by PorkChop » Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:57 pm
I'm still new at this too and not real sure I'm doing anything "right".
When it comes to stuff like the precepts & 8 fold path; I just do my best and hope for the best, even though some of them are somewhat problematic (still not sure on Right Action & Right Livelihood).
I've gone through a refuge & Bodhisattva vow ceremony - but the understanding for that ceremony was that I would follow the Bodhisattva vows for that day.
Plan to take householder precepts/vows for life at some point in the future and Bodhisattva vows if my situation ever allows for it.
In the mean time, I read as much as I can and I keep trying to shape my life & my habits to be more accommodating to the path.
I use the Daily Prayers book from the FPMT.org website.
It's like $1 to download.
Takes me like 5 min to read through in the morning.
The only other stuff I try to do daily includes:
-maintain a shrine with the 7 offerings (water to wash, water to drink, flowers, light, perfumed water, pure food, music)
-9 prostrations every morning: 3 Jewels x 3 times.
--note: will go to 12 prostrations if/when I find a root guru. (technically Geshe Soepa became one of my gurus during the ceremony described above, but we've never actually talked).
-chant medicine buddha mantra for 1 mala (108 times) - may want to find one that suits you & your goals
-chant "om ahbira kay tsara hum" 7 times any time I eat meat
-meditate (currently going through fpmt's Meditation 101 online)
I don't always have a whole lot of luck, but I do what I can.