Greetings everyone!

I thought it would be good to have a "introductions" topic in which new members could introduce themselves and tell how and why they became Buddhists or became interested in Buddhism.

I was first exposed to Buddhism, specifically, the Dhammapada, in a college course on religion 11 years ago. The four noble truths had an impact on me then, and I was drawn to the Buddhist tenet of detachment, however, it has only been recently that I decided to devote my life to walking the Buddhist path. Many of the Dalai Lama's books have influenced me along the way. My favorite book by the Dalai Lama, and one I turn to often for wisdom, is "Kindness, Clarity, and Insight." The Dalai Lama has taught me, among many other things, that whether you be a Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jew, Taoist, or whatever, such is secondary to the fact that we are all human beings who naturally want happiness and do not want suffering. As the Dalai Lama says, "There are many different philosophies, but what is of basic importance is compassion, love for others, concern for others' suffering, and reduction of selfishness." I am particularly interested in Buddhist ethics (e.g., five precepts) and Buddhist ontology and wisdom (e.g., emptiness/sunyata, non-self/anatta, impermanence/anicca, and dependent origination/Pratitya-samutpada). Lately, I have been downloading and listening to many Dharma Talks by Gil Fronsdal and guest speakers at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California. I am taking my refuge vows next month at the Rime Buddhist Center, a Tibetan monastery in Kansas City, and I will undertake instruction from the Rime's Lama the following month. Although I already consider myself a Buddhist (for I already practice the eightfold path), the refuge vows, ceremony and instruction will still be very special for me. I am very thankful to be a part of this group and I hope to learn more and contribute what I can.

Peace, Joy, and happy thanksgiving

Jaron Montemayor 

Hi All,

Well, let's see. In the distant past when I was in my twenties there was a social revolution going on. Many of us were interested in Eastern thought and one author introduced Zen to many and that was Alan Watts. He introduced not only a rather mystical version of Buddhism but also the wonderful cultural derivatives such as the Tea ceremony, Bonsai, etc. The Zen of ... and many were using drugs to reach a quasi satori. Also, in Chicago, where I was born there was a considerable Japanese-American community and I took courses at a few of their "temples".

Later, when I became involved in studying psychology I went to Berkeley to study/practise at the Tibetian Nyingma Institute. It was a great experience.

However, as time went on I thought what about getting Buddhism from the guy who started it! So, again in the Chicago area I started attending weekend retreats at the Theravada Buddhadhamma Center with instruction from some great monks. I later incorporated the practise of Mindfulness into my psychotherapy/stress management practise as was becoming current with the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn.

So now I also practise t'ai chi and use mindfulness as well as the Buddha's teaching as the Middle Way in life and I am continuing to study non-dualism in psychology, religion, etc.

So there you are.

Have a great Taking the Precepts ceremony and then later you will leave the raft on the other shore.

With metta,

Ciao,

Rodger

Hello everyone,

My short life has been very busy in the area of religion and belief.  I was raised Christian, like most of the western world, but only in the sense that we went to Sunday School, etc.  My home life was only "Christian" during the holidays or when my mother was feeling especially "sinful".  Most of the time I lived a pretty secular life with just a small notion that some one was "upstairs" watching me and therefore I should try not to do anything really bad. 

I was first exposed to other religions through books that I used to read as a teen.  I don't know if anyone ever read Christopher Pike, but he was the writer who showed me other ways of thinking besides the mainstream monotheistic, transcendental realm.  Most of his books were about vampires and blood and death, but his vampire series doubled as a beginner's guide to the Hindu religion.  I was fascinated by it.  Here was a vampire who was existential and fearful of karma, etc.  A good vampire who had Krishna himself for a teacher. 

But I never really considered at such a young age that this was a belief system that I could or should pursue.  In my mind you had to be a "Christian" because so many people were, etc.  At fifteen I got saved and went to church and read my bible faithfully for a couple of years.  But it still just didn't feel right.  I began to study Wiccanism and found some refuge in Tarot and crystals for a while, but there did not seem any concrete guide within for daily living.  Then I tried Catholicism, but that seemed like more of a polytheistic religion with its Saints etc.  Then a few years ago I went back to Christianity and became interested in End Times Prophecy and Gnostic Christianity.

