A buddhist please.? thank you.?

Question

well my whole family is catholic and they tried getting confirmed and all that rubbish and i find that i dont really believe in all that. ive read about a lot of other religions and read a lot about buddhism and found that i like it more because its more about spirituality and not all that god stuff. what should i do? i live in nebraska and i dont believe there are any buddhist churches around. sorry im not sure what you'd call them.

Answer 1

You have several options.

Most importantly, you can realize that Buddhist practice doesn't really conflict with other spiritual traditions.

Of course, most Christians won't agree with this. But the fact is that many Christians practice Buddhist meditation and some, including Catholic priests, have become authorized Zen masters (see: http://kennedyzen.tripod.com/)

This probably won't help you with your family, but it might inspire you to follow your own path.

You've already read a lot about Buddhism and that's wonderful! As a result, you probably understand that Buddhism is primarily a practice tradition, not a belief tradition (that's why it can co-exist with Christianity).

To receive the benefits promised by Buddhism (wisdom, compassion, generosity, kindness, creativity, etc.), you simply need to practice meditation and other Buddhist techniques.

So I recommend that you begin this work now, even if you don't have the support of a local community. If you need a guide to meditation, there are many available both online and in print (let me know if you need a recommendation).

It's very easy to learn most Buddhist meditation techniques. And, for most of us, it's not so easy to sustain practice by ourselves. That's why Buddhist centers exist -- to support students in their efforts.

Fortunately, there are centers in Nebraska -- and hopefully one or more of these will be located where you live:

Honey Locust Sangha

Tradition: Thich Nhat Hanh

3317 Lafayette Ave., Omaha, NE 68131

[phone]

Jewel Heart Lincoln Center

P.O. Box 22302, Lincoln, NE 68542

Tradition: Tibetan, Gelugpa(402) 435-7679

[e-mail]

http://www.jewelheart.org

Kearney Zendo

3715 Avenue F, Kearney, NE 68847  NE

Tradition: Soto Zen

[phone]

Lincoln Buddhist Fellowship

Tradition: Mahayana, Shin Buddhist

[phone]

[e-mail]

http://nebraska.bffct.net/

Nebraska Zen Center - Heartland Temple

3625 Lafayette Avenue, Omaha, NE 68131-1363  

Tradition: Soto Zen

[phone]

[e-mail]

http://www.prairiewindzen.org

Omaha Insight Meditation Sitting Group

Tradition: Theravada

[phone]

[e-mail]

Lotus ZenTemple

P.O. Box 68529-0282  Lincoln NE 68529-0282

Tradition: Mahayana, h*i Neng(402) 430-4431

[e-mail]

www.lotus-temple.us

Nebraska Buddhist Vihara

Tradition: Theravada

[phone]

[e-mail]

Please remember that Buddhist centers are like everything else in this world -- they come and go all the time. So some of these may no longer be in existence. And others may have appeared. But this will give you a place to start.

Best wishes on your path!

Answer 2

Hi

For these times

http://www.amitabha-gallery.org

All you need

Okay Dude not that there was any mistake

Answer 3

as with any religion you do not have to worship in a temple of any kind, you should know that already coming from a religious family. look into it more and follow the ways , become a practicing Buddhist, Taoism if ya want a suggestion.  

Answer 4

If you are serious about this, there is a group in Omaha.

Send me a message and I can hook you up.

Answer 5

You don't have to do anything special to be a Buddhist, you just need to understand the beliefs and follow their examples and ideas then you can just call yourself a Buddhist, aslong as you believe and follow the Buddhist way you are a Buddhist.

An old art teacher of mine was a Buddhist, he just looked like a normal guy, his son called himself a Buddhist and he even ate meat.

Read about it and go on the internet searching.

Answer 6

Ask yourself why do I want a religion. What will it do for me and what do I gain from it. It sounds like to me you think that being a Buddhist is something "Cool", it is not mainstream "religion" thererfore it has an appeal to you. That would all be nice if everybody got to choose whatever and that was the end of it. It does not work like that. There is only one creator the one who created heaven and earth and you and I. His name is Yahweh the God of the bible. There are no other gods but He. Man has conjered up many false gods and spend a lifetime worshipping them and getting absalutely nothing back, now or ever. The God of the bible tells us there is only one way to Him and that is through His Son whom He sent to die for you. It is only your sins that will keep you from going to heaven, this is why God sent His Son to pay the price for your sins and mine that we might be cleansed and made acceptable to God. This is God's way not mine or anyone else's. Buddha was just a philospher and can do nothing to save your soul from judgment, only Christ can do that. I can sympathise with you if all the exposure you have had is catholocism, they not recognize the importance of salvation through faith in Christ. Unfortunately they put Mary on the same level as Christ and they also put works in the equation of salvation, not so according to God's word. Hope you reconsider and recognize there is only one way to God. The words I Jesus were "I am the Way the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father except through me". no other way. If you want to learn about Christ take a look at the book of John in the New Testament then decide. Cheers young lady!

Answer 7

Buddhists usually go to a temple.  However, the great thing is you don't have to go to one to study about Buddhism.  It has a lot of wonderful philosophies.

Start online and just start studying.