Where Do I Start ?

[SilentStream]

Wanting to stay close to the Theravada teachings i'm new and no not where to start. I'm focused on vipassana meditation studying Mindfulness by Bhante Gunaratana. However I wouldn't mind another book not to over the top about Buddha's teachings,something to help lay a good foundation on. I'm assuming pali canon. Any advice would be welcome.

[Aloka]

Maybe have a look at these resources to begin with, Eric. (Pinned at the beginning of the topics in this same forum on the website)

An outline of Buddhism:

http://santacittarama.altervista.org/e_buddhism.htm

The Four Noble Truths by Ajahn Sumedho:

http://www.amaravati.org/dhamma-book...-noble-truths/

Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha by Ajahn Sumedho:

http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma2/bds.html

...and see if you can get a copy of "In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon", introduced by Bhikkhu Bodhi.

[SilentStream]

In the Buddha's words I just saw today at the library,thankyou I'll pick it Up tomorrow Aloka.

[Andy84]

I'm in the same boat also and have no idea where to start. Will check out the links that have been provided.

I have the opportunity to attend beginner meditations for Diamond way and Dhammakaya groups. Do you think it is wise to do a bit reading before attending?

The only knowledge I have is from the Art of Happiness.

[Aloka]

Hi Andy,

I think it might be a good idea to get some basic knowledge of some of the core teachings of the historical Buddha first.(As mentioned in #2 of this thread and in the pinned resources at the beginning of the topics in this Discovering Buddha's Teachings forum.)

After you've eventually done that, its a good idea to investigate the basic differences between the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, because many of the teachings of Mahayana & Vajrayana were composed by other people long after the death of the Buddha.

I would also suggest that you use Google to check out any centres/temples to see if they're regarded as controversial groups.

This is a list of controversial teachers and groups which includes the two centres you've mentioned - Diamond Way and Dhammakaya...

http://viewonbuddhism.org/controvers...stionable.html

[Andy84]

I will take your advice and read up on the information you have provided before I go diving in and attending such groups.

[chownah]

Wanting to stay close to the Theravada teachings i'm new and no not where to start. I'm focused on vipassana meditation studying Mindfulness by Bhante Gunaratana. However I wouldn't mind another book not to over the top about Buddha's teachings,something to help lay a good foundation on. I'm assuming pali canon. Any advice would be welcome.

The suggestions you have received already are great. I'll just add "Wings to Awakening" by thanissaro bhikku. I find his writing easy to understand usually....I'm not very familiar with the suggest reading you have received already and perhaps they will be easy for you to understand too.....I'm just offering a different teacher and a different style and not claiming it to be better than the others.
chownah