Hi, I'm new to buddhism and have many questions to ask, but my most prevalent is I'm the title, how can I be happy when there is so much suffering. I am troubled because I as a single person do not have the ability to end suffering. Sorry I am not much of a writer but those are my thoughts.

…it came from a Falungong website which is a cult. Thats a shame, it seems like a story that the Buddha would tell you

http://www.pureinsight.org/node/4079

There’s a massive open online course through HarvardX on the topic of Buddhist scriptures. It’s free and happening now through the end of the month. (I think it will probably stay online to be taken whenever, but right now the class is “live.”). I did the first day so far and it’s really interesting!

https://pll.harvard.edu/course/buddhism-through-its-scriptures

So I've been slowing moving over to reciting prayers in Tibetan and as an English speaker, I find that the phonetics are quite different than what I imagine the words to sound like based on characters.

Does anyone have any good resources for the basics? Preliminaries like refuge, bodhicitta, four immeasurables, offering the mandala, dedication, etc?

I've just been listening to YouTube videos on repeat which has been effective in the past but is a little clunky.

Thank you, metta! 🙏

I've been studying Buddhism and Christianity for a little while now and would like to think I made some spiritual strides, as I've been told I have yet to reach the spring but I've found some of its fountains. I feel I've been derailed by falling in love. I've fallen in love with a girl and dated her for 8 months before the circumstances of our lives have made it difficult for us to be together. I feel as though my teaching is telling me to let go, and that i shouldn't have let my feelings get so intense in the first place. But I love loving. It's why I want to develop Bodhichitta in the first place. I don't want to he totally solitary or relinquish my intense feelings but I also feel like they might be a trap. How have other seekers reconciled their human feelings of love with nonattatchment because I find it much harder than relinquishing material possessions or social status.

hi everyone, I found this drawing in an old monk’s house that was built inside of a cave in Chiang Dao, Thailand. Can anyone explain the meaning of it and what it was used for? It was in a little room that served as both meditation room and kitchen it seems.

Today I lost my job. I also live somewhere that will soon experience political and social upheaval. I find myself overwhelmed with fear for the future and a desire to worry/ruminate, projecting possible outcomes and "planning" for them (although it is all hypothetical so probably not that useful).

To those who live in tumultuous life conditions: how do you use Buddhism to understand and manage your responses, and stay in a reasonably wholesome place?

I am extremely new to the idea of Buddhism, but I want to broaden my understanding and become a better person. Is there a book or a podcast that offers meditation guidance/general advice that is very straightforward? Preferably in English.

Sorry for the ignorant question, but I wonder what are the differences between Anapanasatti common in the Theravada tradition and Zazen? Is Zazen a form of Samata meditation?

"Until now, I thought dying was only for the unskillful"

My memory isn't that great, and in more recent years it's gotten worse. I also know that people can mix up memories, and even create them, so I'm doubting anyone could tell me but I'll ask since it was for an important part of a present, and I can't attributed it. Probably about 10 or more years ago, I read a book called "Graceful Exits, How Great Beings Die" , I had listened to it on an audiobook, I thought.

But just bought the book again and reread the whole thing this afternoon, and I can't find it though I read pretty thoroughly through several sittings today. So here's what I recall, trust none of it, but it also could be correct, I just don't know. The only thing I do remember vividly, when I heard it, I laughed hysterically, as though it may well have been to point at impermanent that most people ignore, which is what I thought when I read/heard it, it's really goes against what someone who was a master of Buddhism should ever have seriously considered, much less been departing words.

I recall (don't trust as fact) that he was a Chinese master (Zen?) from several hundred years ago whose last words were "Until now, I thought dying was only for the unskillful". If this is familiar to anyone and you could find it and who said it, or think you know where it can be found, I'd really appreciate it. ChatGPT recommended reading "Graceful Exits ..." which I just had done, and "Japanese Death Poems" which I have never read - seemed an AI way of saying, like the Wizard of Oz may have wanted to say to Dorthey when she finds him behind the curtain, "Go Away kid, you bother me".

I tried several ways with ChatGPTo and it couldn't and provided me with a couple of off target quotes. The reason this is important to me is that I was having it engraved on a custom made chess board for my daughter, and without a source (or authentication of the quote), it just wouldn't have the same impact.

I thought it would have been great to have on the person's side she was playing against as chess is a game of sacrifice.

Had a vision of the double slit experiment that led to my enlightenment at the gym. I walked outside and it was raining after a long dry spell.

picture of experiment

I read the lotus sutra last night and I believe this was a vision of the Buddha announcing a teaching.

A single ray of light appearing variegated.

A ray of light variegating Buddha fields.

All paths are valid.

