DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - how much of Buddhist teachings do you follow?

**echocassidyde** · 04-02-2011, 06:37 PM

Just out of curiosity, how much of Buddhist teachings do you understand and practise? I find Buddhism very complex (if we get into the details) and I can't get my head around it. I understand the basics such as Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Noble Path and Five Precepts and I use them as a guide on how to live an ethical life. That is pretty much it. After reading the posts on this forum, I realise that many members are very knowledgeable and understand the religion profoundly (honestly, I don't understand half of what is discussed here).

The practice is more important than the theory. In fact too much studying, discussing and conceptualising can be a hindrance to the practice and calming the mind. It's difficult for insight to arise when there's too much happening in the mind. I know in the Thai Forest Tradition of Buddhism, especially in the "early days", some teachers would give their students a single instruction, such as mentally recite the word Buddho over and over until the mind calms and becomes one-pointed; no long drawn out instructions or teachings, nothing complex or difficult to understand.

My advice would be to meditate more than study; and when you do study don't try and cram it all in, there's no rush. It doesn't matter how knowledgeable of Buddhism you are, you won't find any peace and freedom from suffering unless you do the practice.

04-02-2011, 06:37 PM	#5
echocassidyde Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 407 Senior Member	Just out of curiosity, how much of Buddhist teachings do you understand and practise? I find Buddhism very complex (if we get into the details) and I can't get my head around it. I understand the basics such as Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Noble Path and Five Precepts and I use them as a guide on how to live an ethical life. That is pretty much it. After reading the posts on this forum, I realise that many members are very knowledgeable and understand the religion profoundly (honestly, I don't understand half of what is discussed here). The practice is more important than the theory. In fact too much studying, discussing and conceptualising can be a hindrance to the practice and calming the mind. It's difficult for insight to arise when there's too much happening in the mind. I know in the Thai Forest Tradition of Buddhism, especially in the "early days", some teachers would give their students a single instruction, such as mentally recite the word Buddho over and over until the mind calms and becomes one-pointed; no long drawn out instructions or teachings, nothing complex or difficult to understand. My advice would be to meditate more than study; and when you do study don't try and cram it all in, there's no rush. It doesn't matter how knowledgeable of Buddhism you are, you won't find any peace and freedom from suffering unless you do the practice.
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