I'm going to make a fresh start.

[AtreyuKun]

To say that I've been having problems would be vey accurate. It's been to the point where my job is in danger because of my attitude. People have told me they're actually a little afraid of me. I'm not that kind of person. I thought about doctors and medication, but I wanted to try something else first.
I've always been fascinated about eastern religion. But until recently it never clicked. I never thought really about the phrase "existence is suffering" before. It's always been a punchline. But today, o want to set out on a path to change the way I see the world. I can't say that I've changed becuas I haven't. I'm just changing my point of view.
I'm setting out on the path of the Buddha.

[Veganpunk]

Ok. That was weird.

[Darwin]

Whatever blows your metaphorical skirt up guy. Good luck.

[tattooer601]

+1

[AtreyuKun]

Weird? You really think so?

[Veganpunk]

For you. Yea.

[Bigblue1]

Hey aren't you guys like bro-in-laws? Maybe VP is just a lil mad you decided to tell all of us, instead confiding in him first

[sgreger1]

Get in here Tom.

[tom502]

One thing I used to do, that I believe really had a positive impact for me, was doing the regular practice, as well as attending regular local activities of the local Nichiren Buddhist Soka Gakkai SGI group. I really met a lot of cool people, some with similar interests, such as UFOs. I often miss it. The practice is based on faith, study, and practice, with faith, in that you are willing to give it a go, study, to know what it is you are doing, and why, and practice, which is a simple daily chanting meditation, as well as striving to live your path, and overcome obstacles and make the best of your life. It's based on the Lotus Sutra, as elucidated by Nichiren Daishonin, and the practice of chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, as this chant respresents the essence of the Buddhist teachings, Nam means devotion, or connection to, myoho, is manifesting of the Buddha-nature, renge, is basically karma, or cause and effect, and kyo, is the connection, or inter-connectedness of life. Also practice includes a short recitation of excerpts of the Lotus Sutra, along with the chanting calledn Daimoku, to a focal point called a Gohonzon, which is a scroll that embodies the essence of Buddhadharma, this whole thing is called Gongyo, and done in the morning and evening, it doesn't take long, and isn't hard, though one can, and should do the daimoku part as much as they can, as the idea is the karma affecting Dharma to burn negative karma while creating good karma, to make oneself a better person and more able to achieve goals along with a greater enlightened Buddha consciousness.
SGI is most popular in the US, and I practiced with them about 10yrs. There are also other Nichiren groups, though they all seem critical of each other, but I'd recommend at least checking it out, it's all no pressure group, and you might like it. www.sgi-usa.org

[Veganpunk]

Hey aren't you guys like bro-in-laws? Maybe VP is just a lil mad you decided to tell all of us, instead confiding in him first

It;s not that, lol, but I know the guy, I'm starting to think someone hacked his account!

[tom502]

Also, if one didn't want to "join" any particular group, or said group is not even in one's area, you can, of course, practice Nichiren Buddhism unafilliated with an organization, many Nichiren Buddhists have done this, because of various disagreements with certain aspects of the organizations. All you really need to do is just do the daily Gongyo practice, study the Gosho, and Sutra, all of which you can get free online, some groups just chant the Daimoku alone, and not the sutra, and one can feel free to mold their daily practice as they wish, they could sit and meditate with eyes closed repeating the daimoku, or they could print out a gohonzon, or they chould just write the daimoku on a card and use that. What appealed alot to me about Nichiren Buddhism, is you can do it, it has an actual daily ritual like practice, it makes philosophical sense, and many feel it really does have a positive effect in one's life.

Another Buddhist path I like, though I mention it second, as I like the straight up philosophy and practice of Nichiren, but perhaps the most widespread Buddhist path is the Pure Land, the Jodo Shinshu which I am most familiar with, and is based on 3 Sutras which tell of Bodhisattva Damakara who aspired to be a Buddha, and in so doing so, and attaining, he created the Buddhaland, or Pure Land, Jodo, and the main practice of this path is the nembutsu, or chanting and meditation of the name of this Buddha, who after he attained Buddhahood became Amida Buddha, so the nembutsu is, Namu Amida Butsu. This is also called Shin Buddhism. It's more a faith based path, somewhat devotional and popular over most of Asia. The goal is to be reborn in the Pure Land, and there one attains Buddhahood, since life here is so hard to attain, the power of the Vow of Amida Buddha can cause rebirth there.

So, google Nichrien Buddhism, and Shin Buddhism, Jodo Shinshu, Pure land Buddhism, etc if interested.

[AtreyuKun]

Nah. If you knew how hard it is to even get out of bed. Monday I was called in the office. They were afraid I was going to hurt someone. They went as far as suggesting doctors and some kind of therapy. If I'm so much as late from break, I'll provablly lose my job. I think changing my point of view and thinking about my actions is a much preferable way to go.

[tom502]

Actually try a Buddhist practice, give it a sincere effort, you won't know if you don't try.

Here is what I recommend. get a blank piece of paper, and write "Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo" on it, if possible, write it top to bottom, like:
N
a
m

etc.

Stick it on a wall somewhere just slightly above eye-level, when sitting in a chair, at a comfortable distance.
Then chant, nam-myoho-renge-kyo, pronounced Naahm, myo-ho, ren-gey, kyo, for 10 mins, in the morning, and then 15 mins in the evening.
And get some Gosho reading material, you can find it online, print it out, or buy a book, these are the major writings of Nichiren, which explains the practice.

Give this 4 weeks. Increase the chanting sessions when/if possible.

[AtreyuKun]

You've given me a great deal to look over there Tom. Thanks!

[justintempler]

The earth revolves around the sun, not the other way around.
We have this tendency as humans to expect the world to run according to our expectations and then act surprised when reality smacks us in the face.
Accept what is and if you don't like where your path leads you, choose a different path.