga..i understand there are different versions of the religion and am not sure which route to go...

Answer 1

This website will give you all the information you need. A personal observation, most westerners (black or white) tend to prefer the "Zen" school of Buddhism.

http://www.aszc.org/groups.html

Answer 2

What difficulties are you having? Being buddhist is about overcoming what your brain "identifies" as your "difficulties." Maybe this is a test? Your soul knows best... OM Shanti!

I honestly think, being that you live in atlanta and there is a rather large black community there (censes wise) it's not like people are going to question your loyalty. THere must be SOME other African American buddhists around SOMEWHERE!

Put up a message board on college campus, in grocery stores inviting other african americans to join you in studies and learn together. There is more security in numbers (for some stupid reason?) Personally I prefer my own company and would and HAVE marched into temples and asked for explinations and descriptions and lessons.

"Curiosity kills the cat but satisfaction brings him back!"

If I were you I'd just march in and ask someone to explain. Problem is, unless you speak their language, communication is often harder than they are willing to spend the time with, in translation. They are usually busy little bee's in temples.

Im SURE that is the barrier you are experiencing. Language is a great hobby... Learn Thai or chinese or mandarin... Personal evolution is never an easy venture... Otherwise no one would ever commit themselves to it.

Often times I find that when trying to attempt to experience or share in another persons religious beliefs you sometimes go in thinking that these people have all the answers and when they don't readily offer them up to you, you can feel like they have some secret they just are not sharing. Buddhist monks are not perfect and neither are baptists or christians or Jews or any religious belief. Religion hopping is not the answer. Most people are what they are because it is passed down to them from families. It's not like they have the secrets to the universe all sewn up and hidden in the hems of their robes. They are human beings on a journey... Maybe your "difficulties" lie in your inability to accept that fact?

http://www.aszc.org/groups.html

Answer 3

I'm a student of Zen Buddhism. I take some time to study what other schools have to say, but concentrate on my main school of choice. I've been studying it for about five years. I've taken a more serious commitment this year starting in January to get to know the major texts, the history and the theory of the doctrine better and to practice more regularly. I've begun to scratch the surface ;)

Answer 4

Thich Nhat Hahn has some of the easiest to understand books on Buddhism available in English. I highly recommend his "Daily Practice" book - or any of them really.
Here's a website which tells you which types of Buddhism you might want to avoid: http://web.archive.org/web/20040625032715/http://www.geocities.com/athens/ithaca/4886/cults.htm

Answer 5

http://www.buddhanet.net/worlddir.htm <<< check out on a monastry or temple near you.

http://www.buddhanet.net/ <<< reliable buddhist website

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/pathmaps.htm <<< basic buddhist teachings

If for whatever reason Buddhism appeals to you, obviously a bit of reading cannot do any harm. You could try a few introductory books from any tradition to get a closer idea of what Buddhism can mean for you.
- Try not to get confused with the various traditions: just go for what feels right and ideally do a course. Amazingly, it seems to me that at least 90% of the people stick to the tradition they started in - somehow karma seems to be at work there... Anyway, the biggest differences between the Buddhist traditions are usually more on the surface than in the ideas behind the appearances. Although for example in Zen you will find very little ritual etc., and in Tibetan Buddhism you may be overwhelmed by it, at the core of the practice are the same ideas, just different methods.
- Once you decide to get involved with a specific tradition, make sure you are not dealing with a controversial/dubious teacher or school; although someone may wear Buddhist robes or calls him/herself a lama, guru or even Acharya, that does not make him or her a saint.... There are unfortunately a fair amount of questionable 'Buddhist' teachers and centers around the world.
(example: lu sheng-yen (or, sheng-yen lu) of 'true buddha school)
- Try to be critical at everything you see and hear, but do not be afraid to open yourself up, and give new ideas the chance to settle in; in other words, avoid accepting things before you have taken time to 'sit on it' (meditate), and also avoid rejecting things before you 'sat on them'. Especially if we grew up in a different religious tradition, our prejudices often go deeper than we think - be aware of your own mind.

http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/sects.htm <<< types of buddhism
http://www.serve.com/~cmtan/buddhism/Lighter/index.html <<< lighter side of buddhism
http://www.serve.com/~cmtan/buddhism/Lighter/index.html <<< daily buddhism
http://www.sutramanga.com/e_index.html <<< buddhism comics (manga)
http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/ <<< the buddhist community, e-sangha

Answer 6

Suggest you go to a religion that is more tolerant of the fact you're black...If you have discomfort with Buddism because of that than you'll never really fit yourself in with them...Check out the Uncommon Denomination they have a message that applies to all people at WWW.UUA.ORG! PEACE!

Answer 7

doesnt really matter what race your on. you can be in your own religion plus buddhism. buddhism is more of a relaxer. it just gets you zen...or you can be in it fully.....your choice. im catholic but i got a little buddhism in me....i belive there is such thing as karma and stuff like that. oh by the way im hispanic if you havent noticed. i still belive in God though.

Answer 8

i am not a buddhist, but i have practiced meditation and stayed in meditation camp in Nepal for more than 2 weeks. they teach the best of living through meditation (buddism way of meditation). that period stays with me as a golden moments of my life.

Buddhism teaches how to live with inner peace.. Practice Meditation.
Everyone needs inner peace.Buddhism don't recognize you from race or color or gender. it is for all living beings.
here is a site that will help to learn buddhism. A painting of meditating buddha.
http://kolpa.iofferstores.com/bi/kolpa--Handmade-Batik-Painting-from-Nepal-Buddha--1.1-10.21-12845704

Peace to all.

Answer 9

Call various martial arts shools in your area. They're usually connected or aware of Buddhist temples.

Answer 10

All religion is a waste of time.