(Part 3) Best products from r/Buddhism

I think it really depends on what you want to get out of reading it. I think pretty much everything people have suggested could be/is a good choice, but interestingly they are all going to give you a very different impression of Buddhism.

What the Buddha Taught is simple but dry. Imo, doesn't convey much of the "spirit" of buddhism, but it does get the ideas across pretty directly. When I was about 18 I read this... it was pretty confusing at the time, being one of the first things I read on the subject.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind is a classic and also written in short essays, iirc. However that's from (obviously) a Zen perspective. It's going to have some pretty different things to say about Buddhism than Walpola's book. Also, Zen can be rather enigmatic. So don't expect any kind of direct explanation if you go that route.

Awakening the Buddha Within might be a pretty good choice. Das is good for a mainstream audience. He's light and fun to read, but also gives a lot of good information on the subject.

Siddhartha is probably the suggestion I like the most. It's literature, but also pretty short, and quite interesting. I think it probably is going to give you the best idea of what Buddhism is "about."

I would also throw out there a personal favorite, [The World is Made of Stories by David Loy] (http://www.amazon.com/World-Made-Stories-David-Loy/dp/0861716159/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323643538&sr=8-1). This book makes for some very light reading and it's fun, but also very profound, imo. It's totally anecdotal, in that the whole thing is a collection of unrelated quotes strung together to convey a concept. However, don't expect any real talk about Buddhism. It really is just quotes.

Another thing that I think is worth mentioning, and might be a good choice, depending on your mentality is [Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist by Stephen Batchelor] (http://www.amazon.com/Confession-Buddhist-Atheist-Stephen-Batchelor/dp/0385527071/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323643708&sr=1-1). This book probably isn't for most people. For one thing its very polemic! And I don't necessarily agree with his ideas about the "historical Buddha" (a pretty lame concept in general, if you ask me) but reading this would definitely give you a good idea of how the western mind deals with some of the less appealing aspects of eastern thought. I think it can also show you what is at the core of Buddhism, what makes it worth translating into another culture.

Anyway, hope that helps!

As a Zen roshi said in a teisho to his students recently, "Nobody here cares if you believe in anything!" That's not making light of the teachings of Buddhism, it just means that you're absolutely free to practice Zen no matter what you believe, what you think, what you think you believe, what you want to believe or disbelief. We have conversations about whether the hungry ghosts prefer we offer them bread or sunflower seeds, but we throw all the offerings to the birds, and they don't seem too picky. Take all the wisdom of Zen and use it to wipe your ass! ;) But yeah, zazen (sitting meditation) is the foundation. A famous verse says "upholding the precepts, showing remorse, giving gifts, countless good deeds, and right living -- it all has its source in zazen."

I practice Zen with a sangha. In my daily life, Zen mostly means that I do daily zazen, try to live harmoniously and wisely (don't ask), and try to be one with whatever I'm doing, not getting tangled up in unnecessary thoughts. Zazen is the basic ingredient, it's like tasting zazen makes it possible to see what else needs to be done.

Edit: Two books I think are really good: You Have to Say Something by Dainin Katagiri roshi, and The Three Pillars of Zen by Philip Kapleau roshi. The former is by a Soto teacher, very warm and beautiful, and full of good stuff. The latter is from a tradition that's influenced by both Soto and Rinzai, and is a bit more rough and practical, and has some really inspiring first-hand accounts of initial awakening by modern lay Westerners.

And another little practice that works anywhere is to watch your mind state and care for it. Try to bring a kind of gentleness, clarity, and purposefulness to your actions, speech, and even your thoughts. This means literally everything you do is a profound Zen practice. Ritually I think bowing is a good example: externally it looks like a tiny little gesture of respect, but internally, it's a focused and intense practice. Try bowing to something you appreciate, like a cup of coffee, and see what happens in your mind. Can you find some concentration, love, silence, or gracefulness? That's Zen practice!

Those are very good questions. Here are some helpful resources:

Trading Candy for Gold: Renunciation as a Skill by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

Excerpt:

Buddhism takes a familiar American principle — the pursuit of happiness — and inserts two important qualifiers. The happiness it aims at is true: ultimate, unchanging, and undeceitful. Its pursuit of that happiness is serious, not in a grim sense, but dedicated, disciplined, and willing to make intelligent sacrifices.

What sort of sacrifices are intelligent? The Buddhist answer to this question resonates with another American principle: an intelligent sacrifice is any in which you gain a greater happiness by letting go of a lesser one, in the same way you'd give up a bag of candy if offered a pound of gold in exchange. In other words, an intelligent sacrifice is like a profitable trade. This analogy is an ancient one in the Buddhist tradition. "I'll make a trade," one of the Buddha's disciples once said, "aging for the Ageless, burning for the Unbound: the highest peace, the unexcelled safety from bondage."...

oOo

Other resources:

Mindfulness In Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana.

Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond by Ajahn Brahm.

Wings to Awakening

Kind regards,

...

Sounds like you are making great progress. Here's a couple of things to try:

• Generally, Metta meditation starts with extending loving kindness to a Benefactor, yourself, a loved one, a neutral person and then a "difficult" person. The idea is to build up Metta so that it can push through any mental boundaries we may have. In your case (and in the case of many others), you can try putting yourself last or second to last. See if that helps.
  
• The other tip is to visualize yourself as a young child. (Might help to look at a reference photo prior to sitting.) Then you connect with the fact that that little being wants love, kindness and peace just like every other being. You work on extending loving kindness to that young child free from personal narratives and some interesting stuff may happen. Note: in this case, you are working on extending the love, not accepting it. Just focus on the extending of it.
  
  ​
  
  *If you are interested, there are two other books that may be of use on your journey. Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach and Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness by Sharon Salzburg

Describe the Four Noble Truths? I sometimes like looking at Wikipedia's simple english version of pages to get good, short overviews of things. I don't think that description of the first step of the Eightfold Path is very good though. The normal english article is better for that one, but other than that it's a good summery.

