[fashikn]

. A lot of the postings are very difficult to follow and go right over my head. I want to ask a couple of questions about what you've written if that's ok, but I’ll do it on the other thread a bit later on and stick to the rules. Hi Aasha,

Glad it's not just me! This a great site but I have sometimes felt I went to a college to do 'begginers French' and walked into the Degree class by mistake!

[agracias]

I have sometimes felt I went to a college to do 'begginers French' and walked into the Degree class by mistake!

Yes EG, you’re not kidding! I think degree level French might have been easier to learn! The good thing about this Sangha is that it really motivates you to find out more and more, even if its hard going to understand a lot of it. It really is a ‘godsend‘…Oh, I better choose my words a bit more carefully, Kaarine might be reading this!!!!! Only joking Kaarine.

We ‘newbies’ need to stick together and make sure we get nice, simple answers to our questions that won’t tax our brain too much!!

[Eltabaco]

Kaarine might be reading this!!!!! Only joking Kaarine.

We ‘newbies’ need to stick together and make sure we get nice, simple answers to our questions that won’t tax our brain too much!! Sure, that is why we have a Beginners Forum... But not just newbies. There are some threads that are hard for me to follow too... In some way I am a newbie or a beginner in reading Pali texts.

[QuidQuoPro]

Aasha,

Here one of our members, plwk, gave some good examples about "Similarities and Differences between Buddha and Jesus". He quoted Bible passages and Pali text ones... It can be a good idea to go through the thread.

[squicscor]

Hi Aasha and EG,

So sorry if you're finding it tough going understanding some of the discussions here !

Can I encourage you to start topics in this Beginners forum about something you're not sure about or would like to discuss? It doesn't have to be complicated, it could be something related to your everyday life that you have a query about from a Buddhist perspective.

with kind wishes,

A-D

PS - I'm a her, not a 'him', Aasha dear !

[UMATURLIN]

Can I encourage you to start topics in this Beginners forum about something you're not sure about or would like to discuss?

Yes, will do.

I'm a her, not a 'him' Sorry about that!!

[xiaoselangone]

Since descovering Buddhism I am now questioning my Christian beliefs that were placed on me as a small child and I am trying to compare the two. I am just starting to learn more and read more into Buddhism and I am finding it very difficult to figure out where to begin as well. Its a interesting "fork in the road" area. I was also raised Christian, from the Roman Catholic tradition.
My mom used to send me to mass every Sunday and I went, I did not understand most of it but I went anyways. Later, as I grew up I started to read and learn from the bible and I acquired some knowledge on Christianity. But in the back of my mind I knew something did not make sense, and when I asked all they could say is that it was a "dogma" and I had to believe it even if I did not understand it.
After a while I stopped going to church, at around 20 years old or so, because of all this contradictions on it.
And when Buddhism found me, I fell for it. It was not a "fork in the road" for me, it was the ONLY road. Here I found no dogmas, no blind faith, no prayers nor rituals and no hypocrisy... Here is just knowledge and discipline and common sense, your brain and your reasoning; here is just applying what you learn and realizing the truth of all things.
But do not believe me. Try it for yourself and, paraphrasing the Buddha's words, "if it agrees with your common sense, follow it"

May you find wisdom and true happiness, in this life or the next.
Sincerely,

MC