Giving Buddhism another look!

[LadyAnn]

Hello all, I found this forum while poking around for good Buddhism sites. I started looking into Buddhism in my late teens (more books than websites, hah!). I wasn't raised with a specific religious conviction. My parents weren't atheist, they had the Christian idea of God but weren't into 'practicing'. For awhile, I converted to Catholicism, but I've felt like a fish out of water in that community. I have a strong faith, but in the folks surrounding? Not so much. It seems to focus entirely on raising families, which I am not doing at the moment: I don't want to be a nun or married, so the general opinion is that I'll never live up to my potential. Inspiring! There are things I like about that faith, and others... well, not so much. I hear a whole lotta preaching but not so much practicing. I don't think it's a fit or home for me, as much as they'll try and convince me otherwise. After trying other parishes with the same result, I think it's about time I said, "So long, and thanks for all the fish".

So I'm giving Buddhism another, harder look. I dug up all my old books (yup, I kept many of them!) and I'm inquiring with a local Sangha. I'm sure I'll find this site a great resource as well!

[mint]

Hello,

Welcome to the forum.

Your journey sounds similar to mine, and probably many others. My recommendation is to start where you are and then proceed accordingly. ("Start Where You Are" is also the name of a fabulous book by Pema Chodron.) If you have questions, ask. There's also a nice selection of current discussions concerning karma and rebirth if that's something you're curious about.

Whatever you do in life, remember the words of the late Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche: "You are the path itself."

[edearl]

As you probably know, Buddhism, a complex philosophy and faith, results from it existing for about two and a half millennium and its philosophy existed beside several eastern religions of India, China, Tibet, Japan, and others. The world has shrunk, and western ideas, including science, western philosophy, and Christianity will, no doubt, affect Buddhism in as yet unknown ways. His Holiness the Dali Lama said, "My confidence in venturing into science lies in my basic belief that as in science so in Buddhism, understnading the nature of reality is pursued by means of critical investigation: ..." Nonetheless, traditionalists resist new ideas. This forum has people involved with a several of Buddhist schools, and who include modern scientific ideas and others who are traditional. Some have practiced Buddhism for quite some time and others, like me, are new to it. They are, IMO, an interesting group of good people.

Welcome

[LadyAnn]

Hello,

Welcome to the forum.

Your journey sounds similar to mine, and probably many others. My recommendation is to start where you are and then proceed accordingly. ("Start Where You Are" is also the name of a fabulous book by Pema Chodron.) If you have questions, ask. There's also a nice selection of current discussions concerning karma and rebirth if that's something you're curious about.

Whatever you do in life, remember the words of the late Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche: "You are the path itself."

Hah! I'm a step ahead of you. I picked up that book from the bookstore and started reading last week.

[Thug4lyfe]

Welcome homeboy! Some of the Catholic practices are actually rather compatible with Buddhsim. Like devotional chanting and repentance. So depend on what tradition you go with, you may find your earlier practices quite helpful!

[Tara]

Hi LadyAnn,

Welcome to Dharma Wheel.

Regards,