Many Zen teachers express things differently. They might not go into a lot of detail or focus on lists and texts as much. There are also some differences. For example under Right Action, some Japanese Zen lineages allow monks to marry and have families. In general though all that page will still apply to Zen.

Zen is pretty hard to learn on your own. Koans, which are things you might call spiritual questions, make up a lot of the practice in a lot of Zen, and to practice them you pretty much need to be working with a teacher. I don't know of any good resources that I'd recommend for learning to practice Zen on your own.

If you'd like a good book to learn about Zen from an scholarly point of view this is a good one. It's only going to teach you about Zen, like things you'd learn about the subject if you took a college class. It won't teach you how to practice Zen. If you'd like a book that isn't from an academic point of view this is a nice one, but still, it's not really going to teach you how to practice Zen.

In Vajrayana Buddhism there are 6 points of refuge - the three jewels and the three roots.

The three jewels are Buddha, Dharma and Sangha - this part can be found in all other Buddhist traditions.

But if you follow the path of Vajrayana you also need the three roots - Lama, Yidam and Protectors. All three are actually united in your lama.

Here is an excellent explanation of the three roots from the 3rd Jamgon Kongtrul:

http://www.rinpoche.com/teachings/3roots.htm

So, basically, you cannot walk the path of Vajrayana without taking refuge in your lama. Your progress will be insignificant and you will actually hinder your development if you will attempt at practicing Vajrayana without the lama.

Also, there are three bodies of the lama - outer, inner and secret. The higher your development is, the deeper you understand each of these levels.

So be sure that this is not just a formality - there is a great benefit in taking refuge in the lama, and also a great responsibility.

If you need some more information on how to set up proper relationships with your lama, I would highly recommend reading the book written by the 1st Jamgon Kongtrul:

The Teacher-Student Relationship

>It is crucial for students of Vajrayana Buddhism to find an authentic wisdom teacher and know how to properly rely upon that teacher in order to awaken to their buddha nature and thereby attain full enlightenment. Fortunately, the topic has been thoroughly explored by Jamgon Kongtrul in the tenth chapter of The Treasury of Knowledge. This essential text clearly lays out what credentials and qualities one should look for in a wisdom teacher, why a wisdom teacher is necessary, and how the relationship between this teacher and disciple best develops once it is established.

Rinzai is known for it's rigor and discipline. Rinzai and Seon Buddhism have reputations for being the hard-asses of Buddhism. That being said, Ven. Eshu comes off as really nice. I'd really like to make a pilgrimage out to BC someday and do a retreat with them.

As a beginner, on your own, with limited experience I wouldn't really recommend these series of talks. What I would recommend is that you look into the Western Vipassana tradition. Zen schools and their practices aren't systematized like the Theravada tradition (Western Vipassana is an emerging tradition in the west that falls under the Theravadan tradition). If you were learning a language the Theravada tradition would be like Rosetta stone, slowly building up your knowledge of basic vocabulary and syntax, with some meta-analysis thrown in as to why things are being presented this way. Zen would be like learning a language via total immersion. It's effective, but it's hard, you need a real commitment and a community to support you in your progress.

One resource I always recommend to beginners is The Science of Enlightenment by Shinzen Young. It's probably one of my favorite Buddhist related works.

For more entry level dharma talks I hope you take a look at the following links:

Audio Dharma - Recommended Talks

Dharma Seed (Great for searching through to find a talk on a particular subject.)

Dharma Talks given by the San Francisco Zen Center

The Buddhist Geeks Podcast

The Buddhist Geeks Podcasts are really interesting discussions about all aspects of Buddhism. It's not about teaching Buddhism. They're normally discussions with senior practitioners from all different sects about Buddhism. Talks cover topics such as rarified mental states (i.e. jhanas), adapting Buddhism to the west and the 21st century, meditation and the brain... really interesting stuff. If you have any real interest in Buddhism and how deep the rabbit hole goes, their best talks will really spark the fire of intrigue and get you serious about practice.

I know it's hard to lose your mom, it's been almost 2 years since I lost mine. You will recover from this. Feel everything, no matter how irrational. Grief is messy. Hope you feel better.

I didn't have any Christian leanings, but after my mom died I kept hoping she was okay in an afterlife. One thought that has really comforted me in my despair is realizing that my mom is alive in me, in the effect she's had on me, in the memories, in the lessons she taught me, in the gifts she gave me, she's alive in the same way in my sister and her friends and so on and these effects ripple throughout life. So the truth is, as long as humanity is alive, a part of her is alive. I still sometimes do say "If there is an afterlife, I hope your happy and okay to my mom". All that being said, if Christianity resonates with you, it's your choice.

A couple of things that helped me get through the pain were journaling to my mom and reading this. The journaling can really help you keep a connection to the dead, give you some closure. The book is just a daily reader about grief and it was really helpful when I was so overwhelmed that it was difficult to think and function. It has little bits of wisdom and heart warming passages that I found very helpful.

Hope this helps.

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The Science of Enlightenment by Shinzen Young.

PLEASE start with The Science of Enlightenment. I would recommend this regardless but ESPECIALLY if you are feeling overwhelmed. It is the best naturalistic deconstruction of Buddhism's blueprint I have come across.

Please excuse the bold, all caps but...

GIVEN THAT YOU'RE COMING FROM A CHRISTIAN BACKGROUND AND ARE FEELING OVERWHELMED THIS IS HANDS DOWN THE BEST RESOURCE TO START WITH!!!

Shinzen will enable you to explain Buddhism so you can relate it to your Christian relatives via Catholicism's own contemplative tradition, which you are probably unaware of.

Also, NewBuddhist.com is a very good forum. You may get recommended Dharma Overground. Save it in your bookmarks, but I wouldn't recommend going there as a beginner.

