what is it like being a buddhist?

Question

i was wondering if some buddhists out there could share with me what your day to day activities are relating to buddhism.what would i have to do to practice buddhism everyday and become a buddhist.ive read books, practice meditation and have a good grasp on some concepts but there are no places for me to go nearby.i would like to go to a temple or just a meeting place for buddhist but none r close to me.i basically want to know how to become a buddhist myself and how i should incorporate the ideas into my daily life through some of your examples.so how would a guy wanting to become involved in this religion actually become an involved buddhist that is true to the teachings and be sure that im doing the right things in practice or otherwise to become enlightened?i gotta tell ya,i look at this life and everything people tell me to work for and what is important just doesnt do it for me.only enlightenment seems to be the way to happiness to me.

Answer 1

There will be a peace inside that is as vast as an ocean.
Five minutes of that is worth a lifetime of effort.
See the amusing article: http://www.wildmind.org/background/symptoms
Below is a message from Soyen Shaku
who brought Zen Buddhism to the West:

"In the morning before dressing, light incense and meditate. Retire at a regular hour. Partake of food at regular intervals. Eat with moderation and never to the point of satisfaction. Receive a guest with the same attitude you have when alone. When alone, maintain the same attitude you have in receiving guests. Watch what you say, and whatever you say, practice it. When an opportunity comes do not let
it pass by, yet always think twice before acting. Do not regret the past. Look to the future. Have the fearless attitude of a hero and the loving heart of a child. Upon retiring, sleep as if you had entered your last sleep. Upon awakening, leave your bed behind you instantly as if you had cast away a pair of old shoes."

Answer 2

I am a long-time practitioner. One of THE most beneficial things you might do is arrange your life such that you can take a week some day to go to an intensive meditation retreat. I personally have graduate degrees in both religious studies and psychology, and just NOTHING has taught me more about the mind and about human spirituality than intensive retreats have done.

Meanwhile, it sounds like you are already doing useful things, in reading and being sincerely interested in finding ways to be mindful in your everyday activities. Such mindfulness, conjoined with being kind towards yourself and others in your world, is the foundation of the whole tradition.

So practice and study come first. Getting to know some communities and practice centers can then be a next step, and that will give you some sense of whether one style of Buddhism or a particular Buddhist group really feels like a useful and healthy fit for you and will allow you to have some sense if you want to take additional formal steps to join a sangha.

And then, after that, comes practice and study!

A healthy teaching tradition and good, supportive friends and institutions to practice with can be tremendously beneficial. But of course it's really and truly the experience that matters, much more than the labels we give ourselves,
.

Answer 3

Hi! I am just a buddhism student, but I can tell you that the main effect Buddhism has brought into my life is try to being aware of what I am doing. I try not to act on auto-pilot, but to "be" on the moment.
I try to cultivate compassion for my fellow human beigns, starting with my husband!
Aside from that, I do a small offering ritual in the morning and evening (tibetan style) and I meditate. I've stopped killing bugs at home, I just catch them and send them outside, and I am seriously considering vegetarianism, but that is going to be a long road!
Check this webside for hints on modern, western style monastic life of a tibetan buddhism abbey:
http://www.sravastiabbey.org/
Hope this helps!

Answer 4

There are many Buddhist websites--start with this one--then explore others!
http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/beliefs.htm

Answer 5

It's kind of like being blind, but in an honest and peaceful way.

Answer 6

Vinslave could help you with this one.