I'd like to hear from some other DU'ers about their particular path and traditions.
Last edited Mon Jan 9, 2012, 10:55 PM - Edit history (1)
I am a member of the Order of Inter-being. It is a Vietnamese tradition following Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. I am a member of the Puget Sound Mindfulness Community and try to practice daily. I found Buddhism through reading Thay's books and just fell in love with his beautiful writing. My life hasn't been the same since. I am currently trying to bring more of my mindfulness practice to the office. It has certainly changed my perspective and brought more compassion and loving kindness into my life.
I would love to hear about other people's journeys.
A lotus for you, Buddha to be. _/l\_
= new reply since forum marked as read
so I'm told, leaves the raft of Dharma behind after crossing the river, and kills the Buddha on the road.
A simple tree can teach a lot more than the blathering fool of a prince who sits in its shade. 
Last edited Thu Jan 12, 2012, 04:10 AM - Edit history (1)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_BuddhistI'm sort of all over the place. The Beatniks and especially Kerouac, Ginsberg, and Snyder were a sort of introduction to Buddhism and how it can be practiced within the modern American context without being too doctrinaire. I've done some reading in some of the various traditions in college and worked for a summer at a Buddhist school in Honolulu. I practice in my own way, which is really no way at all in a very real sense, but in a way that I hope is "right" even if it is not "perfect" or "ideal;" maybe in another life. I left my books in Honolulu a couple months ago, I am still awaiting their shipment, I miss my books; the internet is a poor substitute for an actual page.
"A man who allows wild passion to arise within, himself burns his heart, then after burning adds the wind that thereto which ignites the fire again, or not, as the case may be." - Kerouac
Kailash
that if the Buddha met you in the road, he would immediately kill himself... 
...about your impressions of Bhutan if you do not mind sharing. I like to live vicariously.
It sounds pretty special to me.
Just your point about your family not being very outspoken about faith. My parents were catholic and took us to church (although less and less as we got older) but religion and faith just was never a discussion we had, and I always had the impression that no one really took it seriously.
I certainly found out differently when I started talking about being atheist. 
My mom, though Jewish, has had a lifelong passion for Vedanta so that's likely why I was drawn to eastern religion/philosphy in college, where I was particularly taken by Taoism. An early beautiful memory in my path was a morning I was in Sedona, having gotten up to practice a bit of yoga on one of the broad rock faces as the sun was coming up; after a few sun salutations I sat with a book in that peaceful serenity, lingering for quite a while over Lao Tzu's words: "When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be." This got through to me deeply and became a door to my future Buddhist practice.
Thich Nhat Hanh was my starting point and I just read/pondered his writings for a number of years without really exploring beyond. Then about 8 years ago a friend introduced me to Pema Chodron and I developed an immediate deep appreciation/passion for her teachings. A couple other close friends have also found Pema's teachings and through the tough times we coach each other using these; it's so helpful to be reminded, to catch ourselves and recenter.
I also have the good fortune to be living in the DC area, where I can attend Tara Brach's weekly sittings/teachings, which draw upwards of 200 people. Tara ("Radical Self-Acceptance" is also a clinical psychologist as well as the leader of the DC Insight Meditation Society and her talks are well-thought out and illuminating. Her talks and guided meditations are freely available here, BTW, if anyone would like to check her out: http://tarabrach.com/
I've dabbled in Jewish meditation, as well. Finally, for the past 2 years I've been carrying Charlotte Joko Beck's Everyday Zen (a gift from a friend) with me to read whenever I'm waiting in a line or stuck somewhere with time on my hands. Frequent nourishment with Buddhist thought feels like a life necessity.
Thanks for forming this group!
My fellow JuBu
Post away! One might wonder why this group is so silent. 
[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I've been meaning to post in this thread since the group began, but never quite got around to it. I do, however, check in at least once daily to look for bits of inspiration and insight; in time, maybe I can even offer some.
My path has been a long and winding one, but the theme that directed it was always a search for the basic, universal truths behind all religions. My mind has filtered everything I've learned in terms of aligning similarities, while discarding inconsistencies and dogmatic differences.
I started out a very sheltered, devout little Catholic girl, even to the point of wanting to join a contemplative order of nuns for a while. I grew up with the pre-Vatican II dogmas, accepted them all without question, and believed them with all my heart. Disillusionment came when I hit the real world, and saw the corruption, deceit, hypocrisy, and cruelty in the institution and many of its representatives. The fairy tales all fell apart and I fell into a black hole for a time.
Gradually, I started looking around again, and in my early 20s I decided to explore and compare other religions. On my own, I read introductory books about all the major world religions and even some of the "minor" ones. I was looking for a unifying Theory of Everything for the spiritual realm, because I never lost the need to nurture a spiritual life that carries over into everyday living.
My driving force was to "walk the talk" (while learning from my own failures that it's difficult at best to live up to one's own ideal), but first I had to define the universal parameters of the "talk." I was convinced that no one set of doctrines had all the answers, and that most of the rules and all of the rituals were superfluous.
My explorations expanded to include neopaganism (and wicca), shamanic traditions, pantheism, and humanism. Every time, I turned away when I felt that dogmas and rituals began to obscure the underlying truths from which each tradition sprang.
The other thing I searched for was the intersection and compatibility between science and religion. I strongly believed then, as now, that there can be no contradiction between the two, and that any so-called contradictions are the result of our limited information and understanding.
When I first learned about quantum physics, I started reading everything I could about that. Having trouble wrapping my head around it is an understatement, but that was a wondrous thing in itself. It resonated on a spiritual and visceral level. Pantheism made much more sense all of a sudden. Wiccan "magik" suddenly had some scientific validity (ritualized noetics). The much maligned and misunderstood "emptiness" of Buddhism suddenly made perfect sense. And on and on.
Now that I'm in late middle age and semi-retired, I don't have the daily stresses and distractions that I used to. My time, except for a few hours for work each evening, is pretty much my own. There's plenty of time to read, reflect, and pull all the bits together. The path I continue on still meanders but is the same -- defining the spiritual Theory of Everything, and living my life in consistent accord with what I've come to realize (often a great challenge).
Where I'm at right now is a combination of Buddhism and pantheism, with elements from other religions tossed in for aesthetic value.
Oxymoron, I only recently discovered your Order of Interbeing, and have had The Five Mindfulness Trainings prominently displayed for daily reading for about a week now. Living each day mindfully and in love with the Oneness that we are all part of is a joyous thing, although living consistently in mundane harmony with those convictions is also a lifetime challenge. I'm just beginning.
Whew! Just realized how long-winded this is, but, well... you asked.
I think you will find not a soul who in some way or another has not had a "meandering" path. If we all did not meander some, we would not be here at all! Feel free to commiserate here as much as you would like, aloha to you and mahalo for sharing your story.
P.S. nice image!
[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I really enjoy this group and look forward to continuing to learn from everyone here.
PS - Glad you like the image! I collect smilies and gifs that strike me and that others might enjoy.
Let me know if you have any questions about the website. Aloha.
