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So You Want to be a Buddhist...?
Well it is very simple.
No initiation, no trials, no testing, no baptism, no crowds, no witnesses, or any other ritual.
Of course there are some rituals to offer tools for daily encouragement and cause-making opportunities.
BUT, truly, and in the Buddha's very words, all that is necessary is that you take conviction in the teachings
of four basic truths, which are really just one, and that you apply yourself to eight general principles of
changing the way you think about the world around you as well as your "self". That's it.
Why is that it you may ask?
Because changing the way you think is enlightenment itself. This is why it is called awakening, due to the fact
that our normal state is to walk around in a dream. To think correctly is to awaken from the dream to the "real"
truth.
The four basic truths that are one? The Four Noble truths:
- All existence is Dukkha (a Pali term roughly corresponding to a number of terms in English including
suffering, pain, unsatisfactory-ness, sorrow, affliction, anxiety, dissatisfaction, discomfort, anguish,
stress, misery, and frustration.)
- All suffering (Dukkha) results from selfish craving.
- The cessation of selfish cravings brings about the end of Dukkha (suffering).
- The path to the cessation of selfish cravings is the Eightfold path (or training).
So, you might be tempted to interpret this as stopping greed. For instance, my "selfish cravings" are the
moments when I want a bigger piece of pie than any one else. However, that is not correct. The idea that you want
pie at all is selfish. In fact, the idea that you "are" a "self" or that any phenomena is "mine" or "yours" or
"better" or "worse" are all selfish cravings. In other words, and desire, want, "need", or assumed thought that
is in the service of differentiating or reasoning that there is anything unique about you, is selfish and
therefore untrue and begets suffering.
So, how do we NOT think in this way????
Well, before I list the Eightfold Path I want to issue this disclaimer. The Eightfold Path is a guide, it is a
guide for study of the concepts that lead to greater understanding of the way we started thinking incorrectly
and the tools and insights we need in order to correct our misinformed thoughts and re-train our minds to think
correctly. And that is why STUDY is an integral part of Buddhist "Practice". In a very real way, study IS Buddhism.
The Eightfold Path reads as follows:
- Right Views (correct understanding of the Buddha teachings)
- Right Thinking (thoughts, intent, aspirations, etc...)
- Right Speech (truth, gentle, etc...)
- Right Action (conduct, morals, etc...)
- Right Living (purification of thoughts, words, and deeds)
- Right Endeavor (maintaining one's path toward awakening)
- Right Mindfulness (aspiring for truth and being vigilant)
- Right Meditation (to focus on the truth of impermanence and equanimity)
So there you have it. You can consider this your beginning as a Buddhist. You can begin your study here by
reading other excerpted texts I have posted. You can go further by using this website resource, and you can
ask me for assistance to setup an alter as well as enshrining a Gohonzon and when and how to do so. If you are
close enough, I'll come over and assist!
Of course, the book "Beyond Zen" available at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/kwoon has all the basics, including instruction
on alter, Gongyo, chanting, and even provides a Gohonzon to frame and begin your practice all on your own!
So what's stopping you?
Start you path to Happiness Today!!!
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