SweetLeafSamadhi said:

I think a lot depends on what you are looking for and what you take from Buddhism.

For me, reading things like the Life of Milarepa and the tales of the MahaSiddhas was rather compelling.
Others may prefer Mahayana Sutras or the Pali Canon.

There is quite a diversity of approaches in disseminating the Dharma.

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rbalzer said:

SweetLeafSamadhi said:

I think a lot depends on what you are looking for and what you take from Buddhism.

For me, reading things like the Life of Milarepa and the tales of the MahaSiddhas was rather compelling.
Others may prefer Mahayana Sutras or the Pali Canon.

There is quite a diversity of approaches in disseminating the Dharma.

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Well, I'm looking to escape my body, in order to get to know my Self better.

The 4 truths make a lot of sense to me. The 8 fold path i don't understand quite as well.

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nicechrisman said:

A Gradual Awakening by Stephen Levine is a pretty good one. Or Turning The Mind Into An Ally by Sakyong Mipham is good too. Also The Dhammapada is an excellent place to start. It's basically the only Buddhist text that is entirely the words of Buddha (or at least how they've been translated) there are several translations available. I liked the one by Ecknath Easarawan (sp?)

Lots of different types of buddhism out there too. I've been being introduced recently to some of the Dzogchen buddhist (or pre buddhist?) teachings from Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. Interesting stuff.

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always good to see you chrisman

Thank you for the recommendations, I'd actually not come across any of those books in my quick google searches. I'll have to check them out!

maybe I'll just order two. I don't think I'll be able to pick just one.

That is one thing I ought to try to figure out, which sect of sub-division of buddhism I should study specifically. Maybe I'll try them all in turn. I mean its just worthwhile to try to wrap your head around other religions. Even if you might not end up settling on that one, its worth trying to fully understand.

Thats why I can't wait to eventually read that main book on Taoism, (cant remember the title atm) because Taoism truly perplexes me. Buddhism often makes sense to me quickly, but when I read Taoist quotes I just sit there and think on it. which I like

Coen said:

I'm totally a Buddhist noob but I really like listening to Alan Watts lectures. I think he does a good job of explaining Buddhist, Zen, Hindu and Taoist ideas to a Western audience. Maybe not as in-depth as you wanna go, but I definitely learned some stuff there. I enjoyed Siddhartha too, and I may look into some of the above references. Nice thread OP.

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rbalzer said:

I have read siddhartha a couple times in my life, and every time it makes me re-think the way I live my life.

But what can I do to become a better buddhist? I've been giving meditation a spin, and really like where thats been taking me. Also gonna give yoga another go

My main question is: what book should I read? I need a buddhist text to ponder over in the coming months.

Obviously everyone finds their own path through this philosophy, I just need some guidance to get me going in the right direction.

On top of all this, I've been considering buying the "go-to" text on taoism. But I think I should focus on buddhism heavily first before turning my focus to something new.




Any and all input is very appreciated!!!

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cez said:

rbalzer said:

I have read siddhartha a couple times in my life, and every time it makes me re-think the way I live my life.

But what can I do to become a better buddhist? I've been giving meditation a spin, and really like where thats been taking me. Also gonna give yoga another go

My main question is: what book should I read? I need a buddhist text to ponder over in the coming months.

Obviously everyone finds their own path through this philosophy, I just need some guidance to get me going in the right direction.

On top of all this, I've been considering buying the "go-to" text on taoism. But I think I should focus on buddhism heavily first before turning my focus to something new.




Any and all input is very appreciated!!!

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The Way of Zen by Alan Watts.  Watts gives a historical account on Buddhism, particularly Mahayana Buddhism and also the history of Taoism and how they merged in a sense to create the concept of Zen Buddhism, which he then focuses on.

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nicechrisman said:

I think the essences of buddhism and taoism are the same. I've been reading the Tao Te Ching recently. Good stuff.

I wouldn't worry too much about what "school" to follow. Best to find what works for you. Study what appeals to you until a path makes itself clear to you would be my best advice.

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nicechrisman said:

There are also many Himalayan Mayahana schools that were developed from teachers traveling between India and the Himalayas.

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Yeah, I love the Himalayan traditions of Buddhism; there are some truly fascinating developments.
Buddhism's tendency to absorb local traditions rather than to try and replace them served well for adding diversity to the schools.

Mahayana develops a really rich and interesting metaphysics; but when it develops onward into Vajrayana and makes its way into Tibet things get really compelling to me.  Magical rituals, sacred landscapes, deity meditations; Tantric Buddhism really captured my heart.

The biography of one of Tibet's most revered saints (Milarepa) including a large portion dedicated to his experiments with black magic and cursing those who had wronged him as a child speaks volumes to me.  I presuppose that it reflects strongly on the absorption of local Bon traditions into Buddhism.

nicechrisman said:

I just finished a biography of Longchenpa. It was pretty sweet. I was watching a cool series about Milarepa recently too.

I wonder what was in the wine his guru Marpa gave him before he had visions of mandalas in the sky and dakinis?

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Oh excellent, this looks like it covers the second portion of his biography.
Thank you very much for posting.

I've wondered the same thing, but I've not been able to find any well defined answers.

Psychoactive plants were no stranger to the Tibetan traditions though -- Padmasambhava even provides account of miraculous plants in a sacred Tibetan valley.

Quote:

In the center of Pemako there are five nectar bestowing plants.  Whoever consumes "the excellent plant of miracles" will remain free of all disease and attain miraculous powers.  One's body will become youthful and capable of flying through the sky.  Without abandoning the physical body, one can attain celestial realms...Whoever eats the "plant of increasing bliss" experiences the inexhaustible union of joy and emptiness...Whoever partakes of "the plant of purification" dissolves all karmic obstructions and the eighty forms of habitual thought.  They will recall countless previous lives.  Whoever eats "the plant which severs disturbing emotions" will never think of food or drink...and samadhi will arise spontaneously.  These are the supreme plants of the realized adepts (siddhas).  Whoever eats them will release all blockages of the inner energy channels and directly perceive the realms of the Buddhas.

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Quote:

The six essays in this volume all deal with the relationship of mystical experience to ordinary life. The title essay on "cosmic consciousness" includes the author's account of his own ventures into this inward realm. "Instinct, Intelligence, and Anxiety" is a study of the paradoxes of self-consciousness; "Spiritually and Sensuality," a lively discussion of the false opposition of spirit and matter; and "The New Alchemy," a balanced account of states of consciousness akin to spiritual experience induced by the aid of lysergic acid. The collection also includes the text of Watts' celebrated pamphlet, "Beat Zen, Square Zen, and Zen."

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Can't miss with Alan Watts. 

nicechrisman said:

I know what you mean. I watched that one Milarapa part 1 movie, and I still haven't ever seen part 2 available.

This one is kinda cool too because it has modern rock music as a lot of the sound track.

Also I enjoyed how most of the storyline is in text rather than being spoken. I think reading things incorporates them into the mind differently from hearing them.

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I know exactly which part 1 movie you mean, and have not been able to find part 2 for it either.

I like this series you linked a lot though.  I have copies of both Milarepa's and Marpa's biographies, but the pacing and presentation of the video does a lot to renew the message.