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Buddhism? [Spirituality & Religion]

Lately, I've been wanting to explore different religions and forms of spirituality, and I wanted to start with Buddism. Can someone help me out? Are there are any books or any type of material that you would recommend?
Religions fail us every time. I follow no one but Christ, because my faith stems from him, not man. Christian just means follower of Christ, not some religion, which is as He meant it to be.

The determining factor of one's authentic faith relationship with God is not one's denomination, religious practice or performance in Christian disciplines, but rather the presence of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. As it is written, “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. (Rom.8:9)
Become truth
I would start with reading the Herman Hesse novel, Siddhartha. It's just a novel and it's not without embellishment, but it will give you and idea of the background of the man who become the Buddha. Then you can go on to learn what he had to say, and how he saw life. The Veda's, Bhagavad Gita. and Upanishads (Hindu scriptures but relevant. ) are pretty cerebral and might be boring for you, Meditate on becoming truth.
PandaBlossom · 26-30, F
@puck61: Well, I'll definitely try reading them or finding people who know about these writings and talk about it with them, and I will try meditating too. That's another thing on my list that I need to explore. Hmmmm... I guess I better get started ^0^)/~! Thank you fro your recommendations. I really appreciate it.
I think all religion are more or less the same. I believe there is a hidden world - angels, heaven, hell, devil, ghosts etc. I sometimes think humans are humans, we can all be natural psychopaths, but need to be taught to be a good person. I know alot of Caucasian despise Christianity / catholic. And alot of Asians think some Buddhist / monks are corrupted.
@tammy: Long ago, I so surprised to learn that there were Buddhist militants. I always saw the monk who lit himself on fire protesting the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese, as the face of Buddhism. The complete surrender of materialism and every type of lust. The disregard of one's own life for a continued journey towards becoming truth.
SW-User
Buddhism is not a religion, it's a philosophy. They don't do idol worship, they believe in peaceful co-existence. If you want materials, get from buddisht monasteries. Online references are highly corrupted and not authentic.
PandaBlossom · 26-30, F
@ragingfire: Oh, never knew that it's more of a philosophy–Very interesting. *nods* Thank you for sharing. I don't exactly know where I could find one but i'll try.
SW-User
Hmm, I'm a person from western society who was highly influenced by Buddhism as it doesn't revolve around profit, gain, ego, anger or any human emotions. It's about living life to the fullest in meaningful and useful ways. I lived in a monastery for some point of my life and it really changed the way I looked at life. I'm
Back to the western society, but not carried away by it's utter weirdness of gaining profit by sacrificing your self.

Anyway, to start with, start with wiki, if you have no idea what to do, then you'll get some idea. Then deep dive into all the key words and know it's meaning. To start with I'll just give you one reference.

Once a man told Buddha, "I want happiness". Buddha replied, " remove I because it's ego, removed want, because it's desire, then all you'll be left with, is happiness". These are the idea Buddhism spreads. It never says it's greater than anything else, it never claims there's God, it just wants people to follow specific path to attain enlightment. @PandaBlossom:
@PandaBlossom: Don't accept faulty information. There aren't monks who light incense, and leave offerings to statues of Plato and Socrates.
hunkalove · 61-69, M
My two favorite introductory books are Awakening the Buddha Within, by Lama Surya Das, and The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, by Sogyal Rinpoche. They are written with Western readers in mind and are very straightforward and easy to read. Both are Tibetan Buddhism.
PandaBlossom · 26-30, F
@hunkalove: Thank you~! I really appreciate your recommendations too. I'm excited. I have more stuff to read and research \(^0^)/~!
hunkalove · 61-69, M
@PandaBlossom: Thank you! The most basic book of Buddha's teachings is The Dhammapada. You can download an excellent modern translation by Thanissara Bhikku for free.
GlassDog · 41-45, M
I found it very difficult to understand from the texts when I tried to learn. What I'd strong recommend is The Tao of Pooh, and The Te of Piglet. It explains the philosophy of Taoism (inextricably linked with Buddhism). Once you have that grounding, it's much easier to understand things like The Tibetan Book of the Dead.

Be prepared to take some time over it, though. The Buddhist and Taoist way is often at odds with western capitalist thinking. It requires us to rethink some things we think we know (such as more money, more friends, more possessions are a good thing).
PandaBlossom · 26-30, F
@GlassDog: Thank you so much for the recommendations–I'll look into it. Honestly, I'm really excited to learn something new: I want to gain new perspectives on things. Lately, I've been feeling... very lost and clueless? I know that I won't be able to learn and know everything, but i'm hoping learning about different things will help me gain a better outlook.
GlassDog · 41-45, M
@PandaBlossom: It certainly helped me when I was feeling similarly to the way you feel. Almost every day, I try to look at things through the perspective of Buddhism / Taoism, as well as my usual culture. If I'd give you any advice, it really is to take it slowly. The ideas take time to take root and you get so much more from it if you let them.
Im not a Buddhist. But starting from the birth of Buddha will be a good Idea.
PandaBlossom · 26-30, F
@deadman6030: Oh, good idea. Getting some background history would be smart.
@PandaBlossom: ^_^
popmol · 22-25, M
mhh i don't know but after this you need to try the norse religion
popmol · 22-25, M
don't knwo maybe you think you're a very strong girl who doesn't want to want to help a warrior in heaven unless you have an amazing boyfriend.

not sure about that.
what do you mean why? why choose this religion?
PandaBlossom · 26-30, F
@popmol: why wouldn't Ilike it there, and nah, I love helping people ^0^)/~
popmol · 22-25, M
@PandaBlossom: aah its nice you like helping them but its like, mhh they can train entire days and feast and you help make the food if you go as a wife if you go as a warrior you can feast with them too.
or the other heaven for the woman who don't want to fight but are strong .

sorry with all the feminism and people getting offended i never know if its still normal to ask if you as a woman would help a man for being strong.
Johnson212 · 61-69, M
Don't know of one off hand but good luck, every sentient being is capable of attaining enlightenment.
Thanos · 31-35, M
try the buddha and his dharma
pianoplayingsteve · 31-35, M
@PandaBlossom: how about raelianism, tengriism, Taoism? :)
PandaBlossom · 26-30, F
@pianoplayingsteve: Taoism, I've heard of. Raelianism... Tengriism... I'm so, sooooo clueless. Maybe you can help explain them to me? But either way, I'll add them on to the list.
pianoplayingsteve · 31-35, M
@PandaBlossom: shoot me a pm if you like
pianoplayingsteve · 31-35, M
A young person wants to learn about "spirituality" so goes straight for Buddhism. How cliche xD
PandaBlossom · 26-30, F
@pianoplayingsteve: haha, I guess so. It was just something I've been encountering more recently. I've had multiple encounters this past week (my cousin who I haven't seen in forever, a DJ, elementary school teacher, and server) say they were Buddhist, and so it was the first thing that came to mind.

 
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