Why did buddhism appeal to you?

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

Dear Azalia

Well I think when we allow it and seek to heal ourselves the right things are brought to us at the right time.

At the time I was doing a lot of soul searching and looking within, I was looking for the reasons for my deep unhappiness and to understand why I had attracted so much tragedy and pain into my own life when in reality friends kept telling me that I had done nothing to deserve it.

Buddhism helped me to appreciate that personal desire is the cause of all pain and suffering. Strict buddhists call it craving and in the Jesus Sutra's Jesus also calls it craving. It taught me that happiness was not outside of the self and that I should continue with my soul searching and seeking the happiness within.

It wasn't till much later that I remembered that in actual fact my mother had bought me a 12inch tall China Buddha and a flatmate gave me a book called 'Siddartha' about the life of Buddha twenty years earlier. So in many ways had I been so inclined, I could have made the breakthroughs 20 year's earlier but in my own case it took a great deal of pain before I was ready to truly understand what was being shared and not glaze over what was being read. Also in those days there were far fewer people like us to turn to and a lot less books on the shelves. In fact my own journey was solitary, no teachers, workshops, internet etc.

I was one that was very stubborn being an Aquarian and continued to hit my head on brick walls. Once I got to the point where I could literally take no more, I made my breakthroughs with the help of the combination of the teachings of Buddha and of Jesus.

So why did it appeal to me ? The universal truths are very simple happiness is within and its emphasis on compassion was very close to my heart.

I did not study it indepth I just got what I needed at the right time.

Love beyond measure

Kim xx

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

thanks for sharing Kim:D

I'll have a little think about my answer and I'll get back to you...

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

Dear Azalia

There is a good thread on Buddhism on this forum called 'Zen for Courage'

Love beyond measure

kim xx

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

I think for me now it all just seemed to "make sense" as if recognised aspect of it from some unconscious awareness, but to be honest I was first introduced to it at a young age so that could be a reason. But even now when I hear or read new things, they just seem to "fit" into my mental picture of the world, like the jigsaw analogy I used on another thread

I remember another buddhist saying to me once discovering it was like "going from an unconfertable pair of shoes to a comfy well worn pair of slippers that you've had for years" So I guess I'm not the only Buddhist who feels this way.

I am also attracted to the fact that is seems so logical and scientific. nothing starts and ends - everything changes e.g. electricity, heat. So from this perspective reincarnation seems logical to me