Ultimate meaning

Beginner’s Guide

A Beginner's Guide to Buddhism

We all have different reasons for wanting to practice meditation and follow the Buddhist path. Some are looking for profound meditative experiences, while others just want to experience greater peace of mind and tranquility in their daily lives. Whatever your motivation there is something for you to discover on your spiritual journey.

Table of contents:

Practicing Buddhism at a glance

There are three basic aims in the path 1) greater well-being in future lifetimes, 2) transcendence from  the mundane world, and 3) Total awakening for the sake of all sentient beings. But even if you don’t have such high motives for practice it is still possible to derive great personal benefit from following the path because even the most basic meditation leads to greater physical and mental well-being

What is Buddhism all About?

Buddhism isn’t merely another religion or philosophy. Ultimately Buddhism is about your personal experience of consciousness. And the causes of happiness and sorrow.

Through the development of mindfulness and compassion one learns to tame the unruly mind and apply oneself to the causes of future  well-being.

Initially our task is to develop a peaceful and stable mind, a journey that eventually leads to insight into the ultimate meaning of life and the universe.

Buddhism for Beginners: A step by step guide

There are three vehicles in Buddhism – Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. Which one suits you best, depends on your character and your goals. It’s not so much a deliberate decision which path to follow, but rather a calling, a heartfelt urge to do so. No path is better than the other – but it has to be the right one for you. 

This video might help you to find your direction:

There are many methods associated with the Buddha’s teachings and many of those similar to techniques found in other spiritual traditions. This can be confusing for someone starting out on their journey but you should know that there is no “one size fits all” solution to all your worldly problems  and spiritual goals.

Let’s look a bit deeper into the question of mundane happiness and spiritual transcendence.

How to get into Buddhism and find your path

Whatever subject you want to learn requires some amount of study and it is no different when it comes to Buddhism. If you want to practice this sublime path, you need to at least a basic understanding of the subject matter, that is if you want to make informed decisions about your own future journey.

And study doesn’t just mean reading books. You can also attend teachings at dharma centre near you, or watch  videos like the ones we post on YouTube. And under the guidance of an authentic teacher you can explore the nature of your own mind, thoughts and emotions.

Ever tried to learn a language, a musical instrument or a trade without a teacher? It isn’t impossible, but its much easier if you have someone to guide you.

Support and guidance are a great help when it comes to learning about Buddhism. Besides that, it’s also more fun to share your experiences with others.

If there’s a  Dharma center near you that’s great. But if there isn’t, you can also join an online community.  

When it comes to finding a spiritual teacher or community it is important to do some research first as check out if they are authentic and also meet your personal requirements.

Watch this video to learn more:

Meditation is crucial in Buddhism. You can either practice alone or with a group. Anyway, both is good to start with, but having a community can be of help. There are also guided meditations for beginners designed as free online meditation classes. If you prefer to get your toes wet on your own, here you find some inspiration how beginners can step into meditation:

After having gotten your toes wet you might really become serious about your practice. The spark has ignited and now you really want to dedicate yourself. That’s a good point to take refuge. With this, you officially become a Buddhist. Normally it is a short ceremony offered once in a while in Dharma centers. But technically every Buddhist can give you refuge.

Avoiding common problems in Buddhist practice

When practicing all on your own, you might encounter some difficulties once in a while. Here we offer you some advice on how to deal with problems that everyone encounters sooner or later.

"It’s difficult for me to stay concentrated during meditation."

You are not alone, everyone gets distracted. This is what we call monkey mind that is always busy and looking for stimulus. With practice eventually the mind will come to rest. And this training is called “Nine Stages of Stilling the Mind.” The most important thing to do is develop good habits and the easiest way to do that is to develop an easily achievable daily routine. A stable habit of meditating for just 5 minutes a day will over time develop into a lifetime of practice. As it is taught “even a dripping tap over time will fill an entire bucket.”

Please watch this playlist for further advice on developing a daily routine:

Do some prostrations, Yoga or other exercise before you sit down on your meditation mat. By that, you can rid yourself of tension. Afterwards start with a simple breathing exercise to clear out more subtle obscurations. If you feel more calm and stable, you can start meditation on your preferred object. More instructions about that you find here:

To be honest we all spend a lot of time each day distracted by meaningless activities such as scrolling on social media. No matter how busy you are everyone is able to meditate at least 5 minutes a day. Even 5 minutes a day will help you become more focused and present. And so a small investment in time on your cushion can result in a more productive and enjoyable day.

