Buddhist discussion

buddhism is so vast i just wanted to ask the community what tradition they follow or are most interested in/drawn to and why? (tibetan, zen, nichiren...?)

I am most drawn to Zen, but everything around where I live is Tibetan. I would really love to get some Zen training. I'm attracted to the discipline and immediacy of it, probably because I am so NOT disciplined and tend to get caught up in being very philosophical and wordy.

Rebecca wrote: "I am most drawn to Zen, but everything around where I live is Tibetan. I would really love to get some Zen training. I'm attracted to the discipline and immediacy of it, probably because I am so ..."

that's interesting because i'm the opposite. everything where i live seems to be zen and i'm drawn to the tibetan tradition because it is more complex and philosophical, and it's more about compassion. zen is also hard for me because it's all about simplicity.

I'm curious: where do you live?

I have a friend in California and she says she never likes the Zen people she meets!

Rebecca wrote: "I'm curious: where do you live?

I have a friend in California and she says she never likes the Zen people she meets!"

I live in Chicago.The zen people i've met are great.

I haven't limited myself completely to one discipline. I'm still taking information from all sources, but I find that I affiliate most with Mahayana so far.

I live in upstate NY (Adirondack Mtns.) and would love to find a Buddhist community in this area. I have studied mostly Tibetan Buddhism but am interested in Zen as well.

I'm attracted to Zen, but have always felt more Mahayanan. The simplicity of Zen appeals, but the emphasis on compassion and vegetarian practice makes me lean towards Mahayana rather heavily.

Zen teaching seems to be resonating the most with me but I want to avoid all kind of organized religions. I would also avoid any teaching that encourages superstitious and/or ceremonial practice.

I hear you Ron! Its reincarnation that gets me.

I am studying the Shambhala path. It really resonates with me that the goal is to help others and work toward the goal of having an enlightened society. This weekend I'll be taking the level IV: Awakened Heart class...I'm a bit nervous, but also very excited to gain the teachings!

Nature do not deal with traditions, morale, truths, evil & Gods. Suffering do not deal with traditions. Wisdom do not deal with traditions.

But traditions teach you how to work with suffering and how to cultivate wisdom...

Suffering is simple. Death is simple. Pain is simple. Solitude is simple. Nature is simle. Human are complex.

I agree...thank you for sharing that! So does your meditation/contemplation practice help you to relate to other humans??

Paradoxically, all traditions becomes useless at a certain time...

Meditation and Buddhism as it 'helps in relating to others' is a very interesting and important point. This is really the basic reason there are three yanas. The Hinayana is very focused on me, my realization and enlightenment. The Mahayana is very much about putting others before self and the Vajrayana very much about using everything as it arises as an opportunity to realize our awake nature. So yes in one way or another our pratices in whatever tradition are essentially about our relationship with everyone and everything.