learn about buddhism

I just finished listening to the Buddhism 101 series on Zencast. It was really great.

I learned today that one of the stages of enlightenment includes giving up belief in rights and rituals. I’m happy to hear that as I already don’t believe in those things and don’t understand their inclusion in some Buddhist practices. Makes me more assured.

Tonight I got out of the books and into real life. I went to a Buddhist meditation center. It was pretty much nothing like I had imagined.

There was a special event that night that I understand to be not the usual program. They were celebrating the life of the leader of their movement and the whole thing made me very suspicious and uncomfortable. Afterward, the leader of the meditation instruction told me that he thought it was strange and that he doesn’t believe the reincarnation bits. I’m not sure if he meant he thought it was strange when he first joined the group, or if he thought tonight’s presentation was strange.

In any case, I’m convinced I will never be a believer in that particular community. I’m not sure either if I’m comfortable returning to the center to participate in the meditation, which is the thing I’m most interested in right now.

The more I learn about Buddhism, the more I realize I don’t know.

I am 1/2 way through Buddha by Karen Armstrong.

I am realizing that my skeptical nature lead me to choose this book among the several I have collected. I wanted to understand the history and origins of Buddhism before learning more of the philosophy. I am not the sort of person who can decide to believe something without understanding it or experiencing it, and as I read Buddha I find that this skepisism was felt by Gotama as well.

In all, this is fascinating and I don’t want to do anything all weekend besides continue reading.

I finished How to Practice by the Dalai Lama several weeks ago. I’m still trying to put my thoughts together coherently.

I think it’s safe to say that I don’t think I can reconcile Buddhism with atheism (at least on the segment of Buddhism described here). But there is plenty that I can apply to my life in Buddhism, and unlike other religions, it seems possible to take bits and pieces.

I have 2 more books that I plan to read at minimum.