Well, traditionally you're supposed to examine a teacher for 9 years before taking them on -- so you can be sure they're the real deal.

When it comes to my own teacher, he's on many occasions reinforced that you're not supposed to have blind faith or force devotion. It needs to come naturally from experiencing the benefits of the practice.

It's tough for many people (myself included) especially coming from a Christian "blind faith" background to be able to separate that from what we grow up with.

But anyways, you can still read and study about Tibetan Buddhism without having to take a teacher. It's just that once you want to start doing practices requiring empowerments/transmission/etc you're going to need to find one. But even then it's not like once you do that you can't keep seeing other teachers to see if any resonate with you.

I'm trying to think of books on Tibetan Buddhism that aren't so heavy into the Guru stuff... maybe some autobiographies might be interesting:

• Blazing Splendor, the Memoirs of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
  
  
• Sky Dancer: The Secret Life And Songs Of Lady Yeshe Tsogyel -- I just finished this one and its as just amazing. Might be a little heavy on mysticism, but IMO it's just a wonderful read.
  
  
• Precious Essence: The Inner Autobiography of Terchen Barway Dorje -- This is the autobiography of a previous life of my own teacher. It's another amazing read. He got a little wild! An awesome glimpse into the life of a siddha.
  
  Another recommendation would be:
  
  
• The Nectar of Manjushri's Speech: A Detailed Commentary on Shantideva's Way of the Bodhisattva - this is a detailed commentary on the Bodhicharyavatara by a great Tibetan master; so it doesn't go too much into Guru stuff and focuses on explaining the Mahayana path as outlined by Shantideva.

I was introduced to buddhism while in recovery. There are some great sources out there that you might be able to benefit from. Here are a couple of books that helped me and can answer your questions much better than I:

One Breath at a Time; and

Zen of Recovery.

You are certainly not alone, if that gives you any comfort. During my time in Alcoholics Anonymous, I met a number of others with buddhist practices. If you are interested in learning more or stopping, you might find something useful in r/stopdrinking or r/alcoholism. I'll leave you with one other wonderful piece of wisdom that someone shared with me once on the subject.

"I didn't start meditating so I could stop drinking. I stopped drinking so I could start meditating."

Good luck.

*Added links

In the Buddha's words and what the Buddha Taught are great books written from a Theravadan perspective. As you explore Buddhism, I also encourage you to explore Mahayana Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhists aim to practice both wisdom/insight into ultimate reality and the practice of compassion towards other beings. Interestingly, within Mahayana Buddhism it's said to literally be impossible to gain genuine wisdom without the practice of compassion. Thus there is a huge emphasis on compassion. The best intro to Buddhism book I've found written from a Mahayana perspective is the essence of Buddhism by Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche.

As far as practices that helped me when my mother died, metta meditation directed at myself helped. As did prayer for myself to get through the grief with ease. As did a prayer for my mother to be in a better place or reincarnated. The last one is about all you can wish for, for a person who has passed, and it's an act of love.

Grief is really hard, it has so many faces. I've felt scared, sad, angry, jealous, guilty, regretful, grateful, laughter, denial, hopelessness, hope. I'm sure there's more.

It does get easier with time, the waves become less intense and less often, but if you're close to someone it's a slow process.

One of the things that helped me a lot was [this book]
(https://www.amazon.com/Healing-After-Loss-Meditations-Working/dp/0380773384/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527237350&sr=8-1&keywords=daily+meditations+grief)

It's short little inspiring and touching quotes and passages helped me, especially when I was so overwhelmed that I struggled to concentrate. It's not Buddhist, I think it has a couple of Buddhist quotes, but it pulls from lots of sources.

One of the most comforting thought to me, is that even though my mother is dead, a part of her still lives on. It lives on in the impact she had on me, in the shared interests we had, in the kindness she showed me, in the impact she had on others, in the responsibilities that I took over, in the things she liked that remind me of her, in the memories I have of her, in the love I still have for her, in the way I honor her on certain holidays. So even though I miss her dearly, and she's not here in a physical sense. A part of her is still here.

Seek support if you feel the need, /r/GriefSupport is something that I found useful on some of my tough days.

Another thing that I highly suggest is to journal to your aunt, that way you can get some sense of closure, it really helped me to do that with my mom. It also helped me when I broke up with my ex-girlfriend.

Be kind to yourself in your time of need. Sorry for your loss. Wish you well.

Okay. Something that worked well for me was doing cognitive behavioral therapy. It's similar to meditation in some ways, and works well with it. The best way would be able to find a therapist who works with CBT, but if that's not an option for you there are do-it-yourself books. With CBT you're working to identify and modify certain common thought patterns that reinforce depression. Depending on your situation that might be helpful.

Something else that comes to mind reading your post is a book that helped someone close to me, The Mindfulness Workbook for Addiction. It's geared towards substance addiction, but I think there's some general carry-over to what you're talking about.

Moving more in the direction towards mindfulness practices, there's a two CD set with instruction and guided meditations called Break Through Difficult Emotions that could help. The guy who made that, Shinzen Young, also has a more broad array of mindfulness practices that do a good job of presenting techniques across the range of mindfulness stuff. That said, he's mostly about techniques and not much about teachings, and the talks he does give are mostly secular.

He has resources online like a manual [PDF], or relevant videos, and phone retreats. A positive here is that you'll at least be able to call or email a teacher of some kind to get some feedback or help in a crisis, even if the practice isn't explicitly Buddhist.

As for mindfulness practices that are centered around the breath specifically, Mindfulness in Plain English is available online or as a physical book. It presents a more narrow or focused system. There's also a follow up book with more advanced material called Beyond Mindfulness in Plain English.

I think the best thing of all would be to have contact with a teacher of some kind, even if it meant driving an hour or two only once a month, if there's anyone available further off.

Finding the "path" is one of the greatest fortune in life... so it is said. So congratulation.