All my Buddha's up till this point were Western pilsosophers.

Western minds have valid contributions to Buddhist realms of thought.

Sartre comes to the forefront of my mind and was a critical part of my enlightenment.

The look of the other. The object. The gaze.

There is no self except the self that I create.

The light is always variegated. This is the nature of our reality.

I collapse the wave interference pattern.

I create the outcome.

I manifest the two spots and make reality by my being.

The light is always variegated even if it appears as two slits to me.

This is the nature of reality.

This is faith.

Buddhism seems so clear compared to the murky waters of western thought I've been swimming in, but all paths are valid roads to enlightenment.

My shackles weren't burdens, they were training weights for my mind.

Many illustrations.

Carry the light.

Additionally, if you live in the west, do the societal ideas of masculinity differ from those you’ve learned on your journey through Buddhism?

Wondering people's thoughts on this topic. This idea of the ultimate outside or beyond our universe.. It seems like our souls need the physical universe to survive though. Confusing

I’ve been really interested in Buddhism for a while but idk what to do to start learning about it and the history.

Comes from Japan for reference!

Hello everyone,

TLDR: If you identify with both Buddhism and Christianity in some way, please vote and clarify what form of Buddhism you practice.

I am currently a seminarian with a Christian theological school and am preparing to enter my projected final term of study. I have been given the opportunity to complete an independent study on the intersection and convergence of Buddhism and Christianity, and as a component of this, I would like to engage with others who identify with what Paul Knitter called "double belonging", or finding a home in both Buddhism and Christianity in some way. In the future, I would like to look for candidates to engage with a survey or interview. However, before I formally submit my proposal, I would like to first identify if I should narrow the scope of my study down to Zen Buddhism (regardless of cultural origin), or keep it open to all forms of Buddhism. In response to this, I am asking folks who identify in some way with both Christianity and Buddhism to simply identify here if the form of Buddhism they align most with is Zen or something else, and to comment what that is if it is another form.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

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I cannot put into words the immense respect I have for the Buddha. His words, like this verse, have made a huge impact on me, transforming someone who had hardly any insight before to someone with far more understanding and mindfulness.

I just wanted to show my appreciation for this verse by making a post about it to raise awareness. It’s both powerful and elegant. I feel I would be doing a disservice to society by not sharing this verse, to be honest!

It is because of this verse that I actually find tranquility in being alone, not despair — I find bliss.

So, what are your thoughts on this verse? How did it impact you? What decisions did you make because of it?

Thanks for reading!

Namo Buddhaya!

Basicially what the title says, I am new in learning buddhism and want to indulge in it but i am in a country with no buddhist presence, Turkey.

Would be glad if anyone helped

I live in an apartment complex where it’s obviously old and walls are thin, yet my upstairs neighbors run their washing machine, which is technically not even okay to have all day. When I spoke to them about this they do it more and on purpose. It’s a husband and wife, the husband throws things on purpose when I’m in the bath they deliberately run their bath on and off and I can hear them laughing through the vent. It’s awful and I can o my take so much. Most of the time I don’t react I try to simply let it go, but it’s literal taunting and maybe I’m just not wrong enough spiritually to deal with it, but I want to stick to not harming.

What to do how to let it not “get to me”. It really sucks, but I know I must protect my goodwill, but in this instance I am repressing my anger and fear of this violent man (he’s attacked another neighbor for taking his wife’s Peking spot in a family emergency).

After searching for guidance, I've found information by Venerable Thubten Chodron through the Sravasti Abbey to be traditional, clear, and abundant. I intend to focus on this one source while building a foundation.

Has anyone had experience with the abbey? Since all my contact will be digital and remote, I'd like to hear from those with a personal history. Thank you.

I think it might just happen in this lifetime. I was tripping psilocybin for 4 days and came out the other side with a totally new perspective. I found the present moment on a whole other level and it was utter bliss, but then I lost touch with it. I’m currently staying at an Airbnb and the family that lives in this house makes SO much noise. Just constant banging and cling clong clang all day. It’s absolutely brutal. They have no gentleness about them. When they open and close cupboards they just absolutely slam the fuck out of them. And it seems they are ALWAYS cooking and washing the dishes. I just can’t take all the noise and movement anymore, I want to be in stillness and silence. How does one go about becoming a Buddhist monk?

Ok so I brand new to this and I’ve got some questions-

So the reason i joined Buddhism is because I believe in reincarnation,Karma,Bad and right,Meditation.

.Can I drink ? .Can I go to a church with my grandma at Christmas?

I think that would be fine as Buddhism is a faith not a religion and it’s about celebration of life and also they are meant to listen to things with an open mind.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated 🙏