I'm starting to study Buddhism & Hinduism. Can anyone give me some pointers?

Question

I'm just starting to study Buddhism & Hinduism. (Especially Buddhism)

Can anyone give me some pointers, help me start off?

Maybe recommend some books/Dvds I could buy on ebay? I want to study everything about it. Teachings, Gods, History, Ect.

Any helpful information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading.

~Sandra.

Answer 1

Here is what I know from the section “Buddhist Qigong and Buddhism” of the Zhuan Falun Lecture on the web:

"Buddha Law has different manifestations at different levels, but the higher it is, the closer it is to the Truth, and the lower it is, the further it is from the Truth. So after those monks became Unlocked and Enlightened at low levels, they interpreted what Shakyamuni had said with the manifestations of the universe that they saw at their levels, with the situations that they had learned about, and with the truths that they had comprehended. In other words, the monks interpreted the Law that Shakyamuni taught just about every which way, and there were also some monks who spoke about what they comprehended as if that was Shakyamuni’s words, instead of telling people Shakyamuni’s original words. As a result, the Buddha Law was altered beyond recognition, and it was no longer the Law Shakyamuni had preached. Eventually this caused the Buddha Law that’s in Buddhism to disappear in India. This is a major lesson from history, and that’s why later on you don’t see Buddhism in India, of all places. Before it vanished, Buddhism went through a number of reforms, and in the end it incorporated things from Brahmanism and formed a religion that’s found in India today,

called Hinduism. It no longer worships any Buddhas, it worships some other things instead, and it no longer believes in Shakyamuni. That’s how it is now."

Hinduism is probably confined in India; while Buddhism is well spread throughout Asia.

Two books I recommend highly is Falun Gong and Zhuan Falun.  Both books are online in the URL listed below.

Not relating to Buddhism, Falun Gong is a unique Buddhist School. Falun Gong is based upon the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. Falun Gong consists of five sets of powerful exercises. Falun Gong has attracted about 100 million followers around the globe since 1992.

Falun Gong, Tibetans, other Buddhists, and Christians have been persecuted in China. The most offensive human right violation is the organ harvesting from the Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Can you kindly sign a petition to stop persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, please ?

http://cipfg.org/en/news/petition.html

Thanks.

Answer 2

http://www.ilovezakirnaik.com/comparativ...

go to this link ... in this website the concept of God in hinduism, islam , chrisitanity , budhism and judaism is discussed....

u will like it...

Answer 3

There are 2 very good starting places on the web for Theravada Buddhist teachings and explanations they are:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/

http://www.what-buddha-taught.net/

I recommend these 2 sites..

I wish you well on your journey..

from a Buddhist..(Theravada Tradition)..//bows//...

Answer 4

If you have all that energy and zeal why not put it into studying up on Jesus where you can do yourself good, and in turn, be helpful to others.

Answer 5

i cant  tell u  anything abt buddhism  as  i  dont  know  much abt it.but i can tell u abt hinduism  -  has a trinity (brahma, vishnu and shiva  -responsible fr creation, preservation and destruction respectively!)

                                          concept of karma  and reincarnation-  karma  -  u r  responsible fr ur  actions and u will pay  fr  misdeeds  in present  or future lives.

a miserable existence in  the current life may be due  to misdeeds  in  a past life

Answer 6

I've found that some websites are quite reliable about giving good information and articles and audios about Buddhism. They are www.fpmt.org and www.thubtenchodron.org. Thubten Chodron has some great books and great dvds with Buddhist tachings:she's an American Buddhist nun. You can trust any books by Lama Zopa of the FPMT. You can also get free books from the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive (I think it's lywa.org or com) which are wonderful.  Also, I agree with the other writer about totally trusting any books by the Dalai Lama for excellent teachings on Buddhism. I wish you well in your journey! Keep reading!

Answer 7

try this site www.iish.org this is the site of Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage, U can get a good knowledge about Hinduism and its teachings, Scientificaly. They have group on Yahoo too.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IISH-ME/?v...

Answer 8

I would suggest going to the source, so to speak, and read some books by teh Dalai Lama--  He has quite a number you can get from your local library--

His books are practical and give tips for the laymen-- I really enjoyed The Art of Happiness--- though this book in particular is based on interviews with the Dalai Lama

Uma Thurman's father is a popular Buddhist writer as well- Robert Thurman- I read his "Infinite Life" which I enjoyed also...

It is very practical and down to earth---

Good Luck on your journey!