I just attended my first Buddhist class... in an old KINGDOM HALL!

Kudra

It was weird seeing all the typical dub stuff in another setting...
Literature cabinets full of Buddhist pamphlets!
No windows!
Crappy color scheme! (Except for the wall the painted bright red- which doesn't exaaaactly match the rest of the seafoam/mauve decor)
There were all these stackable chairs... I wonder if they came with the property?

I thought the address sounded familiar (from when I tried to find a KH for the Memorial) and when I saw it it clicked, the dubs at the other hall in my 'hood had said that the "downtown hall" closed down.
Ooooh, I guess the "spiritual water" of "Babylon the Great" ain't exactly running dry... Or are they-? ha ha.
Anyway, I've signed up. My life needs a little organization (not BORGanization) and last time I tried following a Buddhist way of life things went so well for me. I just don't have the discipline to do it on my own.
About half-way through teh session I stopped being creeped out by being in an old hall.
And at least the sessions aren't held on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
-K

AudeSapere

Hey Kudra !

Thanks for sharing that experience. Bit freaky being held in an old Kingdom Hall!

I didn't know that one could attend Buddhist classes. I could definitely benefit from a semester or two of that.

How did you find about about this? Where would I go to find some in my area??

-Aude.

Arthur

How did you find about about this? Where would I go to find some in my area?

Just Google the words: Buddhist / Classes / Your City.

I was doing some research, and found a Buddhist center just a few miles from my house. (which surprised me, because I didn't even know it existed)

Kudra

What I did was start calling #s in the phone book.
Look under "Churches" and go on down past the Baptist section til you get to Buddhist... Most offer courses- there is a charge most times cause they are all volunteer run, I guess.
I called and asked what kind of training they held and what tradition it was in (they are all quite different- you really need to find which one is good for you- some are not in English, some are all meditation, etc).
I think it is better to actually call the center so you can have an actual conversation with a worker there. You get a much better feel for how the classes are than from a website.
It was a nice session. I do have quite a bit of trouble quieting my mind- as important thing to learn how to do...
I just wanna know how to concentrate, be happy and be NICE to people.
Harder that you'd think...
-K

Sparkplug

Kudra- Heyya Gal! My last class was on Buddhism and I loved it. I did not think i would going in, but coming out I am absolutely intriqued.

Tell me if it really does quite the mind. I have trouble with that also.

Decki

Kudra

Hi Sparky!

I'm really giving it a try. I actually have to fork over money to stay with stuff- I can't stick with the "drop-in" classes. There is a nice Buddhist nun who is the instructor and while I like the Buddhist philosophy I just can't take reincarnation, and some other supernatural stuff seriously... So I don't know if I could
***
aaargh! station break! there is this hot guy here in this coffee shop that I always see!!! He just came and tossed out his trash in the garbage can near me- I think it's love!!!
***
ANYway. I don't know if I could be a Practicing Buddhist (and she went over the differences) because I couldn't ever believe that if I held onto negative energy that I will come back as a red howling demon... (or something like that).
Sigh, I just want to be happy.
-K

Arthur

Kudra and Sparkplug:

I just thought of a question I wanted to ask both of you. Which branch of Buddhism did you study? (Mahayana? Zen? Hinayana? Tatric? Tibetan?) Or, was it just a generalized study of Buddhism? Did you enjoy any certain branch better, or find a certain type to be more beneficial? Just curious as to what your observations were.

Kudra

ARTHUR (I don't have cool font stuff on Firefox...:( )
The center is the Tara Mahayana Center but the type of tradition they follow is the New Kadampa Tradition.
We are studying a book (aarrrgh! a bookstudy in an old kingdom hall!) that was written by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso called The Eight Steps to Happiness: The Buddhist Way of Loving Kindness.
The classes I think are basic Buddhist- like seeing beyond this endless cycle of suffering, getting true happiness and (the part that I don't buy) getting on the way to becoming "one of the enlightened ones" -like these ones that we say prayers to. The prayers were a little hard for me too.
-K

Kudra

Forgot to add- I have just ever read "pop" Buddhist books, so I have the general idea of Buddhism but nothing more.

Sparkplug

Hi Sparky!

I'm really giving it a try. I actually have to fork over money to stay with stuff- I can't stick with the "drop-in" classes. There is a nice Buddhist nun who is the instructor and while I like the Buddhist philosophy I just can't take reincarnation, and some other supernatural stuff seriously... So I don't know if I could

***

aaargh! station break! there is this hot guy here in this coffee shop that I always see!!! He just came and tossed out his trash in the garbage can near me- I think it's love!!!

***

ANYway. I don't know if I could be a Practicing Buddhist (and she went over the differences) because I couldn't ever believe that if I held onto negative energy that I will come back as a red howling demon... (or something like that).

Sigh, I just want to be happy.

AllI can say is you really made me smile. I get your thought track and it rings of familiarity. lol

Kudra and Sparkplug:
I just thought of a question I wanted to ask both of you. ; Which branch of Buddhism did you study? ; (Mahayana? Zen? Hinayana? Tatric? Tibetan?) ; Or, was it ;just a ;generalized study ;of Buddhism? ; Did you enjoy any certain branch better, or find a certain type to be more beneficial? ; Just curious as to what your observations were.

Hey there! I am with Kudra in that I am learning the basics. But I have not gotten to the Kingdom Hall yet. Actually my class was Religion 333 in College. So it was a basic eastern religion. But the part I liked most was the part on buddhism. I was more atracted to Zen, but not as presented in the Western world here. We tend as a people mold the practices to fit us like apair of shoes that are an accessory. Personally I would love to go to a temple type convent place and stay a couple of years and really learn what it is all about. then I would really know if I liked it. If not, maybe from that I could use techniques that would aide me in life. I have always wanted to just take off and to a quiet thing by myself (under direction) in a learning environment. Hell it could be fat camp. I just want to go....somewhere. I also want a good looking trash man to look at. My trash man is a bit un-noticeable. Darn

I just attended my first Buddhist class... in an old KINGDOM HALL!

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