Did buddhism ever helped you?

[VivaldiBR]

In recent months, I started to read some buddhism books and it helped me for a while, but I never get myself into it, never went to temples, retreats and gatherings and never made meditation a daily practice.

How about you guys? Have you ever had experience in buddhism? It helped you?

 

[TheQ22]

Let me think about that.

"Hommmm Hommmm Hommm".

No, it didn't.

 

[AvaAdore]

I tried mindfulness meditation and it helped me at that time some. I am doing well enough right now so I haven't done it in awhile

 

[TheQ22]

I found for a time that mindfulness, Stoicidm and focusing on breathing helped to really calm me down.

Now I find breathing to be a problem.

 

[AE2021]

It actually helped at lot in the past, and sometimes still does. I didn't get all absorbed in it and do a lot of retreats, temples or learning specific teachings. It was more about giving me a different way to see things and to better handle the present moment. I did visit different types of buddhist gatherings just to experience it, but never really joined a group. Glad I explored it, nothing lost and a few things gained.

 

[sufferingalways]

I have tried the thinking processes in the past.

 

[Ghost2211]

Certain elements have definitely been positive for me. Mindfulness, acceptance, patience, and just generally learning better coping skills. I am however much more a fan of the practice of non-practice rather than going through all the religious rituals associated with it.

 

[sufferingalways]

I love silence so maybe I can get into the mindset easier than people living in nearby flats who hate quiet.
I can go for long periods without talking to my buddy in this flat. Except for choosing what we want to eat of course or "do you fancy a cup of tea." We both end up doing word / or matching puzzles on phone or iPad. Or I will be chatting on here.

Certain elements have definitely been positive for me. Mindfulness, acceptance, patience, and just generally learning better coping skills. I am however much more a fan of the practice of non-practice rather than going through all the religious rituals associated with it.

Hi Rosey bird what coping skills are you using that help you? I could use a clue for better thinking over here.

 

[MichaelNomad123]

If I were to pursue religion, it would be Buddhism.

 

[Xocoyotziin]

For awhile, but then I fell back into old thought patterns. Universal compassion was probably my favorite takeaway, although I'm hardly the best practitioner of it. I spent and still do spend so long trapped in a me vs them mentality that, if you accept the basic premise of buddhism as us all being the same person who often tortures itself, seems absurd.

 

[Sensei]

Zen Buddhism has definitely helped me, but that's a very particular form of Buddhism.

 

[VivaldiBR]

Zen Buddhism has definitely helped me, but that's a very particular form of Buddhism.

Thats the one I'm practicing with zazen. But im reading sources from all kinds of buddhism.

 

[Disappointered]

No, not at all. I did do a particular mediation retreat based on buddhism which, unlike another buddhist retreat i went to, actually was helpful. however, it required enormous discipline and i was introduced to it be a caring person who was able to inspire me at the time. after i left the retreat however, it's benefit faded rapidly and the benefits i did experience were not uniquely related to buddhism.

 

[signifying nothing]

Zen for me too. Helped me start to understand myself better and be more aware of what is going on in mind and body. Also its about thinking about things a bit differently and letting go of assumptions and judgements about how things are. I like Empty Gate Zen on youtube, some of the more basic vids anyway.

 

[Sherri]

I actually have that book, never went very deep into it. But from what I read sometimes it does have some beautiful words in it.

 

[signifying nothing]

Useful book I found was Zen Essence, The Science of Freedom.

For me its about trying to get the core of buddhism without all of the rituals.

 

[Tired_Tired]

If you believed Buddhism; otherwise, it's bull shit.

 

[HenryHobkins]

this is something i want to try

 

[Sensei]

Two books which have changed my outlook on life are Zen Mind, Begginer's Mind and Not Always So by Shunryu Suzuki, the latter one in particular.

"Treat every moment as your last. It is not preparation for something else."

 

[Mentalmick]

My social worker once wanted me to live in a place run by Buddhists. I then found out one of the nutters there was a Satanist who thought he was the reincarnation of Alistair Crowley, and I though, naaah fuck that. I might also be a nutter but I've got standards.