I would strongly recommend "Three Pillars of Zen" by Roshi Phillip Kapleau.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Three-Pillars-Zen-Enlightenment/dp/0385260938

This book was and is one of the most influential book in my life. What I really liked is that somewhere about the middle, there are accounts of enlightenment experiences of westerners. The sufferings of most of these students were something that I strongly identified with. Just these accounts are fun enough for the price of ownership.

All the best.

It sounds like you are feeling guilty about having thoughts which are judgmental. Have you ever heard of Tara Brach's RAIN method?

R-Recognize (you've already done this; way to go, it's very hard for many people to even become aware of their habits of thought.)

A-Accept (this is the stage you seem to be stuck at. You're judging yourself for having the thought, feeling guilty, etc. This is hard but you need to accept that it's just a thought, it's out of your control, that it doesn't make you a bad person. Hold it with care, love the thought, respect it.)

I-Investigate (How does the thought feel, what is the thought that comes right before the thought, what happens at the level of the body when you have the thought?)

N-Non-identifying (remembering that the thought doesn't belong to you, doesn't define you, it is not you or yours; A thought is its own thing, it's a thought, it's just out there, it just is--thoughts happen of their accord.)

You might find her book Radical Acceptance helpful. I struggled (and, lord knows, still do) with more or less the exact same problem you described.

Best of luck.

Addiction is seen as a situation of a strongly conditioned mind. The repetitive action (karma) feeds into more of the same action. Also, the chasing of sense pleasure as an attempt to remedy the unavoidable and fundamental discomforts of life.

It's wonderful to hear that you have integrated meditation into your recovery. There are a couple of excellent books on the subject, and there are a number of organizations to support the combination of recovery and the practice.

There are two excellent books that I know of (and there are probably more), Refuge Recovery by Noah Levine, and One Breath at a time by Kevin Griffin.

Also, if you are in the US, and you are interested in a community, there are Refuge Recovery groups all over the place, which are based on the first book I listed above. Just look on the site for any groups in your city.

Whatever you choose, I wish you freedom from addiction.

\>In the meantime, my own religious background has been condemning me

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A background can't condemn you. When you think about your background, what you are looking at is your own thoughts, your own mental formations. It is you who is condemning yourself.

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\>I wonder if I will become a mind-slave to a puppet master concept of the divine

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A concept, in whose mind? In your own mind.

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All these conceptions and thoughts that you are wrestling with, you are creating. Identity is an unstable thing - because identity is a thought, and thoughts are unstable. Thoughts come and go. Watch yourself thinking for a few minutes and see how quickly thoughts come and go. You aren't going to find stability in a thought-identity any more than you are going to nail water to the wall.

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In what, then, can you find stability?

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Find stability in right practice, right view. You don't have to condemn your association with christianity to do that. Nor do you have to cling to it. But you are here in /r/Buddhism so I take it you have some interest in the Buddhist idea of right practice.

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What is right practice?

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Cultivate good, abandon evil. Do no harm, not even to yourself. Speak the truth always - when it is the beneficial, and the right time to speak, otherwise you can stay silent. Do not kill. Do not take what was not given to you. Do not engage in sexual misconduct. Do not drink alcohol. Reflect each time you act, think, and speak - will this action, when carried out, lead to my long-term welfare and happiness, or will it lead to unwholesome states or harm? Commit to this reflection and letting go of actions, thoughts, and speech which lead to harm. Begin a meditation practice so you have the mental discipline to let go of harmful actions and the clarity of thinking to recognize what is harmful and what is not. Read something about the dharma so that you can cultivate your wisdom. Practice cultivating compasion and good will for all beings. Learn to recognize any ill will you feel for others and consciously make effort to abandon it. Learn what are the four noble truths, and what what each of the factors of the eightfold path mean, and see how much you can integrate them into your daily life.

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None of this requires an identity. You don't have to suppress a judeo-christian worldview. You don't have to "be" anything, you don't have to sign up for any "ism." It is something you do, in each moment.

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four noble truths https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/truths.html

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eightfold path https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/waytoend.html

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karma: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/kamma.html

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the ten perfections: https://www.dhammatalks.org/ebook_index.html#TenPerfections

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If you want are used to a Christian worldview, perhaps you would enjoy this book by the great Buddhist master and living saint Thich Nhat Hanh, drawing parallels between Buddhist and Christian practice: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SEHE66/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

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There are some scathing reviews in there. Especially the one where he's talking about levitation.

I have to say that I don't completely disagree with some of the reviewers' complaints. Lama Surya Das is a decent writer in my opinion, and the book is entertaining. But as others have said, it really is more of an autobiography. And while he has led an interesting life, this is not why I originally read the book. He definitely tries to put a "Western spin" on Buddhism, and this is obviously because westerners are his target audience. But what winds up being produced is a new-age self-help kind of book.

If you are interested, my top 4 recommendations for easy to read, entertaining books that cover some different aspects/sects of Buddhism (in order of my personal preference) are as follows:

1. What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula.
   
   
2. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki.
   
   
3. The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh.
   
   
4. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche.
   
   As I said, those are my personal favorites and will give you a good look at some of the major Buddhist traditions.

Oh, I wanna try too:
>Are there different "branches" of Buddhism, sort of like in Christianity?

• The Schools of Buddhism
  
• Differences between the schools
  
  >Who was The Buddha?
  
  
• PBS documentary on The Buddha
  
• BBC documentary on The Buddha
  
• Buddha Nature
  
  > why is there prayer in Buddhism? How is Buddhist prayer different than, say, Christian and Islamic prayer?
  
  
• IIRC only a few sects actually 'pray' in the classical sense, otherwise it's simply paying homage; showing respect, saying thanks.
  
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puja_(Buddhism)
  
• Paying Homage
  
  >Do Buddhists go to temples on a certain day of the week like Christians? Is there a ritualistic process on what is done each day?
  
