i would like to study buddhism. recommendations?

Answer 1

There are two good places to start in the Internet:

http://www.buddhanet.net/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhuddism

Buddhanet can help you find temples and groups near where you live. Wikipedia gives an overview of Buddhism and provides many informative links on the subject.

Good Luck!

Oh, and don't be upset by any negative comments you get here, like the first two. "Don't study it" is an un-American sentiment. Those of us who are sane and Patriotic believe in freedom of religion. You have our support. Go for it!

Answer 2

I propose the solutions that Amituo Fo provided. there is no alternative for interpreting with an exact instructor from a living custom of enlightenment. Books that I even have discovered efficient have been, Zen techniques, Beginer's techniques and What the Buddha Taught by making use of W. Rahula. there are various others from the Tibetan traditions which you will additionally get exhilaration from interpreting including books by making use of the Dali Lama, H.E Tsogyal or Thartang Tulku. Yours in the Dharma - G. Tzinberg start up with looking a ordained monastic instructor. they provides you with a sturdy beginning factor and a competent source for counsel. you could study the meaning of the three Refuges, study Buddha Sakyamuni's life, study the fundamentals of what he taught. once you comprehend it ask the ordained monastic for shelter ceremony. it is going to placed you firmly on the course. Then study a thank you to be Buddhist, a thank you to coach, and what facilitates you spiritually. Amituo Fo Bhiksuni Ven. Hong Yang

Answer 3

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/dhamma.htm

These Quotes are very inspiring. You should read the 4 Noble truths and eightfold path, they can be found online through a search. We have no 'Holy Book", although the Tibetan Book of the Dead is a good read. Good luck. Many texts are available.

Answer 4

Buddhism teaches about the nature of reality and the means of transcending human suffering. Buddha encouraged people to follow a path of balance rather than extremism. He called this "The Middle Path", a path between a worldly life and extremes of self-denial.

The three characteristics of existence taught by the Buddha are impermanence, suffering and impersonality. Those who realise the truth of these three facts of existence will be able to overcome suffering because their minds are freed from delusions of permanence, pleasure and the self.

The Buddha preached Four Noble Truths:

There is disappointment and suffering in life;

Suffering is a result of one's desires for pleasure, power, and continued existence;

To stop disappointment and suffering one must curb desire; and

The way to curb desire and thus suffering is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path - right views, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right awareness, and right concentration.

To attain Nirvana (salvation or blowing out of the flame of desire, the negation of suffering) it was necessary to realise the truth of Anatman (no eternal self) and Pratitya-Samutpada (the law of dependent origination).

Buddhists venerate and show their appreciation for the three gems - Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha .


The Theravada canon of sacred scriptures consists of the Tipitaka (The Three Baskets), all written in the Pali language, and includes the Vinaya Pitaka (Basket of Discipline), the Sutta Pitaka (Basket of Discourses), and Abhidhamma Pitaka (Basket of Scholasticism).


It is commonly believed that Buddhism involves long hours of meditation and is devoid of elaborative pujas (prayers) and ceremonies associated with prayer-offerings. People also think that Gautam Buddha was against an organised religion and propounded Buddhism minus the offerings and ceremonies to undermine the priestly class who exploited the common masses with religious superstitions.

But the fact is Buddhism has elaborate ceremonial prayer offerings, especially its Mahayana and Vajrayana forms. Before investigating the principles and content of pujas , it would be appropriate to understand and attempt at defining what constitutes the act of puja. Broadly speaking, puja or prayer offering is categorised as a form of devotion and offering to God, higher power or source leading to a higher spiritual plane, which can be generally termed as enlightenment.

It also involves invoking the enlightened beings like the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, yodams or tutelary deities, cho-kyongs or dharma protectors, dakas and dakhinis or celestial beings, nagas or wisdom beings and other dharmapalas or guardians of the precious wisdom.

The puja begins with invoking a sangha as mentioned above. This is followed by the three prostrations performed by the sadhaka or dharma student. The three prostrations signify the three gates or three aggregates,which are the body, the speech and the mind. At an esoteric level they also signify the identification of the student with the three bodies of the Buddha: Dharmakaya, the sambhogakaya and the nirmanakaya .

These prostrations are also known as the five point prostrations in which five parts of a student's body touch the ground - the two palms, the two knees and the forehead. Again, an explanation at the esoteric level suggests the affinity of the five points to the five skandhas or five elements of earth, water, fire air and space, the five wisdoms emanating from the five Buddha families, the five poisons and the five Buddha energies.

Therefore, through the act of prostration the student has to invoke all these considerations and then surrender himself to Buddhas of the three times (past, present, and future) and ten directions. Even the folded hands in supplication which prostrating possesses deeper symbolism. The ten fingers touching each other signify the ten directions. The right hand stands for the male, active, yang energy while the left hand stands for the female, receptive, yin energy. Together they give rise to the Buddha's enlightening activity of upayakaushalya in which both wisdom and bliss are harmoniously blended for the benefit and ultimate enlightenment of all other sentient beings.

These offerings to the deities and the three Jewels can be followed by the Bodhisattva vows, the 100-syllable Vajrasattva mantra, mandala offerings, and the seven-line prayer of Guru Rinpoche and mon-lam prayers . Subsequent to this the devotee or supplicant can practice meditation on shunyata or emptiness. The prayers are concluded by rejoicing in the good deed and merit of others, requesting the Buddhas to teach and not enter in parinirvana. Dedications of the merit accumulated by us as a result of these prayers are then dedicated to all sentient beings.

Answer 5

two great books on buddhism

_Awakening to the Sacred_ by Lama Surya Das (see below)

http://www.amazon.com/Awakening-Sacred-Creating-Personal-Spiritual/dp/0767902750/sr=1-1/qid=1157772014/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-8951356-2450406?ie=UTF8&s=books

and _Awakening the Buddha Within_ by same author (see below)

http://www.amazon.com/Awakening-Buddha-Within-Tibetan-Western/dp/0767901576/ref=pd_sim_dbs_b_1/002-8951356-2450406?ie=UTF8

Answer 6

whatever floats your boat. buddhism teaches you to find peace within yourself. so, sure, go for it.

Answer 7

Why? what will it profit your soul?

A religion with no God, not even a false one.

Answer 8

Yes. Satan should be able to tell you anything you need to know about it.

Answer 9

yeah ...richard gere.

Answer 10

dont study it..