Then last fall I took a course on all the different cultural world views.  We studied the sacred Hindu text, The Bhagavad-Gita.  I was finding myself lost again in those old Pike books and realized for the first time that this philosophy was very close to my own internal wiring about reality and truth.  But not close enough.  The caste system and other things did not sit well with me.

Then I met the host of this site, Jaron.  He was studying Buddhism.  I read some of the material he had and researched on my own what I could with my busy schedule.  The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold path had meaning for me in a way that no other religion had.  For the first time I knew that I was not alone at all.  That I was not even me, but one consciousness living six billion lives simultaneously.  The concept of "no self" makes perfect sense to me, though I wish to study it more.  The concept of emptiness is something I have yet to understand.  I do somewhat intellectually, but I have yet to experience it. 

My fiance (Jaron, host of this site) and I took our refuge vows this last Sunday.  We were very honored to have the Venerable Phagyab Rinpoche conduct the ceremony.  I was also humbled by the fact that the name I received is Sonam Tsomo.  Jaron and I looked it up and it turns out this was the name of H.H. The Dalai Lama's mother.

I love your group...sorry I have not been active, have had so many things overwhelm me at one time, as for me I will make it a short intro, I was raised Catholic, (LOL) so we already know why I have chosen a different path! I love the teaching of Budda, of believe in unconditional love...and we are all capable of feeling it once we learn to love oneself, being taught that you will be punished for every little thing was just not to my liking! I left home when I was 13, and have been on my own ever since, I have watched you thru out Care2...and you are a wonderful man, I want to thank you for bringer I can be of help...please do not hesitate to ask...Robin

Just wanted to add that the wonderful Tina Turner whom is Buddhist, late ex husband had passed today (Ike Turner), he was not a Buddhist, but had a very hard life full of drugs and many mis-guided choices, may he find some peace now!!!

Hi  I'm Cassandra.

I was raised a Christian like many in the western world. But I have slowly dipped my toes into Buddhism, and Wicca. I am just learning about these religions and still a novice.

My indrigue with these religions started as I got older and Christianity didn't really feel right anymore. But I was never very commited to Christianity to begin with. I was kinda pushed into it. Everyone I knew was Christian and they were against anyone who wasn't Christian like them, so I was quiet about learning Wicca. I was first interested in it when I was about 10, and I had learned about it from my mom. And when I was about 12 I started getting interested in Buddhism. I am still a novice at both religions, and I don't think I will settle with one for now, because I am still experiencing this world and I want to keep my eyes open to new opportunities. I still have the rest of my life to figure out what I want to do, so I might as well just enjoy being young.

Live, Love, Laugh

Thanks Jaron,

Cassandra

I have been a Tibetan Buddhist, Gelugpa sect, for 15 years. For ten of those years I was in school and preparing for a life as a nun. About 5 years ago I met my husband, a Tibetan, and took on the vows of Wife. It's been a different spiritual experience but I've learned much about myself and my Path.

I have had the privelage of meeting and receiving teachings from many Rinpoches and Lamas: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, Gongkar Rinpoche, Lati Rinpoche, Takster Rinpoche (Older brother of HHDL; he attended and blessed our Buddhist wedding), Geshe Lobtin (resident teacher at TMBCC, Indiana), Geshe Beri Jigme Wangyal, Shadrang Rinpoche, Choeding Rinpoche, Geshe Jinpa Sonam (Indiana Buddhist Center).  I feel very lucky to have so many learned Geshes in my life. Still, the Teacher whom I feel closest to (besides my Husband) lives in India.   

I attended Naropa University in Boulder, CO for a year. It was a good experience but wasn't quite the place for me.

