New to this and wanting to learn

[Hawkeye]

I was raised in a fundamentalist Christian home and was required to go to church several times a week growing up. The older I got the less I believed in what I was taught. I started asking some pointed questions that either made people uncomfortable or was met with the less than comforting response, "That's the mystery of God." Needless to say, that wasn't helpful.

As the years went by I stopped going to church and when I started researching Christianity, it's origins and traditions, the more I was convinced that what I was brought up to believe was completely wrong and false.

I have always been interested in The Dalia Lama so started reading about him, his books, and Buddhism. What I found is that Buddhism isn't so much a religion as a way of life. You have no master, the rules are simple and consice, and it isn't interested in money or power. It is a way of personal betterment and inner peace. A wonderful benefit is that as you grow, you are more focused on things that matter and lose interest in the trivilties of life.

At least this is my perception. Again, I am new to this and have a desire to learn more and grow. While in Hawaii I was able to visit a Buddhist Temple and I was drawn to it's simplicity and spirit of peace.

Please bare with me as I ask questions and learn.

[Aloka]

.Hello Hawkeye - and a warm welcome to BWB! Please feel free to ask questions in whichever of the forums here that you feel are most appropriate.

I have always been interested in The Dalia Lama so started reading about him, his books, and Buddhism. What I found is that Buddhism isn't so much a religion as a way of life. You have no master,

The Dalai Lama is a Tibetan Gelugpa lama and is involved with Vajrayana Buddhism, which definately requires the input of a personal teacher/master in order to progress on that particular path.

Here is a link to his website:

https://www.dalailama.com/

He lived in a huge palace in Lhasa before the Chinese took over Tibet.

[woodscooter]

Hello Hawkeye. Welcome to Buddhism Without Boundaries!

[Olderon]

Hello, Hawkeye.

I am also an escaped Christian. I have learned over the last twenty years or so that the teachings of Jesus and those of Sakyamuni Buddha have a great deal in common. You will see these for yourself as you practice and have time to compare and contrast based on your own personal experience.

A good place to begin according to my experience is by studying The Suttas (the documented teachings of Buddha). You may want to compare these teachings with what you learned from The New Testaments of Mathew, Mark, Luke, John & St. Paul.

Welcome,

Ron

[Hawkeye]

Hello, Hawkeye.

I am also an escaped Christian. I have learned over the last twenty years or so that the teachings of Jesus and those of Sakyamuni Buddha have a great deal in common. You will see these for yourself as you practice and have time to compare and contrast based on your own personal experience.

A good place to begin according to my experience is by studying The Suttas (the documented teachings of Buddha). You may want to compare these teachings with what you learned from The New Testaments of Mathew, Mark, Luke, John & St. Paul.

Welcome,

Ron

Is there a particular version that you would recommend?

[Aloka]

Hi Hawkeye,

There are some useful pinned resources in the website's "Discovering Buddha's Teachings" forum, and in the "Sutta Studies" forum...and it would also be helpful for you to have a look at the pinned resources in the "Theravada Buddhism" forum.

Kind regards,

Aloka.

[Aloka]

I am also an escaped Christian. I have learned over the last twenty years or so that the teachings of Jesus and those of Sakyamuni Buddha have a great deal in common. You will see these for yourself as you practice and have time to compare and contrast based on your own personal experience.

A good place to begin according to my experience is by studying The Suttas (the documented teachings of Buddha). You may want to compare these teachings with what you learned from The New Testaments of Mathew, Mark, Luke, John & St. Paul.

Welcome,

Ron

Hi Ron, please can you be mindful that number 17b in the website's Code of Conduct states:

[This is not a comparative (world) religions or 'spiritual beliefs' website.

Many thanks