What kind of Buddhist school you associate with?

Hey I am not really a Buddhist but been to a 2 month buddhist meditation retreat which I enjoyed. They practiced the Thervada tradition which is also popular among the westerners. I didnt know this group existed until today.

 

I respect all the vehicles and very much enjoy learning about each of them but consider myself Theravada.

 

I'm also following Theravada ways
I try to live a peaceful life by giving attention to:
1./ Loving kindness (metta), like the love of a mother for her child, endless love and caring, always.
2./ Compassion for others (and yourself) (karuna)
3./ Being happy for other people's happiness (mudita)
4./ Evenness of temper (upekkha), it's like watching your adult kids live their life without interfering, only support them if needed

I find great comfort in it

 

How do you do Metta meditation? Can anyone who has done it for long time chip in? Thank you.

 

I did Vipassana 10 day retreat 10 years ago. Was on and off with the practice since, but always have a thought at the back of my mind to get back. So it's Theravada. Believing that one should take care of themselves first before trying to help others (if cabin pressure changes, secure your mask first, before trying to assist others, yada, yada )) ), therefore Mahayana feels as a bit of a stretch for me now. Also I live in a place where people mostly practicing Vajrayana, but that requires mind to mind transition with your guru, and I haven't met any gurus here that I'd find resonance with. So definitely Theravada.

 

I'm just getting into buddhism after finding my way from meditating on insight timer. Started reading 'Zen Mind, Beginners Mind' and am very much enjoying my spiritual renaissance.

 

Theravada - Thai Forest - Ajahn Chah lineage.

I also like the teachings of Zen master Dogen very much.

 

Same here. I'm appreciating all of the online teaching events recently.

 

I am kind of just starting my journey in all this, been reading 'Zen Mind Beginner's Mind' by Suzuki, I am just about to start 'The Way of Zen' by Alan Watts and after I have 'What the Buddha Taught' by Walpola Rahula. I'm also working through 'Intro to meditation' on the Tergar website with Mingyur Rinpoche and enjoying his style so far.

Any further suggestions on furthering my learning would be welcomely received.

 

Soto Zen is something I have been looking into as there are Soto Zen teaching in Brighton where I live.

 

Pre-Sectarian Buddhism, informed by scholarly work in the Early Buddhist Texts. I enjoy the works of Bhikkhu Analayo and Bhikkhu Sujato.

 

Amazing that there are so many schools and directions I've never heard of

Vajrayana, Karma Kagyu, Diamond Way Buddhism. My heart belongs to Karmapa and Ole Nydahl <3

 

I think I am Mahayana Buddhist, mostly attended temples founded by Master Sheng-yen. Previously also read books by Thai forest tradition. One of them is called small boat, big mountain. A lovely collection of teachings from both the Theravada tradition and Vajrayana tradition.

 

Theravada, new to Buddhism, no temple in my area. Amy tips for meetings and sessions online?

 

I attended an online retreat led by Ajahn Sona last year. He’s based on Canada and studied in Ajahn Chah’s monastery in Thailand. His stuff on YouTube is good for beginners. Have a try.

 

A Soto Zen guy myself, so I clicked Mahayana. But reading Dogen, I'm never able to make any sense of his teaching without always keeping the 4 noble truths and the eightfold path in mind. Dogen also openly states that satori is not the goal of practice. "What is the goal then?" one might ask. As a good Zen master he is very nebulous with his Shikantaza, "just sit", "just practice without goal", but ultimately, the goal is attainment of nirvana of course, as far as I can tell.

So maybe it's just my character to seek a connection between things, but I feel like there can be no Zen (and maybe even no Mahayana) without Theravada. It's just more of a new perspective on the same teaching, than an actual break with old tradition. You can't really be "Mahayana-only". I find that the very basis (4 noble truths and eightfold path) has to be the same, or the teaching of Zen cannot be meaningful.