Any Budhists amoungst us?

[BigonaBianchi]

Does anybody practice?

I'm baffled by all the Jargon and Names etc but the basic principles when put into plain english appeal to me.

What I dont get yet is the need to chant nam yo renge kyo at a gohonzen hour after hour...
what am I missing?

I have a book...I tried to read it but lost the plot as it went all weird with strange sounding names etc..

I went to some meetings and although lovely people much of it just got so deep I drowned.

I guess I need a budhist for beginners class or something...anyway...I just wondered if any on here practice and what their thoughts on it and how it fits into and affects their lives?

...watches thread sink like a stone

 

[ASC1951]

Yes, me. I'm a convinced atheist, so I find the moral and inter-personal principles profoundly appealing. [You can believe in God if you want, but it isn't really relevant to Buddhism.]

There are lots of different branches and not all of them involve chanting - I don't. My practice is simply occasional meditation in a small room set aside for that purpose. I'm sure I could do more, but I do it when I feel that it will benefit me, rather than '17.00, must be time for Evensong'. My own route into it was a series of courses run by my local Friends of the Western Buddhist Order although I don't now take part in any meetings or further courses. I think they have centres in most cities.

Even if you never take it any further, learning the basic meditation techniques is well worth the time and effort.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

..thanks..
well Ive done th echanting thing...in a group of about 20...and it resonates around the hall...very musical almost...but then they tend to give lectures and thats where i lose it...it's way to heavy and deep...and asking questions seems to just generate more deep inner meaning I dont 'get'.

I figured out the ten human states...and the concept of enlightemment (erm I think)..but im not sure really.

I dont really see it as a religion...more of a way to increase my own ability to deal with anything life throws at me...and to help others...and basically be the best person i can be...and achieve what I want..etc

I have friends who follow the lotus sutra.... they all seem to be happy...but clearly have been through all kinds of 'life events' which drew them to practice.

I'm wary that chanting etc might actually keep ones mind focused in the past and on what we are moving on from instead of where we are going...

Lifting our lifestate...thats what I like the sound of...being happy and able to just do things and accept and move on quickly...to be confident and powerful in onesself in the face of change/challenge and adversity even...

I heard people chant for success...like a new house or car...bah ...thats not what it s all about surely...
it's about chanting for a new Bike right?

 

[TVC]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buddhism-Fo...379X/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1359759330&sr=8-9

They really do have one of these books for everything. More seriously, Amazon do seem to have a range of entry level books, though I have no knowledge to make a recommendation.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I also used to pray for a new bike, but then I realised that isn't how God works.

So I nicked one and prayed for forgiveness instead.



Sorry

 

[Flying_Monkey]

My wife and I are both Buddhists, her by culture and upbringing, me by choice. I don't think either of us would say we are particularly good Buddhists. Oh, and neither of us have ever chanted...

BigonaBianchi - if you're mentioning 'nam yo renge kyo', I presume you've been to classes run by Soka Gakkai, which is a very evangelical Japanese sect which appeals to westerners because of its apparent simplicity and salvationist character. I am very suspicious of Soka Gakkai, largely because they (illicitly) run a political party in Japan called New Komeito which has basically kept the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party in government for most of the last thirty years. Personally, I don't see their activities as particularly consistent with Buddhist principles and I would be very careful about thinking that they represent 'Buddhism' in any way.

 

[swee'pea99]

I'm not a Buddhist, but have always found it an intriguing philosophy, and certainly more appealing than any of the deist religions. I still remember reading the excellent Zen in the Art of Archery, 30 years ago, and would highly recommend it as an introduction to at least one take on/aspect of Buddhism. No chanting.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

You could try coordinating the chanting of ''nam yo renge kyo' with your cadence and then pedal hour after hour, I suppose. There can be something rather zen-like about cycling's rhythms anyway.

 

[clarion]

I'm a Buddhist, lay of the Tiep Hien (Interbeing) Order. It's more like Zen. I've never understood the chanters. It doesn't seem to have much relation to any of the rest of Buddhism.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I'm a Buddhist, lay of the Tiep Hien (Interbeing) Order. It's more like Zen.

Nice. The three organized groups I have most interest in are Soto Zen, Insight Meditation and Thich Nhat Hanh's lot. But I'm too disorganized for any one group. I have a lot of time for the late Alan Watts.

I've never understood the chanters. It doesn't seem to have much relation to any of the rest of Buddhism.

They are the Buddhist equivalent of the US Christian right, but thankfully without the guns...

 

[Profpointy]

Does anybody practice?

I'm baffled by all the Jargon and Names etc but the basic principles when put into plain english appeal to me.

What I dont get yet is the need to chant nam yo renge kyo at a gohonzen hour after hour...
what am I missing?

I have a book...I tried to read it but lost the plot as it went all weird with strange sounding names etc..

I went to some meetings and although lovely people much of it just got so deep I drowned.

I guess I need a budhist for beginners class or something...anyway...I just wondered if any on here practice and what their thoughts on it and how it fits into and affects their lives?

...watches thread sink like a stone

I once read a copy of "the teachings of Buddha" which was in my hotel room - japanese owned - left there soemthing akin to th Gideon's bible. Found it very moving, and did make me re-examine my life - though perhaps limited lasting good I confess. Interstingly provision of these books was by a charitable trust set up by the founder of Mitutoyo, who some of you will know to be a supplier of extremely high quality precision engineering instuments.

I remain rather sympathetic to buddhism, though not quite a fellow traveller, and perhaps still see it as slighly nihillistic, but still, unlike nearly all other religions, they don't seem to go around murdering adherants of other faiths !

Anyway look out for the book.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

A friend got.me a book called the Buddha in your.mirror. I'm going to read it. I put on some weight and am starting to see a Buddha in my.mirror