'the root of samsara'

[Wesley1982]

How does a student of Buddhism begin to learn to recognize the 'root of samsara'..?

Hi Wesley. A big thing I want you to consider is that one is only a student of Buddhism when one has a teacher. Books are not a teacher. Dharma forums are not a teacher. Only when you have a real flesh and blood teacher can you then take books and forums as teachers. Books and forums are in NO way a substitute for flesh and blood teachers.
Becoming a student of buddhism isn't about working it out intellectually - it's more the shock of meeting someone in flesh and blood who has worked it out and being inspired by that. At the moment you are constructing Buddhism as knowledge and not really contemplating the meaning. I've noticed you post quite a lot here and I think generally it's good that you ask questions, but if your interest is genuine then you will need to meet and talk with a teacher. This is the key for a genuine understanding to come about. You should ask a teacher what is the root of samsara and you might receive an interesting answer that relates to your circumstances directly.

There's just not a specific teacher available right now unless I move to Dallas,TX and start attending sitting class.

[Andrew108]

Wesley - you don't have to see the teacher every week or every month. Maybe a couple of weeks a year would be good. Best wishes. Andrew

[dharmagoat]

Wesley - you don't have to see the teacher every week or every month. Maybe a couple of weeks a year would be good. Best wishes. Andrew

Having a teacher that you meet regularly is very important if you decide to take up buddhist practice. If at this stage you are simply wanting to ask questions, I expect that it would be straightforward enough to arrange a one-off meeting with a teacher, without being required to become a student first.

[muni]

It is also possible to study on your own and then seek a teacher. This is an advice The Dalai Lama gave. No time is then lost. One book which can possible offer help regarding the root of samsara is "to see yourself how you really are". He there explains about impermanence, dependent origination, emptiness and gives this in a way for contemplation and reflections.

Very nice. Of course there are others as well.

Here it is: http://www.amazon.com/How-See-Yourself- ... 0743290453