Question: “hello 🙂 i’ve been interested in Buddhism for a long time, ever since i began to meditate as a way to control my anger and anxiety. i think that traveling that path would improve me as a person and my outlook on life, but i have a problem. i am not sure how to approach it or where to begin! it would help me so much if you could point me in the right direction. thank you so much. :)”
Just by “searching” and asking you’re already on the right path! Initial steps are usually always the hardest, so the fact that you’ve already taken it is great!
Like any step to learn anything new, research and read! Read as much as you can! It’s not about reading so many different topics, but just by reading the same topics like the Four Noble Truths or the Eightfold Path by different authors can always teach you new things! Because Buddhism is always understood differently by each person, every different description and point of view is a beautiful and liberating read!
So read! Read, read, read! Visit your local library or discount book store and read through some 101 or foundation books. One of my favorite books is The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh. Once you have a solid foundation of the basics, apply what you’ve read in your daily life (compassion, loving-kindness, mindfulness, meditation, etc.). Practicing is the best tool to learning. You can read all you want and be “book smart” in Buddhism, but if you never apply those teachings then you’re not really wise.
My blog as well as several other blogs are also great resources of information (though, besides mine, I haven’t seen very many blogs that have direct informative content – mostly just quotes and images).
Smile and be well!
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