[ 3 / biz / cgl / ck / diy / fa / ic / jp / lit / sci / vr / vt ] [ index / top / reports ] [ become a patron ] [ status ]
2023-11: Warosu is now out of extended maintenance.

/lit/ - Literature

View post   
File: 3.67 MB, 2712x5224, Buddhism.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
19311151 No.19311151 [Reply] [Original]

2 Questions:
1. how do i approach making a proper study of Buddhism?
i have read the MMK, some other Nagarjuna texts, what the buddha taught, in the Buddha's words, 2 meditation books and the Dhammapada and Udana with commentary/stories

But i feel like i'm just randomly scatter gunning and i also feel like i'm wasting my time if i dont read them in pali/sanskrit.

2. how do i properly start practicing it?
i meditate for 30 to 60 minutes a day i bow before the buddha and occasionalyl do the Buddha puja recitation. i keep the 5 silas.
i tried to attend a buddhist meditation class but they said it's all gone online and they're not allowing anyone into the Vihara because of 'vid.
The temples near me are:
1. some weird western/tibetan buddhist cult temple
2. a proper vihara but with 0 information nd monks who do not appear to speak english
3. some sri lankan commuity temple

>> No.19311168

>>19311151
id honestly say lit is not the place to get advice on how to study/practice buddhism.

the tibetan buddhist temple might weird you out but it seems like the best place to get advice but it depends what your seeking out of your practice. I'd say focus on meditation practice and narrow down what your studying/reading. It might confuse you more, and the books youve read so far are really good anyways.

going over what the buddha taught and some mahayana sutras again might be good. Look into Sheng yen, he was a great Chan Buddhist teacher/author who focused alot of on Traditional Buddhist practice and meditaiton.

>> No.19311183

>>19311151
>>19311168
I was also going to say if you really want to take the ritual components seriously, take the three refugees in a temple ceremony as well as renewing your precepts/vows monthly or whenever they do it at your temple of choice.

>> No.19311317

>>19311151
Well what is a "proper study" to you? There's no "Buddhism" among practitioners and scholars, they are invariably attached to some school, not a genericized survey of the religion. So if you've got 'the basics' you should start looking into different sects and their literature to understand how they each interpret things.

>> No.19311355

>>19311151
I think it's time to stop being a little bitch boi and actually learn Sanskrit (I know he preached in Pali - Sanskrit first, then Pali will be much easier).

>> No.19311869

>>19311151
Do you even a deep existential question?

>> No.19312054

>>19311151
If you liked the MMK, get Rob Burbea's book Seeing That Frees. It's full of emptiness practices. No other book has affected me as much.

If you want a shorter meditation guide, Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu's With Each and Every Breath is top tier.

>> No.19312106

>>19311151

Former Buddhist monk here

Alan Watts was right - adopting Buddhism as a westerner is adopting a sickness because you want to take some medicine

>> No.19312157

>>19312106
then what do

>> No.19312180

>>19312157
Read the Bible and become Christian

>> No.19312462

>>19311151
Read 'Emptiness Appraised' by David Burton

>> No.19313210

>>19312106
I'm not a w*sterner i just live in a w*stern country.
>>19312180
shannot be doing this
>>19312054
have read Thanissaro Bhikku. ill check out that other book
>>19311317
>>19311355
Theravada though i agree 'skrit is more useful than 'krit
>>19311183
this is what i actually want to do but the viharas are turning people away

>> No.19313259

>>19312106
Which monastery and why former?

>> No.19313458

>>19311151
I've been trying to read none of that stuff. I don't want to be a philosopher I just want to end dukkha. It sounds like it's more trouble than it's worth for you. The practicing monks in Sri Lanka try to not read or write.

>> No.19313489

>>19311151
I’m sorry, I can’t help you, since I haven’t undergone a proper study of Buddhism myself.
I’ve only read The Mind Illuminated and practice it’s Samatha meditation daily. I’m also reading “Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha”. From what I’ve learned from experience so far I’d say Practice > Theoretical knowledge any day. The Buddha didn’t read books, he just practiced. Your books should inform your practice.

Opinions in this thread on Daniel Ingram?

>>19312106
I’ve been thinking about this lately. Buddhism is inherently life-denying and it seems the only reason it wasn’t and isn’t a suicide cult is because of the belief of a bad rebirth upon suicide.
I still think a meditation practice can have massive mental benefits but since Buddhism seems to have the best meditation technology I can’t help but wonder if it is actually possible to separate the message from the medium.

>> No.19313492

>>19313489
A correction:
>The Buddha didn’t read books, he just practiced.
He did of course have teacher “walking books” if you will. I still stand by my point though.

>> No.19313503
File: 84 KB, 900x1200, main-image.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
19313503

>>19311151
>i bow before the buddha
If you envision a buddha, a dharma, or a bodhisattva
and conceive respect for them
you relegate yourself to the realm of mortals
if you seek direct understanding
don't hold on to any appearance whatsoever and you'll succeed