Hi there! San Antonio, TX, US
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:38 pm
Just started checking out this site this week and am impressed by the discussions I see.
Background
Raised Catholic. Bit of a monist when it comes to God, not big on the Bible, or on Jesus (aside from maybe as a symbol of Compassion), or on the teachings of the Church.
Started learning about Buddhism in 94, but didn't really pick up a book on it until college around 2000.
Put it aside at the time, because I misunderstood it as encouraging one to become a nihilistic robot (no self, no attachments).
For the last year, I've been hearing a lot of talks by guys like Robert Thurman, Alan Watts, and Joseph Campbell, and have decided to give it another look.
In July/August, a friend let me know he studies at a Vietnamese Tian Tai, PureLand, Zen Temple here in town.
Decided to go check it out and my interest has really taken off.
I love the philosophy, the psychology, and the cosmology.
With the help of Bhante Rahula's "What the Buddha Taught", I'm starting to wrap my head around the concepts of dependent origination and Anatta.
I find the Dhammapada (Shambhala pocket classic) to be beautiful poetry, I keep a copy on me to read whenever I have time.
I started a daily meditation practice routine that I'm sticking to.
This isn't all without issue though.
Some things still aren't coming easy.
In fact, I'm wondering if certain things are non-starters...
First, I work in a job that could be argued that is not "right livelihood"...
Second, I have very protective instincts, I know that if it comes down to my son or wife (or anybody really) and some sort of dangerous animal; let's just say I'm not going to let the animal do it's thing...
Third, the only time I've ever tried to be a vegetarian lasted for about a month and I was SICK the entire time.
Am I at an impasse with the Dharma?
What are my options here?
Background
Raised Catholic. Bit of a monist when it comes to God, not big on the Bible, or on Jesus (aside from maybe as a symbol of Compassion), or on the teachings of the Church.
Started learning about Buddhism in 94, but didn't really pick up a book on it until college around 2000.
Put it aside at the time, because I misunderstood it as encouraging one to become a nihilistic robot (no self, no attachments).
For the last year, I've been hearing a lot of talks by guys like Robert Thurman, Alan Watts, and Joseph Campbell, and have decided to give it another look.
In July/August, a friend let me know he studies at a Vietnamese Tian Tai, PureLand, Zen Temple here in town.
Decided to go check it out and my interest has really taken off.
I love the philosophy, the psychology, and the cosmology.
With the help of Bhante Rahula's "What the Buddha Taught", I'm starting to wrap my head around the concepts of dependent origination and Anatta.
I find the Dhammapada (Shambhala pocket classic) to be beautiful poetry, I keep a copy on me to read whenever I have time.
I started a daily meditation practice routine that I'm sticking to.
This isn't all without issue though.
Some things still aren't coming easy.
In fact, I'm wondering if certain things are non-starters...
First, I work in a job that could be argued that is not "right livelihood"...
Second, I have very protective instincts, I know that if it comes down to my son or wife (or anybody really) and some sort of dangerous animal; let's just say I'm not going to let the animal do it's thing...
Third, the only time I've ever tried to be a vegetarian lasted for about a month and I was SICK the entire time.
Am I at an impasse with the Dharma?
What are my options here?