  
• This depends on the hours your local temple/center holds. However there are 'typical hours', once in the 'morning', once in the 'afternoon', and once in the 'evening'.
  
• Ritualistic processes will depend upon the culture of the school of Buddhism you subscribe to.
  
  > If I call my local Buddhist temple or meditation center, would someone there be willing to talk to me over the phone and introduce me in real life to what Buddhism is?
  
  
• They may be busy, and ask you to come back later.
  
• Some zen schools will turn you away outright to test your resolve. (This is wrong, see /u/Gundi9's comment bellow.)
  
  > Basically, I would really appreciate it if you could explain to me what Buddhism means to you, what your daily Buddhist lifestyle is, and how it affects you.
  
  
• I meditate, keep the 4 noble truths at the forefront of my attention and make a concerted effort to stay on the 8 fold path.
  
  Also, here are some books:
  
  
• The Dhammapada
  
• The Dhammapada is so ubiquitous i'm certain you can find versions of it online for free.
  
• The 8 Fold Path
  
• Also, see our sidebar, it says things I didn't, and probably says the things I did say so much more gooderbetter.
  
  TADA!
  
  

The teaching I always received when dealing with strong emotions that arise is to lean into it. These emotions are part of us and we are encouraged to accept them as they are, including the anger, the despair, the fear, and the vulnerability. Getting in touch with our inner feeling is a phase a lot of practitioners go through, though what arise is usually different for each of us. I would like to encourage you to sit with these feelings. Allow yourself to feel them all, to surrender to them, to die in these feelings - as one teacher put it. If these emotions are too overwhelming though, it might be a good idea to meditate with a trusted friend or a partner, a counselor, or a spiritual teacher. If you can, I would also recommend checking out "Radical Acceptance" by Tara Brach and any book/teaching from Pema Chodron about getting to know fear. They talk about what you are experiencing. I wish you the best with your practice. May you find peace and light at the end of the tunnel.

Mara is a name/title for one of the lower heaven-kings. He was said to be one of Shakyamuni Buddha's tempters to dissuade him from awakening while he sat under the bodhi tree. In sutras, he's characterized as a being too caught up in desire to practice the dharma in his current life, and at times will try to dissuade others from it as well.


On a micro-level, I'm using his title here to describe beliefs and impulses that drive me to unskillful or harmful behavior, such as the need to imagine what people think about me (it's usually not good). In cognitive behavioral therapy, this might fall under "fortune-telling" and "mind-reading", even though we obviously can't know with 100% certainty what will happen or what people are thinking.


I read somewhere that dealing with recurring issues should be like "inviting Mara for tea"; instead of suppressing bad habits and thoughts, give it a compassionate space to hear it out, try to understand what it believes and why.


Depending on a lot of things, this experience may be too shocking to handle without guidance, though. If seeing a mental health professional is not affordable at the moment, at least try seeing if this book is available at the library:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0553380990/ref=pd_aw_sbs_14_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=416XVNN6NRL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL100_SR100%2C100_&psc=1&refRID=V3T70FYAXD25W0KF59JG

Just like another user suggested, Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach may help here.


I don't really know what to recommend for you as far as practice goes, since it depends on the kind of person you are. A good recommendation was metta, and I'm the type to relate less to abstract concepts and more to qualities I can visualize in compassionate beings, so I recite names and mantras. It's about which practice(s) you have an affinity for.


I tried not to overwhelm myself though. I started with one practice (Amitabha Buddha's name) with one focus (Pureland), which still remains my foundation. Others maintain one practice for the rest of their lives. I would recommend being patient and realistic with yourself while exploring.

One of the most profound and meaningful moments of my life was when I realized that there was nothing truly wrong with me, and that nobody was any better or worse, for we all share the same Buddha Nature and potential for enlightenment. It took quite a lot of good therapy + meditation + other spiritual development to get there.

You may want to check out a book called Radical Acceptance. It's maybe not the source I would turn to for an explanation of Buddhism per se, but I found it super helpful for building a sense of inherent worth based in compassion.

Don't worry about finding a tradition, usually it finds you...

The first book I ever read on Buddhism was The Buddha's Ancient Path by Piyadassi Thera, which I found in my university library and I think is a very good introduction to Theravada.

Shortly after, I read The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche. This book, although originally written in English, has proved so popular I've heard it is actually now being translated into Tibetan. In any case it is a good introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, and the Nyingma tradition in particular.

You may want to consider doing some online correspondence course if that appeals to you. Look around for something you like, but I strongly recommend Geshe Tashi Tsering's Foundation of Buddhist Thought, which covers the basics of the four noble truths, the major tenet systems, some pramana and abhidharma, bodhicitta, madhyamaka and tantra. It has teachings from Geshe Tashi, textbooks for each module, a reading list, essay assignments and online discussion groups.

You can also read the Bardo Thodol ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bardo_Thodol ), also known as " Liberation Through Hearing During the Intermediate State" [Best Translation: https://www.amazon.com/Tibetan-Book-Dead-Complete-Translation-ebook/dp/B00452V4AO/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3MG7NXD42R1IX&keywords=tibetan+book+of+the+dead&qid=1566431932&s=gateway&sprefix=tibetan+b%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-2 " (or The Tibetan Book of the Dead, a horrible title).

It also depends on what school the center is affiliated with. The Bardol Thodol is mainly used by the Nyingma and Kagyu. I have been trying to find info on Gelukpa practices for the dead without much luck, but it looks like they mostly do the Medicine Buddha practice. Whatever practice you do participate in, the practice will be both for your friend and for you. So, try to use this unique opportunity to help build something positive for both your friend and for you.

I haven't read it, but judging by the wikipedia page on the author he's not a academic scholar, but a teacher within soto zen, which might mean that he presents a soto zen view on buddhism. Even if he doesn't present a strictly soto zen view, there is risk of him being biased.

Secondly, the synopsis given at amazon states

> Steve Hagen presents these uncluttered, original teachings in everyday, accessible language unencumbered by religious ritual, tradition, or belief.