I am not particularly philsophical and am more concerned with everyday living than worrying about when the universe was formed. The LamRim is my primary text ("Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand") and Green Tara is my primary go-to Gal. : )

Nice to meet ya'll.

I took refuge with my beloved teacher Geshe Thubten Dawa, 28 May 1998 at Vajrayana Institute in Sydney. So that's 10 years this month, I've just realized.

Geshe-la's attendant and translator, Ven. Michael, was also there when I took refuge. Ven Michael was a wonderful help to me and my son while he lived in the Institute. I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to meet him, and to benefit from his generosity, compassion and wisdom. Ven Tsapel is another of the FPMT sangha so close to my heart. She was taking a group of us students through Liberation In The Palm Of Your Hand every Wednesday that year. Ven Tsapel had personally asked Geshe-la if I could take refuge with him; so that's how it came about. 

My refuge name is Thubten Chökyi —Ven Michael said this translated as 'Dharma Bliss' or the 'Bliss of Dharma'. Geshe-la explained that Thubten was his name, and his teacher's name, and so he passed it to me, his student. He said I was to think of him as father, among other things.

I was excited and proud of my refuge name—not exactly the states of mind a good Buddhist cultivates, I'm sure you'll agree. A while later while staying at Chenrezig Institute, a nun kindly, indirectly, pointed out my attachment to my refuge name.

The realisation came as a shock, then I felt deflated. So this is how I have to watch my mind? Become mindful—question my motives and emotions at all times! So began my journey in earnest, and over time I've found that, as negative emotions are identified and released, rejoicing and happiness move in to take their place.

A quote from Lama Thubten Yeshe:

"Without understanding how your inner nature evolves, how can you possibly discover eternal happiness? Where is eternal happiness? It's not in the sky or in the jungle; you won't find it in the air or under the ground. Everlasting happiness is within you, within your psyche, your consciousness, your mind. That's why it's important that you investigate the nature of your own mind."

To cut a long story short, I haven't been able to attend any teachings since 2000. I've become too ill to go out. I've been out of the house 4 times this year. After I've been out I end up awfully ill in bed for 2 or 3 days. I've been in pain without a break all this time and the nature of the disease and accompanying conditions are random and chaotic. I'm often too tired to talk and I become tongue-tied. Bitterness, grieving, fear, and depression—these have been my bedfellows too often. So you see I've had plenty to 'work' with!

But this year something in me clicked - my need and/or desire increased to be among Dharma sisters and brothers again. So here I am, thanks to Jaron.

Hi Everyone,

  Buddhist Influences have surrounded me while being raised in a small  Asian town here in U.S.A., but I have doubted things for a long time,and found it difficult to rid myself of doubt. However,in the past six+ years I started reading various Buddhist books by H.H.The Dalai Lama,and various other Buddhist teachers in the media like Thich Nhat Khan, and Lama Yeshe. I also try to meditate regularly,and that has helped disspell some "irritants."  The First book I read by H.H.The Dalai Lama was,"An Open Heart-Practicing Compassion in EveryDay Life",and Lama Yeshes', "Becoming Your Own Therapist"(by Lama Yeshe Archives.com)  strongly influenced me to check furthur. Roger's detailed post about studying certain types of people actually being a study of oneself,very much influenced me to check furthur and has helped bring more understanding.,The non-existence of things...um.....I'm working very very hard on this concept  and reminding myself daily of "renunciation" the wish for enlightment for all beings,equal in that we all want happiness and do not want to suffer,and trying(trying)to follow the precepts. Iam studying from The Asian Classics Institute,and come here to Jaron's Buddhist Path,for occasional questions and help understanding the teachings. May this Buddhist Path forums be my regular Temple!

