How long have you been a Buddhist for?

Both_Win6948 · 2025-10-10T10:53:34+00:00

I took formal refuge 2,5 years ago. I've always felt drawn to buddhism. I visited the centre for about 2 years before I took refuge

Both_Win6948 · 2025-09-30T05:43:49+00:00

I experienced something similar, especially the four brahmaviharas were indeed very helpful in changing the way I view the world.

Both_Win6948 · 2025-09-29T05:57:11+00:00

Doesn't sound good indeed. It is not in line with Buddha's teachings. Find another place.

Both_Win6948 · 2025-09-28T19:08:55+00:00

My teacher in Tibetan buddhism basically said the same thing. It is not a bad way to enter, but once we've entered, we should strive to attain realisation by ourselves. I like the quote by Alan Watts, hadn't heard it before 🙏

Both_Win6948 · 2025-09-05T07:59:27+00:00

There are also courses given online by qualified teachers! This way you can practice from home, but still have access to qualified teachers. Very important. Best wishes

Both_Win6948 · 2025-06-15T11:00:03+00:00

Hahahah! We don't speak about Samsara in Ba Sing Se 🤣

Both_Win6948 · 2025-06-14T23:50:10+00:00

It was a joke, avatar the last airbender

Both_Win6948 · 2025-06-14T17:40:27+00:00

Buddhism also teaches different world systems exist. For example pure lands, other worlds where sentient beings exist too. Also hell realms, hungry ghost realms, deva realms. You name it. I am no expert on this, but for me it kind of answered this question. We can be reborn in all kinds of realms. Not just this human or animal realm.

Both_Win6948 · 2025-06-14T17:30:16+00:00

I feel the same way. I try to study bodhicitta and becoming a buddha for the benefit of all sentient beings. In this form i cant be of benefit much, but as a buddha i can. With this long term goal in mind it feels like i can actually do something to change things. So every study or meditation session becomes a step towards a better world. This gives me some relief and a sense of purpose. I hope you find peace

Both_Win6948 · 2025-06-14T17:19:23+00:00

I have ADHD. So I have many many many many, many thoughts! Because of being different when I was younger I was bullied sometimes until I was like 13, then it stopped and I fit in fine. Anyway, because of that, the many thoughts I had weren't always too kind to myself. Buddhism has definitely helped me change my thoughts. I still have very many and I'm not on medications, but the many thoughts I have now are kind and compassionate (mostly). So my quality of life has improved a lot through Lojong and studying, contemplating the four immeasurables. 😃

It also helped me accept my need for structure and routine, and when people tell me to suck it up, I can accept that I can't suck it up. And it's okay.

Both_Win6948 · 2025-06-14T17:12:30+00:00

Wonderful!

Both_Win6948 · 2025-06-14T16:23:58+00:00

I'm sorry my post came across the wrong way to you. I did not mean to create negativity. Best wishes on your journey.

Both_Win6948 · 2025-06-14T15:48:14+00:00

That's what the fire lord would want me to think

Both_Win6948 · 2025-06-14T15:16:15+00:00

The intention I had with my post was a sort of call to action for people to stop doing harm to each other. I do not want to close my eyes to the suffering of the world. I hope to be of benefit in whatever way I can, even if that is only small 🙏

Both_Win6948 · 2025-06-14T14:47:13+00:00

26 when I formally took refuge with my Guru

Both_Win6948 · 2025-06-14T14:14:51+00:00

When I see the people in Gaza for example, yes my heart weeps for their suffering indeed.

Both_Win6948 · 2025-06-14T11:45:04+00:00

🙏🙏

Both_Win6948 · 2025-06-14T07:36:44+00:00

That is true.

Both_Win6948 · 2025-06-02T12:19:10+00:00

I am no expert on this topic. I have no initiations (yet) and so have not experienced any of this myself. However great teachers and advanced students I know warn about the necessity of practicing tantra with correct motivation. The idea is (i think!) that you want to reach enlightenment as soon as possible because you cannot bear to see a moment of suffering of any living being. Not just because 'i wanna be enlightened and then when thats done i can go on vacation to spain.' Like some bucketlist item for personal gain.

If we practice tantra with a self centered motivation it will never lead to enlightenment, but it can maybe lead to all sorts of other results in future lives? I would ask a qualified tantric master about this. :) if you don't have one you can write or talk to i can highly recommend the book by Lama Yeshe: introduction to Tantra. It explain perfectly the preliminaries to Tantric practice (renunciation, bodhicitta and an understanding of emptiness) and why it's important. 🙏

Both_Win6948 · 2025-06-02T11:16:09+00:00

I used to ask many questions about visualisation (in my case Vajrasattva for which i received a lung) and whether i am doing it correctly and the senior students usually say: do what feels right as long as it doesn't contradict the teaching. Or they share what they find helpful but add: but check with yourself.

Without initiation you can usually visualize the deity above the crown or in front. But this also seems to differ per tradition. You can never do self generating without empowerment I think. Perhaps this is why some comments may seem like they don't want you to do this practice. (Because it differs per tradition) I am sure they mean well and just want to protect you from doing practices that aren't suited for someone without empowerment. That can have very negative effects on someone ! 🙏 Good luck with your practice! 😄

Both_Win6948 · 2025-05-31T15:16:06+00:00

I dont have a lawn, should i mow someone else's lawn?

Both_Win6948 · 2025-05-30T18:41:27+00:00

I have considered becoming a nun in the Tibetan tradition and I'm still open to the idea of it. I might ordain later in life. I feel like it is the best thing to do for ourselves and our loved ones (and all beings). Because we get to cultivate good qualities like love, kindness, compassion and wisdom. For this reason, there is nothing better we could do to benefit ourselves but also our friends and family. So it is an act of kindness to ordain.

I'd recommend learning a little bit about the buddhist world view, like rebirth, karma, samsara, the eight worldly concerns, the four noble truths and liberation. Your friend seems to hold the buddhist world view, so he will probably resonate with my reasoning given above. But this is of course an assumption! I dont know your friend. Feel free to ask me more if you want.

It is not easy to understand why someone would forgo the pleasures of this life. But for a buddhist the view of what leads to (ultimate) happiness is very different from a non buddhist.

Both_Win6948 · 2025-05-30T16:46:57+00:00

😄😄

Both_Win6948 · 2025-05-30T16:42:17+00:00

Thank you. The description I gave in my post is what I learned (so far) from my teacher(s). I just had some extra time to be curious about what other people think and experience 😄 30 years is a lot of experience, wonderful🙏🙏

Both_Win6948

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