Hello!

[Mercury]

I am new to the forums, and pretty new to Buddhism. I was raised a Christian but my parents didn't go to church every week, and we didn't talk about it much except for a period that lasted for about 4 years. In those 4 years I was baptized and confirmed into the Catholic Church, and have since been baptized Baptist.

I have become a bit uncomfortable with a few tenets of Christianity and I don't know exactly where I stand at the moment, but when I read about Buddhism, it all seems to describe exactly what I have always felt I should be doing. I have been reading here and there about Buddhism for about 8 months, and doing my best to practice what I know daily but without any points of reference or a mentor I feel kind of lost. What I do know, is when I practice I am more at peace than I ever have been in my life. I just need questions answered and suggestions offered so I can learn better.

BTW, I'm 27, married(together nearly 8 years) with 2 kids. My wife is very happy with what we've learned about Buddhism and was actually relieved to hear me say I was unsatisfied with our Church. We think very much alike so that's good!

Any suggestions on how to start or texts I should read would be welcome!

[polarbuddha101]

Welcome to Dhamma Wheel

you should read all the stuff on this webpage...

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/index.html

and after that also read ...

http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/mindfuln ... nglish.pdf - This is a book on meditation

[Khalil Bodhi]

Welcome! May whatever you learn here be for your long term happiness!

[Ben]

Greetings Mercury and welcome to Dhamma Wheel!
kind regards,

Ben

[bodom]

Welcome Mercury!

[manas]

Welcome, Mercury. When I read about how the Dhamma has brought more peace to your life, I felt a wave of sympathetic joy in my heart. That's just how I've been feeling lately, too.

Namaste

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Mercury,

Welcome to Dhamma Wheel.



See also:

Introductory resources
viewtopic.php?f=24&t=148

Metta,
Retro.

[Mercury]

Thank you for all the kind replies!! So far I have had no one to talk to about Buddhism other than my wife, and we are both learning. It's nice to finally find a community resource, the links provided so far are more than I can read at the moment, and that's a good thing! I look forward to learning what there is to know, and putting it into practice.

[Kim O'Hara]

Welcome to Dhamma Wheel

you should read all the stuff on this webpage...

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/index.html

and after that also read ...

http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/mindfuln ... nglish.pdf - This is a book on meditation

Great suggestions - but there's also an 'Introductory Resources' thread here on DW: http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=148




Kim