Trying to gain more insight...
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 2:53 am
Hello All!
I've just begun to devote myself to Buddhism in my every day being. I do however want to get insight from people that are more evolved than I am. I am familiar with the Eightfold Path, The Five Precepts, and The Three Refuges. I am aware of them and I try to follow them as closely as I can. I also meditate every morning. I am starting with a 15 minute meditation every morning, and when I get comfortable with that I will add 5 minutes to it. I am practicing Insight Meditation. There is the Insight Meditation and Loving-Kindness Meditation, right? Are these the only kinds of meditation?
Even though I am doing all this, I still do not feel as though I am doing enough. I feel as though the Buddhist elements I mentioned is just the kind of person I am, and I'm not really doing much different. The challenging part of Buddhism for me is how I think. I am a very self-conscious person, and I am always trying to please other people. I have this insane compassion for other beings, but I want to not be so concerned about how they think of me. I would love to go on a retreat of some sort to get me off to a good start, but that is not really possible for me right now. Living in a small town in Wisconsin, the closest group meeting/temple is 5 hours in Milwaukee! Also, there are no teachers up here so the best refuge I could get is from the discussion group.
Please share your thoughts. I would be forever grateful!
Tessa
I've just begun to devote myself to Buddhism in my every day being. I do however want to get insight from people that are more evolved than I am. I am familiar with the Eightfold Path, The Five Precepts, and The Three Refuges. I am aware of them and I try to follow them as closely as I can. I also meditate every morning. I am starting with a 15 minute meditation every morning, and when I get comfortable with that I will add 5 minutes to it. I am practicing Insight Meditation. There is the Insight Meditation and Loving-Kindness Meditation, right? Are these the only kinds of meditation?
Even though I am doing all this, I still do not feel as though I am doing enough. I feel as though the Buddhist elements I mentioned is just the kind of person I am, and I'm not really doing much different. The challenging part of Buddhism for me is how I think. I am a very self-conscious person, and I am always trying to please other people. I have this insane compassion for other beings, but I want to not be so concerned about how they think of me. I would love to go on a retreat of some sort to get me off to a good start, but that is not really possible for me right now. Living in a small town in Wisconsin, the closest group meeting/temple is 5 hours in Milwaukee! Also, there are no teachers up here so the best refuge I could get is from the discussion group.
Please share your thoughts. I would be forever grateful!
Tessa