I have been all over the map as far as trying to find peace. I was raised under strict Lutheran traditions; I briefly studied Buddhism on my first trip to college in the mid 1970 and loved it, but was almost disowned when I first tried to practice meditation in my parent's home. I got caught up in the Jesus Freak Movement of the 1980s and almost fell for the mind control it entailed, but my common sense awoke me to the fact that I spent more time hating my neighbor than I did loving my neighbor. So I walked away from the whole movement, dogma and mind control of Christianity.
I think Gandhi said it best when he said, “I like your Christ, but I don’t like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.”
I came back to Buddhism through with the help of a martial arts instructor who saw that I was more of lover than a fighter. He suggested that I study Buddhism with a monk friend of his from Thailand and he introduce me to another monk from a little island near Okinawa.
My Buddhism is a personal eclectic style of my own. But, it fits my way of doing things and the precepts and concepts of Buddhism help me create the mindfulness I need for my studies in Psychology. Best of all, I am happy where I am today without worrying about the mistakes I made yesterday or the problems, tests or term papers that are due in the future. I am at peace with myself the majority of the time. Something I never was able to say growing up and through much of my early adulthood.

Namaste’

Religion was always a hit or miss part of my life, not important to my parents, who raised me Presbytarian, then converted to Catholicism when I got married. My parents got a divorce, my husband left my two children and I, and my brother and sister both passed away. I became an alcoholic and during that time knew I had to climb out of that hole. I began to read many of Pema Chodron's books and found a Shambhala group here in Phoenix about three years ago and have been practicing ever since. I truly believe that meditation and the dharma and sangha have saved me and made me able to cope with all of the suffering in life. I meditate daily, read the dharma and do my best to live a life of equanimity and joy.

Welcome All!

I offer this Metta Sutta for the happiness of all.

This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
and who knows the path of peace:
Let them be upright and able,
staight forward and gentle in speech.
Contented and easily satisfied,
Humble and not conceited.
Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.
Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,
Not proud and demanding in nature.
Let them not do the slightest thing
That the wise would later reprove.
Wishing: In gladness and in safety,
May all beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born -
May all beings be at ease!
Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.
Even as a parent protects with their life
their child, their only child,
So with boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings;
Radiating kindness over the entire world:
spreading upwords to the skies,
and downwards to the depths;
outwards and unbounded,
freed from hatred and ill-will.
Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down,
free from drowsiness,
one should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding fixed views,
the pure-hearted one, having charity of vision,
being free from all sense desires,
is not born again into this world.
ciao, Rodger

Hi. I just joined after looking to see if there were any more Buddhism groups on Care2...
I became a Buddhist a little over a year ago, after doing extensive reading and realizing that Buddhism stood for what I did - truth, nature, love...
It seemed easier to follow a set proven path than to slash through the jungle alone.
I currently take downloadable classes from ACI, read every Buddhism book that the library stocks, have bought a few for my own home library, and practice at home without temple attendance.
I follow Tibetan Vajrayana and Thai Dhutanga teachings mostly, as these seem to click with my mind and help me progress best.

Hi, my name is Lynette. I have a crazy religious background. My father is christian, mother Jehovah's Witnesses, brother protestant, and sister catholic. My husband is also catholic!
I started to explore different religions until Buddhism was introduced to me in college. I truly respect the thought and views of the 4 noble truths and the eight fold path! I hope that I can walk the path and become better human!

Hi Lynette

Thanks for joining Buddhist Path. It's always interesting to see what people's backgrounds are and you seem to have an enquiring mind, embracing the differences and exploring potential. And my goodness, you speak 3 languages! Wonderful!

Walk the path with Enthusiastic Effort and Mindfulness!

(My apologies for not dropping in earlier to welcome you. I've been pursuing a cause - the need to have mental illness decriminalized in America.)

Best Wishes, Jenny (Thubten Chökyi)

Hello everyone, I joined the group yesterday and I'm looking to widen my friends in Buddhism. The Sangha is very important in practice and I have met real and virtual Sangha members over the last couple of years but have only recently returned to Care2. I have been a Buddhist for a few years now and I have a local Buddhist centre which I attend regularly. I first connected with Buddhism when I studied Systems Theory as part of a degree. I began to understand interconnectedness and cause and effect and there are so many parallels with Buddhism. I then read 7 years in Tibet and also a few books from Lama Surya Das and Jack Kornfield and since then I have learnt that the Buddhist Path is for me. Metta to you all and I hope to learn more from and with you all. Stevie

Urm..where to start...
Well,I'm no Buddhist,but I've been interested in its teachings.I guess,because ever since I found my place it the world,I realized I have to be the change I want to see in the world.I know I'm not perfect and never will be,but being that change has helped me so much.I'm more patient and think before getting too heated I guess.I'm still reading "anger" by Thich Nhat Hanh.A good book.I highly reccomend it.

