become buddhist

I really want to learn all I can about Buddhism and to convert. I’m currently looking at the Theravada tradition, so I am slightly skewed to this side of Buddhism instead.

readings:
the teaching of Buddha
What the Buddha taought by Walpola Rahula
No Time to Lose by Pema Chodron
Buddhism an Introduction by Damien Keown
Triangle magazine entries

Still did not make it to the Zen center today. Argh! I had a graduation party to attend and now tomorow is father’s day. There will always be something; I just need todo it, carve out the time and make it a priority and part of my routine.

I have contacted the local zen meditaion center and plan to go there to begin some kind of formal education on meditation and buddhism. So far I have been somewhat of a haphazard armchair Buddhist. I have read the words of the Buddha, some basic books and Pema Chodron. I have visited temples, which I find amazing! I just need a community to guide me and to help me understand the path better. So far, my meditative process is stagnant as I can scarcely get through five minutes without my mind whirling off on a tangent of thought.

I took lots of those silly online quizzes, and they all say I am a Buddhist. I feel silly about it because my basic beliefs are all Buddhist, but I live in a house full of crap. It’s kinda hard to be a consumer whore and a Buddhist, so one has got to give. I’ve been fighting this one for quite a while now.