I want to know more about Buddhism -- any good websites?

[The Big Bog]

Been doing yoga for the past year and a half and love the whole meditation aspect of it -- frees me of all the guilt and fear I learned growing up in a small-town Methodist church. When you feel good about yourself, it spills over into your day-to-day affairs and makes you a better person to others as well.

So I'm curious to learn more about Buddhism and Enlightenment. Any good websites out there for beginners?

:D

[Ghost]

I've recently been interested in Buddhism as well. I'd recommend going to about.com, look under the religion/spirituality section. I also bought 'Buddhism for Dummies.' Don't laugh, it's a good book. I'd recommend getting it.

[Craig]

http://www.religioustolerance.org

[mahayana]

I wrote to an old friend a few months ago, and asked him if he'd heard any good koans lately. He replied:

"As for koans, I did decide a few years ago that Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind was all the spiritual teaching I needed for one lifetime. No gaining ideas. It's that simple.

In my early days, I liked the ideas:

I've transcended my ego - and I did it all by myself!

and

Who am I?
I became the question,
and the question
disappeared."

You're actually on the right path just meditating and stretching. The stories are fun, too, like "Zen Flesh, Zen Bones."

[mahayana]

On the other hand, if you just want to know more about Buddhism, there's plenty to read at http://www.beliefnet.com/

"Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine."

- Buddha

[Texsand]

The Dali Lama has written a number of good books on the subject, and in a language that is accessible to the Western mind.

[Slipped Mickey]

My favorite book of all time is The Compass of Zen by Zen Master Seung Sahn. He's funny and much like a favorite uncle you had while growing up. For me at least he makes it easier to understand some of the concepts. I like his "Only Don't Know" description of how to live totally in the present.

If you are serious or more than curious you may also want to buy the Shambala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen.

Zen is not the only way, it is one way. There are other forms of Buddhism you might prefer to Zen. Jodo Shinsu is also very popular.

One caution - There is a kind of Buddhism called Sokka Gakkai that is growing rapidly in the United States. I have found people who belong to Sokka Gakkai to be much like Fundamentalists. They are often like zealots, they attempt to convert people and they often claim their way is the ONLY way. Some people call them a cult.

Once a Vietnamese Buddhist monk told me that best way to judge a temple or a sangha (something like a congregation) is that they should "Turn no one away and make no one stay". I like that.

Your path is yours, no one can tell you what is best for you. You may hate Buddhism and decide instead that you like the Church of England or Unitarianism. That is your choice and YOU are the only one who knows where you should be. I would suspect anyone who tells you that he or she knows better than you what is best for you.

[JustinH]

http://www.buddhanet.net/

By far the biggest information resource for Buddhism. It's not tied to a single subsect, but a load of information for all walks of Buddhism.

[mahayana]

I visited buddhanet, strange artwork there. I prefer symmetrical mandalas to full lotus depictions of religious figures. I've never owned a graven image (though I almost purchased a small Laughing Buddha once). Siddhartha never made claims to be divine.

I found reviews and quotes for Seung Sahn's books at Amazon.com . Used ones are available in paperback there for about $10. One quote:

"When he returned to his body, he understood. The rocks, the river, everything he could see, everything he could hear, all this was his true self. All things are exactly as they are. The truth is just like this."

Sound like the Carlos Casteneda "Don Juan" books? I think some of the American Indians were into similar things, experiencing oneness with everything, and nothing, and the Great Spirit. Fill what's empty, empty what's full, scratch where it itches, hah!