Which to me, doesn't sound very good. Religious ritual, tradition and "belief" is part of every buddhist tradition, including the one he is part of.

EDIT: Again, I haven't read the book, so it might be fine, and lots of people seem to like it judging by the amazon reviews. However, for introductory books, I think I'd rather recommend books by a scholar. The Foundations of Buddhism by Rupert Gethin, is written by a scholar on buddhism (he's a professor of buddhist studies at the university of Bristol) and as such is OK academically. I think it's fine for teachers to write books, and Steve Hagen might be a good teacher, but when teachers within a specific branch of buddhism tries to write introductory books to buddhism, I'm sceptical. Again, books like that/this might be fine, but there's still a risk of only presenting one traditions' view of buddhism, while many others exist.

I've been reading [Eight Steps to Happiness: The Buddhist Way of Loving Kindness] (http://www.amazon.com/Eight-Steps-Happiness-Buddhist-Kindness/dp/1616060085). It's quite an amazing book. Also The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, is such a powerful jewel which has really been informative.

Thanks for the correction. It seems that at least in Japan the seven Medicine Budhas ("shichibutsu Yakushi") are often portrayed as the main Medicine Buddha and his six emanations.

"The Saptabuddha Sutra is of special interest here because it describes the vows and Pure Lands of seven buddhas. The first six of these were mostly identified as emanations of Yakushi [Medicine Buddha] himself, who is the seventh on the list." https://www.amazon.com/Buddhas-Kami-Japan-Combinatory-Paradigm/dp/0415297478


"There are two sutras particularly devoted to the topic of Bhaisajyaguru - the Bhaisajyaguru Sutra, and a sutra which is best known by the short title of Saptabuddha Sutra. The latter text incorporates much of the Bhaisajyaguru Sutra, but adds a further six Buddhas to Bhaisajyaguru, giving a set of seven.... The Saptabuddha Sutra adds a mantra or dharani which can be used at times of illness, for longevity, and so on." - Paul Williams https://www.amazon.com/Mahayana-Buddhism-Doctrinal-Foundations-Religious/dp/0415356539l







"Many eons ago, seven bodhisattvas strongly prayed for the temporal and ultimate happiness of all sentient beings, that their names become wish-fulfilling in order to heal both the mental and physical sicknesses and diseases of sentient beings... They are called the Seven Medicine Buddhas, the main one is 'Lapis Buddha of Medicine, King of Light'. Buddha Shakyamuni taught the teachings on the Medicine Buddha, and according to one tradition, is also considered as one of the Medicine Buddhas, and hence the Eight Medicine Buddhas." https://kadampa-center.org/medicine-buddha-puja (an FPMT site)

There's only 1 blue-colored Medicine Buddha. https://landofmedicinebuddha.org/about-medicine-buddha/vows-of-medicine-buddhas/

Have you ever read Blazing Splendor? Some remarkable accounts of Khyentse, Kongtrul, and Chokyur Lingpa. If I recall correctly, Chokyur Lingpa was Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's (the author) grandfather. Also, I think, quite remarkable stories of both the 15th and 16th Karmapas.

I have been quite inspired by basically all of them. In today's world, I personally think that the Ri-Me movement can go even a bit further than in Tibet, as I think there is (often) quite a 'distance' between the Northern and Southern schools of Buddhism (Mahayana/Vajrayana and Theravada, that is), and I think ultimately that's not necessary or helpful, basically.

As to the Chinese invasion, I'm not sure that it's not all for the best. If it hadn't happened, I'm not sure that we would be sitting here as we are. In the long run, it may have been time.

Interestingly I could never really understand the Christian religion until I understood Buddhism. I always had a problem with the concept of "original sin". If we come from nowhere, how can a newborn baby have sin? It doesn't make any logical sense. However if you consider reincarnation means that we've had a limitless number of previous lives, it makes sense that we've probably done some bad shit in a prior incarnation. That's how come all newborn babies can be born with sin. Every question you can come up with about life and existence usually has a logical answer from the Buddhist perspective.

Also Buddhism accepts the existence of not just one god, but numerous gods. Thus Jesus and the Christian god can exist within the Buddhist philosophy, but trying to get to heaven is just a dead-end since it is only temporary. Unlike Christianity which promotes permanence (ie you go to heaven or hell forever), in Buddhism all states of existence are impermanent, even heaven and hell. 'Gods' in the Buddhist context are just another type of incarnation for sentient beings (like being human, animal, or ghost). It's possible that you've been a god in a past existence over beings in some other world-system and then that existence finished and now you're here being human again. Being Buddhist doesn't require you to believe in any of this. Many Buddhists disregard the entire cosmology and don't believe in gods, heaven, hell, ghosts, etc, and this is okay. Faith in these things isn't required to practice Buddhism if you'd rather just take it as a philosophy and apply it to your life in that way. Just be aware that there is no permanence and when you die you aren't annihilated, the consequences of your thoughts, actions, speech, and intentions from this life carry through to the next one, and the one after that, and so on.

Anyways, this book is a perennial classic. It's where many people get started. I'm sure some other users will chime in with other suggestions as well.

Good luck and thanks for your interest!

I come to buddhism by way of recovery -- looking for more information on meditation to incorporate into my AA program. I wasn't really looking for buddhism to overcome addictive behavior -- but it has definitely been a factor in my recovery.

I have been able to discover quite a bit of commonality in the practice and in the program. I think that the commonality helped convince me of the utility of AA at times when I otherwise doubted it (and maybe vice versa). There are a couple of books I've read on the subject: Zen of Recovery and One Breath at a Time. Both were helpful in allowing me to see how these ideas complimented and contrasted with one another.

My favorite line with regard to the 11th step's invocation of meditation: "I didn't meditate so I could stop drinking. I stopped drinking so I could meditate."

