Beginning a New Journey
Ever since my husband and I have been together, my spirituality has slowly been dwindling (over 5 years now). When we first met when I was eighteen I was on a spiritual quest of sorts, but pregnancy kind of interrupted it and I haven't been able to bounce back on that wagon since then. Now that my husband and I are separated, I feel like a have more time for myself and maybe the energy to embark on another spiritual journey, so to speak. But it's been so long that I don't even know where to begin anymore. I want to kind of go back to basics, if it's possible. I've always had a Christian faith, but am a bit disillusioned by the Christian population these days and just want to approach God/spirituality from a more general perspective first, now that I'm no longer afraid of religious retribution.
Do any of you know about where I can start? Know of any books on basic meditation pratices, etc.? Feel free to throw in whatever, as I'm wanting anything I can get my hands on.
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if you're looking for basic instruction, i'd definitely recommend him. he is soto zen, the tradition with which i have the most experience. his writing is very accessible, but like most zen memoirs, it really speaks from personal experience. i think this is a great way to get the gist of it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Warner
dharma punx also gives basic instruction, dealing with vipassana meditation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_levine
this is different than zen, a little more loosey-goosey, it doesn't get all heavy with you about how where and when to sit, which a lot of zen writings can (brad warner's does not). both are buddhist. both acknowledge that however you sit, the fact that you do is what is most important. one thing to note, the latter here has a recovery slant to it. he makes no representations about it, he used it to get off of drugs, and he tells you exactly how.
both are very good, written by people of our generation. the gold standard in buddhist meditation books though, used by people of a lot of different traditions, is zen mind, beginner's mind, by shunryu suzuki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_Mind%2C_Beginner%27s_Mind
that's basically all i know, i worked within buddhism. there are a lot more methods though, as i'm sure the hipmamas will tell clue you in on.
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