Hi Stevie and Chihiro

Thanks for joining Buddhist Path and introducing yourselves.
It's always interesting to see what has motivated people to investigate themselves and find a way to use Buddhism to this end. The beauty is you don't have to become a Buddhist to benefit from the teachings. Thanks to each of you for recommending those books / authors.

Walk the path with Enthusiastic Effort and Mindfulness!

My apologies for not dropping in earlier to welcome you, and I'm sorry this group isn't buzzing with participation from members, but at least we have met (again!).

Best Wishes, Jenny (Thubten Chökyi)

Hi to all;

I've been a Buddhist pretty much all my life, over 40 years. My folks had no real religion and they were pretty messed up all the time. I remember coming across the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum in Calgary at about the age of 9. There was a house down the street from mine that was a sort of a commune and they kind of took me in when things got real bad at home and fed me on occasions. One of the residents was into a Kerouac/Ginsburg sort of Buddhism... and he gave me that mantra to say when things were really bad. And he gave me a scruffed copy of the Dhammapada.
When we moved to Ottawa the next year I came across a sutra in a dusty old bookstore that just absolutely blew my mind away.... and continued to do so for years afterwards, The Kalama Sutra. It just became a natural progression for me. I can't ever remember ever being anything else but Buddhist, even way back then when I really didn't know what it all meant it simply felt right and good. I felt at home in the path.
It's been as much a part of me as my breath or heart. It's just simply me.

I'm from Ajahn Chah's line and had the good fortune to later encounter two of his students here in canada well after his death. Ajahn Viradhammo and Ajahn Kusalo... so I've never strayed far from his touch. A lot of my life still revolves around the Thai forest school tradition and for a short while there I almost became a monk. I took most of the vows but then decided that being a householder would do me more good. Given my nature and personality the monk road would not have worked as well as the householder's path has.

I don't really have a Sangha that I belong to here where I live, so I tend to be a path of one. I do have a small group of friends with whom I go on retreat with occasionally in the Canadian forests around North Bay often. I teach basic meditation to various small groups... I just finished teaching Vipassana meditation to a group of Wiccans. They must have thought that I was a right ogre because I made them do it the right way rather than how they thought it should be. All in all though it worked out well. It will be interesting to see what they do with it as the years go by.  I write willy nilly on-line about Buddhism and some forms of Advaitic thought and the Bhagavad Gita... another interest of mine. I was a sort of student of U.G. Krishnamurti, or as much of a student as he would allow anyone to be. Have also sat with Ramesh Balsekar.

So I hope to come online once in awhile to post here....

a pleasure to meet you all.

Hi Rick

Thanks for joining Buddhist Path and introducing yourself. You've had some wonderful teachers and contact with the Dharma. I really look forward to your posts.

Best Wishes, Jenny (Thubten Chökyi)

Thanks Jenny.......... I have been blessed in regards to teachers, it would almost lead one to think that the universe does conspire to enlighten us. Even kicking and screaming all the way. LOL But the universe does what it does and we're along for the ride and the chances we get that seem so miraculous are merely those moments that we're awake enough to actually see.
I'll post as regularly as I can, in that regard my ego is still big enough to think that it has something important to say. LOL
Blessings... be free from worry... be happy
rick (aka Bhikkhu Somanassa on my good days.... and Sri Ramalamadingdong on my more frequent irreverant ones.)

"Even kicking and screaming all the way"... 

Thanks, I can relate to that! I'm sure you'll have important things to say.