"What Makes You Not a Buddhist" by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse is a great intro to Buddhist ideas. It can be read for free on scribd without logging in. If you like it, consider buying it to support the author.

Another common suggestion is Way to the End of Suffering by Bikkhu Bodhi.

I found What Makes You Not a Buddhist by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse to be absolutely wonderful, as well as Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche.

Both are great introductions to Tibetan Buddhism, and Buddhism in general.

You should check out Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond: A Meditator's Handbook by Ajahn Brahm. It's a complete guide to meditation, from the basics into and including the deepest states. First ~50 pages available here.

>I recently called a tibetan buddhist center to ask about the various non-mind, non-body states I’ve been experiencing, because I wanted to compare notes and see how others maneuver through them, as the states can’t be willed I’ve found, unlike any normal out of body experience, they’re independent and the more one tries to move it the more one remembers the “self,” and the desire to move.

Yes, if you use will that ruins the meditation. You're supposed to let go of will completely :-)

What sort of out of body experience are you describing here? Is it that the five sense have disappeared completely? (All notions of body, space, time are gone; a serious deviation from "normal consciousness").

Are you left only with a bright white/colored light?

Yeah, Ingram does a great job covering the jhanas. You might also want to check out:

1. Beyond Mindfulness in Plain English
   
   
2. [Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond](http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Bliss-Beyond-Meditators-Handbook/dp/0861712757/ref=sr_1_1? s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318903325&sr=1-1)
   
   
   
   

The Dalai Lama, and I'd assume many other Buddhist monks/scholars etc. are generally very appreciative of Science. This interested me a while back:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/science/30monks.html

HHDL's book 'The Universe In A Single Atom' is also a worthy read:

http://www.amazon.com/Universe-Single-Atom-Convergence-Spirituality/dp/0767920813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299282456&sr=8-1

Might want to check out these sites:

http://the12stepbuddhist.com/

http://www.kevingriffin.net/

and/or check out these books:

12 Step Buddhist

Buddhism and the Twelve Steps

One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps

Good luck :)

Ajahn Brahm's Mindfulness, Bliss, And Beyond: A Meditator's Guide

Great guide for deeper meditation and entering the jhanas.

I highly recommend Shinzen Young's The Science of Enlightenment audio series. It's very instructive and pragmatic and has some really good guided meditations. No beliefs required at all. The mp3 version through Amazon is significantly less expensive than the cd version.

You can search for Shinzen Young on youtube if you like before purchasing any of his material. See if you like the cut of his jib.

I don't normally recommend this book, but in your case it might be relevant. Thich Nhat Hanh's Living Buddha, Living Christ is a decent comparison of the places where Buddhism and Christianity overlap and where they differ. If you're coming from a place of belief in higher power and Christian values then it might be a good transition for you.

Seconded. Also, if you're interested in the Zen path, Three Pillars of Zen or Eight Gates of Zen. The latter was written by the abbot of the Zen Mountain Monastery (John Daido Loori, who just past away a few months ago) in new Woodstock NY. It's a great place to visit if you live on the east coast.

The DL said:

> If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change. In my view, science and Buddhism share a search for the truth and for understanding reality. By learning from science about aspects of reality where its understanding may be more advanced, I believe that Buddhism enriches its own worldview.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/12/opinion/our-faith-in-science.html


> Suppose that something is definitely proven through scientific investigation, that a certain hypothesis is verified or a certain fact emerges as a result of scientific investigation. And suppose, furthermore, that that fact is incompatible with Buddhist theory. There is no doubt that we must accept the result of the scientific research.

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/is-buddhism-the-most-science-friendly-religion/

> My confidence in venturing into science lies in my basic belief that as in science so in Buddhism, understanding the nature of reality is pursued by means of critical investigation: if scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the findings of science and abandon those claims.

https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Single-Atom-Convergence-Spirituality/dp/0767920813/

How academic do you want to get? Mahayana Buddhism: Doctrinal Foundations is a very good survey of Mahayana Buddhism, but it will be on the heavy reading side.

The Tree of Enlightenment from budaedu.org has a good summary of the basic concepts.

I really liked The Three Pillars of Zen by Philip Kapleau. It was my first introduction to Zen, and remains my go-to book on all things Zen.

I also really like Sit Down and Shut Up: Punk Rock Commentaries on Buddha, God, Truth, Sex, Death, and Dogen's Treasury of the Right Dharma Eye by Brad Warner

Yes, this book is relevant to your situation:
http://smile.amazon.com/Living-Buddha-Christ-10th-Anniversary-ebook/dp/B000SEHE66/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420679460&sr=8-1&keywords=living+buddha+living+christ

> Buddha and Christ, perhaps the two most pivotal figures in the history of humankind, each left behind a legacy of teachings and practices that have shaped the lives of billions of people over two millennia. If they were to meet on the road today, what would each think of the other's spiritual views and practices? In this classic text for spiritual seekers, Thich Nhat Hanh explores the crossroads of compassion and holiness at which the two traditions meet, and he reawakens our understanding of both.

The attributed author, Noah Levine, has apparently been disgraced, but the book is still incalculably useful and written by competent writers. I myself have just started reading it.

https://www.amazon.ca/Refuge-Recovery-Buddhist-Recovering-Addiction/dp/0062122843

Try Bhikkhu Bodhi's The Noble Eightfold Path: Way to the End of Suffering, for a focused and in-depth look at the 8 fold path, 'the 4th thing' the Tathagata taught after awakening.

https://www.amazon.com/Refuge-Recovery-Buddhist-Recovering-Addiction/dp/0062122843/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?adgrpid=56131626636&gclid=CjwKCAjw8NfrBRA7EiwAfiVJpQZZ2zYExqax5dAfFO7iD-MJdTRPR9he0ys-Aa8Aarpgr-nL9YO0MBoCthoQAvD_BwE&hvadid=274704512150&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9031159&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=13071874335361059011&hvtargid=aud-647006051489%3Akwd-335406783035&hydadcr=29453_10734911&keywords=refuge+recovery+book&qid=1568036038&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyTkkwU0hXS042REVJJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODE2ODEwTVBNUk5LQzQxR09ZJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAwNjAxMjUxUUROWkpGRUxHUjZOJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfcGhvbmVfc2VhcmNoX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

I read this a few years ago, i don’t remember it that well but I remeMber it was helpful

With Each and Every Breath by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond by Ajahn Brahm
Right Concentration: A Practical Guide to the Jhanas by Leigh Brasington
Wisdom Wide and Deep by Shaila Catherine
Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana
Beyond Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana

https://www.amazon.com/Mahayana-Buddhism-Doctrinal-Foundations-Religious/dp/0415356539

Perhaps a bit academic, but this one gives a really nice overview.