In general we will not give up our bad habits unless we understand how dangerous those are. Also we need to believe in the benefits that come from practising restraint. While one glass of wine won’t cause much harm, if you lose control you can get into a lot of trouble.  And even if we may understand the dangers, once we get addicted to something like smoking for instance, it is very difficult to give up.

In terms of the spiritual path it is all about remaining mindful and not getting carried away by your strong emotions. And if you remain in control of your sense doors then there is less chance of causing harm and upsetting others.

But even if you do slip up from time to time, the important thing is to recognise that and resolve to do better next time.

Progress comes with patience. First, all these Buddhist concepts might sound so unfamiliar and maybe even mindblowing to you. Be assured: That’s normal. No need to worry. Just remind yourself why you chose this path. And before you know, the sky might clear up again. Some more inspiration about this you find here:

Be assured: Emptiness has nothing to do with nihilism or depression. On the contrary: It is such a relief to see that everything is interdependent. This is what the concept of emptiness is all about: Seeing that identity is not inherent in an object or person, but arises with convention only. This is a very deep topic and hard to grasp – actually it can’t be grasped, but has to be experienced. As a beginner, just know that it is very liberating to get rid of your own misconceptions about reality. And that seeing everything as interdependent comes with so much love and compassion, as you know that you are connected with each and every sentient being.

Common misconceptions some beginners have about Buddhism

Probably most people start their Buddhist journey wanting to fix their mundane problems, which is fine to begin with. But be assured, there is so much more to it. Over time, you might see that Buddhism is neither therapy nor a relaxation technique nor a hobby. It is a most sublime path leading you in the direction of utmost peace. 

 

But if it really shall assist you in overcoming your suffering once and for all, it has to take root in your heart and mind, lighting up your everyday experience. Taken seriously, Buddhism will change the way you think, feel and act. Your priorities might shift – and with that your whole worldview. 

 

Of course that’s not the case for everybody. But at the end of the day, this is what it’s all about. It’s a wonderful, yet challenging path. Along the way, you might not only calm your mind, but might want to get some real insight into the ultimate meaning of life. As this is a difficult endeavor, you will need a guide for that. A teacher can help you plunge into the depths of your own mind, so you don’t take a wrong turn. If you really want to go for it, at this point much energy, time and effort is needed. But every step on the path is worth it, as it finally may reveal the ultimate meaning of life and give you lasting peace of mind. 

May all beings be happy and free of suffering.

FAQ: Buddhism for beginners

Can everyone practice Buddhism?

Young or old, healthy or sick, intellectual or emotional –  whether you seek liberation or are merely looking for greater wellness and peace of mind – everyone can practise the path. But the benefits of practice very much depend on your level sincerity and commitment.

The most important thing in any activity is to understand what you are aiming for and what you expect from your practice.

As a beginner in Buddhism – no. You can just explore all the fascinating facets of Buddhism and apply what works for you. Later, if you feel this is the right path for you, you might want to make a serious commitment, take refuge and pay respect to a teacher you have faith in. In order to make progress at this point, it’s good to focus on the practice your teacher gives you and really dedicate yourself solely to that.  

You don’t need to force yourself into believing anything you don’t understand. However, blind faith is not recommended in Buddhism. Rather, it’s about informed faith. So take some time in studying, ask questions, really try to understand – and when you’ve found some conviction, your belief will have a solid foundation.

No. It is true though, that Buddha’s four noble truths can sound a bit pessimistic at first. After all it’s about suffering and that is something many people don’t want to hear. But the Buddha was presenting a crystal clear analysis of our way of being in this world. He didn’t say that suffering is the only thing we experience, rather that we can’t stay in paradise forever and that every blissful moment passes. That is something everybody might agree to. But Buddha didn’t resign there – rather he showed us a way to find everlasting peace. That’s really good news, isn’t it? 

More inspiration about this topic you find here:

Many lay practitioners commit to the five precepts: No killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying or intoxication. The reason is simple: Instead of helping you on your way to liberation and peace, these bad deeds will only drag you deeper into suffering and delusion. Ever met a happy criminal – someone with an open heart radiating love and peace? Probably not. 

It’s good if you can meditate every day – at least for a short time. Once you have established a routine, you can lengthen the time of each session or add more sessions in each day.

Suggested Reading List

There are literally thousands of books about Buddhism published in the west, not to mention the hundreds of volumes of ancient scriptures in the Buddhist canon. And whereas it isn’t possible to give a comprehensive list of titles here is a sample of some material that will be especially helpful to the beginner on the path:

Modern Classics

Translations of the Scriptures

Understanding the View

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