BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Buddhism Baptist to Buddhist

Hi, there, everyone. I was raised Baptist (dad's a preacher), but in my young adult life, I began to seriously question things that I had taken at face value all my life. My searching eventually led me to Buddhism, where I seem to have settled.

My problem is that I haven't found many other Buddhists in my area, at least Western Buddhists. I live in the Phoenix metropolitan area, so you would think it would be easy to hook up with other Buddhists, but not so much. There are a couple of temples within driving distance, but I think that puts me off the most is that I'm not comfortable with the robes, incense, and Eastern-looking statues that are so prevalent around Buddhist temples. Guess I'm looking for Buddhists that look like Baptists...now that's scary isn't it? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Anyone else out there facing similar issues? I'd really like to find a Buddhist sangha so that I can become stronger in my (very weak) practice.

I have sent you a PM....

Buddhists look surprisingly normal...I think perhaps that you've been a little bit influenced by the typical Western perception of what Buddhists are supposed to look like....!

If you'd like to practise Buddhism, it may help to swot up and do a bit of 'homework' first....
What 'eastern looking statues' are you talking about?
The ones of a man sitting cross-legged in meditation?

Well, it may well deptict the Buddha, but what it's intended to do is to help you recognise your own inherent, ever-present Buddha-Nature. The statues are there to ask you to pay attention...To clear your mind....to see yourself, sat there.....
To keep you in the present.

Hope this all helps a bit....

Have you read the book "The Accidental Buddhist" by Dinty moore? I love it!

meg

Hello there!
I am not actually a Buddhist but find the teachings 'in tune' with my inner beliefs.

What I would like to speak with you about is your feelings about statues.

I am wondering if this is just a 'spin off' from your Baptist upbringing. I can understand this very well because I started life as a Methodist, where statues, and any kind of 'ritual' or even simple crosses were strongly frowned upon.

It was regarded as 'idolatry' and it took a long time for me to understand what these represented. I attended a Catholic school for music lessons as a child, and I learned from the nuns that statues were only meant to aid the person in their devotions, and to remind them that Jesus was a MAN - human like us, and the same for Mary and the saints. [unfortunately some people do place more importance on them than that]

What Alexandra has said is very true. Statues are not there to be worshipped, but only to assist us in our meditations and prayers.

We don't think it is wrong to have photos of our departed loved ones to remind us of times we enjoyed, and how they loved us. Really, statues are another form of photo' - in my opinion, and we don't have to look at them if they disturb us.

As for the robes and incense, well, robes are also used in the 'high church' Christian churches, and again, they are symbols of office, or are historical in their nature. Incense represents the prayers of the faithful - rising up to God, an offering of love, but also the sweetness of the perfume is meant to draw our attention away from earthly things to the beauty of the Spirit.

I wish you very blessing in your spiritual journey and hope that you will meet other Buddhists in your area who will befriend you and support you.