You'll find out for yourself. Some guides:

An incisive series by Ajahn Jayasaro, a Buddhist Monk in the Thai Forest Tradition.

If you are interested in Zen meditation, check out Phillip Kapleau Roshi's Three Pillars of Zen. As a Westerner, it's a very accessible read that will give you everything that you need to know to start a solid meditation practice.

>Buddhism ... science
>Apples and oranges.

On the contrary, we can compare some aspect of Buddhism and Science side to side. This book Universe in a Single Atom delves in the topic that Science and Buddhism have some similarities as well as differences.

Although the science in some part of the chapters, I might disagree with. Overall, Dalai Lama provides a great insight between the two.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Universe-Single-Atom-Spirituality/dp/0767920813

http://www.amazon.com/The-Quantum-Lotus-Frontiers-Buddhism/dp/1400080797

I was going off memoryl The quantum and the lotus. Also, this is a good read too.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Universe-Single-Atom-Spirituality/dp/0767920813/ref=pd_sim_b_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0F1EZMS2M1EFEE0YXR46

They are both extremely good reads.

given what i have said so far, i don't see how the age of the tradition is relevant, unless we're just to go round in circles.

some interesting readings

http://www.amazon.com/Mutual-Causality-Buddihism-General-Systems/dp/0791406377

http://www.amazon.com/Confession-Buddhist-Atheist-Stephen-Batchelor/dp/0385527071/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346351097&sr=1-1&keywords=confessions+buddhist+atheist

http://www.amazon.com/Buddhism-Science-B-Alan-Wallace/dp/0231123353/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346351200&sr=1-4&keywords=materialism+buddhism

i am a layman. if i have a sangha it would be right here, although i have in the past had association with the cambridge buddhist centre.

The Way of Zen, by Alan Watts

The Three Pilars of Zen, by Philip Kapleau Roshi

Confession of a Buddhist Atheist, by Stephen Batchelor.

Outside of that, most of the stuff that I read comes from brazilian monks, like Monja Coen or Monje Gensho

I recommend reading "The Universe In A Single Atom", lot of insightful things presented by the Dalai Lama.

http://www.amazon.com/Universe-Single-Atom-Convergence-Spirituality/dp/0767920813

Talks about much of what you touched upon.

Sounds like you might be coming from a similar place I was in when I read some of the following:

Living Buddha, Living Christ, by Thich Nhat Hanh

Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings - edited by Marcus Borg

Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, and Lao Tzu: The Parallel Sayings - edited by Richard Hooper

Zen and the Birds of Appetite - by Thomas Merton (a Catholic monk)

Without Buddha I Could not be a Christian - by Dr. Paul Knitter, the Professor of Theology, World Religions and Culture at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York.

Interesting, but I was thinking of this one

Here is a good book that goes into the actual nuts and bolts of practicing zazen. It'll tell you how to sit, what to practice on, etc.

I come from a similar angle, I'm surprised no one has suggested this:

"Buddhist Without Beliefs"
http://www.amazon.com/Buddhism-Without-Beliefs-Contemporary-Awakening/dp/1573226564

"Confession of a Buddhist Atheist"
http://www.amazon.com/Confession-Buddhist-Atheist-Stephen-Batchelor/dp/0385527071/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409011759&sr=8-1&keywords=confessions+of+an+atheist+buddhist

I highly recommend "Buddhist Without Beliefs", being an atheist you will find a lot of empathy points. Buddhism it self, a lot of people argue, is atheist, not based on a deity (or group of deities), but on self realization.

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying - Sogyal Rinpoche.

This one: https://www.amazon.com/Tibetan-Book-Living-Dying-International/dp/0062508342

http://www.amazon.com/Three-Pillars-Zen-Teaching-Enlightenment/dp/0385260938

This book doesn't offer much in the way of scripture or teachings, but it may be up your alley.

Awesome book that sums up all Mahayana thought, including Prajnaparamita and Madhyamaka

The Universe in a Single Atom

You can get this in book form ( 144 pages ) on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/The-Universe-Single-Atom-Spirituality/dp/0767920813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335545753&sr=8-1

For future reference, you can just cut and paste the first line of the quote into Google. It is referenced in a lot of places...here are a few:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunyata

http://www.hopkinsandcompany.com/Books/The%20Universe%20in%20a%20Single%20Atom.htm

The Tibetan Book of the Dead, no. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, on the other hand...

> as if to degrade striving for something.

but what are you striving for? sure, you might gain a lot of money, but will this end your suffering? In the end, you only truly need so much of it; after that, it just brings attachment. And you can be sure of this: you will loose all your material belongings, if only after you die.

letting go is very difficult, and I would hardly call this an easy road. The easy road would be to close your eyes to this truth. To quote the tibetan book of living and dying:

> When I think of [people who look on death with a naive, thoughtless cheerfulness], I am reminded of what one Tibetan
master says: "People often make the mistake of being frivolous about death and think, 'Oh well, death happens to everybody.
It's not a big deal, it's natural. I'll be fine.' That's a nice theory
until one is dying."