amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

~Heidi~ · 11-21-2001, 09:18 PM

Please enlighten me. http://www.amitymama.com/images/icons/smile.gif

~Heidi

~Mom to Brice (8yrs) & Branden(22mos)~

"Agree To Disagree" ~Me

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11-22-2001, 03:11 AM

Yes please?
I would love to learn more.

Aileen
Mom to 3
Drake 7, Aubrey 3, and Aiden 6-12-01
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SketchyRecipe · 11-22-2001, 11:22 AM

Hmmm. Well, what would you like to discuss? The tenets of Buddhism? The different schools of Buddhism? The practice of Buddhism? Reincarnation? I'd be happy to talk about it but I need a jumping off point, lol! LMK

Becky
Mom to Geneva!

~Heidi~ · 11-22-2001, 11:32 AM

I have read a lot...and I know quite a bit...but sometimes the info is overwhelming...kwim?

How about we will start with the Practice? Then we can move on from there? Or would the Tenets be better? UGH!

Heidi

~Heidi

~Mom to Brice (8yrs) & Branden(22mos)~

"Agree To Disagree" ~Me

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J3 · 11-22-2001, 05:48 PM

I've always been interested though not too knowledgable about it.
Currently reading The Art of Happiness - A Handbook for Living by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Great book! Doesn't go into too much about Buddhist thought though.

~Jen R.
3 girls each 4 years apart

SketchyRecipe · 11-22-2001, 09:19 PM

It's sorta hard to figure out where to begin so I'll just give you some of my personal experience as a Buddhist. The two things that I try to keep in my head at all times are compassion and loving kindness. Every time that I start to feel petty or judgemental, I try to muster up some kind of compassion for the person I'm having those feelings toward (not that easy, lol).

The next thing that I always try to consider is if I am causing myself suffering. If I'm angry or sad or anxious, I try to figure out why I'm making myself suffer and that helps me gain some perspective.

The last important thing I think about is karma. Am I doing something that will cause negative actions to come back to me? This can seem selfish, but it's really a good way that you can reliably evaluatue your actions.

An example of these things in action could be if you're rushing to the grocery store to pick up something you need to make dinner...it's pouring rain... you've got the baby in the car... you're waiting for a car to pull out of a spot close to the store and another person in a car cuts you off and gets the spot.

Here's how I try to handle it: I get really p*ssed. Then I try to figure out why I'm so angry. Is it because I was causing myself suffering about dinner? That seems silly. Is it because someone took what I perceived to be "My Rightful Spot"? Well, I don't own that spot. It's not reserved for me with a little sign and a security fence. Am I angry because I'll have to get wet? Getting wet has not caused me undo harm yet. That helps me to wind down a bit. Then I try to imagine the vast range of scenarios that could be playing out in the other driver's head. Maybe they needed to pick up some medicine. Maybe they're a jerk because they've had a crappy life. Maybe they were late to work. This makes me begin to feel a bit of compassion for this person. If I get angry and confront this person I won't solve anything. Plus, it's just more angry karma that comes back to bite me in some other way later on. And I'm truly trying to stockpile my good karma for dd's teen years. ;o)

This is how I try to practice buddhism on a daily basis. Mostly because I'm really, really lazy about meditating. I need to do more, but I'm very bad about using my time to do it. I'm sure I could give you better examples, but I'm dying for leftovers right now. LMK if you have any questions. I'll answer as well as I can with a mouth stuffed full of cranberry sauce.

Becky
Mom to Geneva!

~Heidi~ · 11-22-2001, 09:40 PM

Okay...I've read about all three...years ago. I have been trying HARD to practice all three in my life. I do lose perspective sometimes....and I was hoping to find someone to help me...and be a mentor. Would you at any time be willing to help?? I would like to learn how to meditate or chant? That is when I stopped reading...I tried to meditate once..loved it...but I need a "quickie" meditation routine.

I have also read something about beads during chanting or meditating. Do you know anything about those?

I have been having bouts of bad karma lately...and I do know why. If you can assist...I would be so grateful.

Oh....I am atheist. I believe Buddhism to be more of a way of life...or philosophy. Being true to you and the world....kwim? I know Buddha would be very uphappy to know that people "worship" him. I have read that many times. I love to read...and Chinese culture...Buddhism are my favorite subjects lately.

Please email me if you wish too.

~Heidi

~Mom to Brice (8yrs) & Branden(22mos)~

"Agree To Disagree" ~Me

Join my Yahoo Group
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SketchyRecipe · 11-22-2001, 09:57 PM

Sure! PM me anytime with anything that's going on. It's very hard to practice without some kind of help. Like I said before, I'm a total bum about meditating, but I might be able to pass along some things that have helped me. I'll PM you about the other stuff.

Becky
Mom to Geneva!

11-24-2001, 02:12 AM

I just wanted to share some meditation stuff with you...I am not Buddist but have studied and combined as much of the 'culture' into my thinking and proocessing of daily events, as I have done so from Judaism and Christianity too...

I meditate without ritual with my son before bed, in the morning before and after yoga, in the bath, in my camper bus when I really can't find peace..I'll just climb in the back while ds is sleeping and well.....relax...

My point is, it can become a great habit as meditation occurs in many beliefs and practices and is a way to find peace and really prepare for receiving at any time and anywhere....helps us live longer and healthier lives, find perspective every day and really place your whole being into a realm where you cannot be phased by anything...

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~Hope~ · 11-26-2001, 03:21 PM

Heidi, I am glad you said that:

I believe Buddhism to be more of a way of life...or philosophy. Being true to you and the world....kwim? I know Buddha would be very uphappy to know that people "worship" him. I have read that many times.

My dh says that all the time, and I wanted to ask, but was unsure how to bring it up!

Hope

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SketchyRecipe · 11-27-2001, 10:54 AM

An early tenet of Buddhism was that no images were to be made in the likeness of the Buddha. It was actually about 500 years before any images were drawn. Most of the rimpoches I have learned from have said that Buddha was just a man. He was not a god. They also say that you should use trees or flowers or the sky as a focal point when you are trying to meditiate or chant because these are the things that will teach you the true message of the Buddha.

Becky
Mom to Geneva!