Some questions from a novice :)

[Jay1]

1: Will meditation lead me to poverty? If I let go from my attachments, will I end up like a homeless man as I will not desire a home anymore?

1.5: Can a Buddhist be ambitious?

2: Is belief in rebirth necessary? I see no reason to believe in it, so...

3: I know that monks are prohibited to listen to music, should I stop listening to music myself? If not, then why is it a bad idea for monks to listen to music but not for me?

4: Have any of you started lucid dreaming due to meditation? Also, would meditation through the night involve lucid dreaming as the body falls asleep?

5: Oh, and what teacher would you recommend? Apparently Ajahn Chah and Mahasi Sayadaw are supposed to be good? Are they? Btw, I'm a Christian if that matters (I've heard that Buddha was apathetic to the question of God's existence)

Thanks

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Jay,

1: Will meditation lead me to poverty? If I let go from my attachments, will I end up like a homeless man as I will not desire a home anymore?

Only if that's what you want to do. If anything, meditation might provide some insight which will challenge some of your pre-existing notions... so your perception on the various pros and cons of certain lifestyle choices might change, but the choice will always be yours to weigh up.

1.5: Can a Buddhist be ambitious?

Sure. Monks generally strive towards becoming an "arahant", and there's not much more ambitious than that. Lay Buddhists can do whatever they want, although they ideally strive to maintain the five precepts.

2: Is belief in rebirth necessary? I see no reason to believe in it, so...

See MN 60 - Apannaka Sutta... or the section from "Buddhism For The Modern Skeptic" on rebirth... both are easily found online via Google.

3: I know that monks are prohibited to listen to music, should I stop listening to music myself? If not, then why is it a bad idea for monks to listen to music but not for me?

For monks, or for those on intensive meditation retreats it may be a distraction from their intended goals. Is music in conflict with your goals?

5: Oh, and what teacher would you recommend? Apparently Ajahn Chah and Mahasi Sayadaw are supposed to be good? Are they? Btw, I'm a Christian if that matters (I've heard that Buddha was apathetic to the question of God's existence)

Well Ajahn Chah and Mahasi Sayadaw are deceased, so if you're allowing the deceased into the equation you may as well go with "The Teacher", aka the Buddha... whose teachings are preserved in the Sutta Pitaka.

Thanks

No worries.

Metta,
Retro.

[Benjamin]

Hello Jay,

regarding rebirth, Thanissaro Bhikkhu has great things to say about its relevance to our daily practice.



Kind regards,
Benjamin

[SarathW]

HI Jay1
Wellcome!

1: Will meditation lead me to poverty? If I let go from my attachments, will I end up like a homeless man as I will not desire a home anymore?

No. Most probably you will be very rich!

1.5: Can a Buddhist be ambitious?

Buddhist aim for ultimate happiness ie. Nirvana

2: Is belief in rebirth necessary? I see no reason to believe in it, so...

Buddhist believe in a continuous change so every thing is impermanence, unsatisfactory and no Soul.

3: I know that monks are prohibited to listen to music, should I stop listening to music myself? If not, then why is it a bad idea for monks to listen to music but not for me?

Lay people can listen to music. It depend on what you need to achieve.

4: Have any of you started lucid dreaming due to meditation? Also, would meditation through the night involve lucid dreaming as the body falls asleep?

I always a dreamer!

5: Oh, and what teacher would you recommend? Apparently Ajahn Chah and Mahasi Sayadaw are supposed to be good? Are they? Btw, I'm a Christian if that matters (I've heard that Buddha was apathetic to the question of God's existence)

I learnt Buddhism from the following book. Please read from chapter 15.

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/buddh ... gsurw6.pdf

[Śūnyatā]

Great questions, Jay. And equally great answers, Retro et al (Retro's response about Buddha? Aces! )

[alan...]

Jay1 wrote:5: Oh, and what teacher would you recommend? Apparently Ajahn Chah and Mahasi Sayadaw are supposed to be good? Are they? Btw, I'm a Christian if that matters (I've heard that Buddha was apathetic to the question of God's existence)

Well Ajahn Chah and Mahasi Sayadaw are deceased, so if you're allowing the deceased into the equation you may as well go with "The Teacher", aka the Buddha... whose teachings are preserved in the Sutta Pitaka.

retro, nice.