What are people's thoughts on Buddhism? I've been rather intrigued as of late and have been attending meet ups/reading up a lot. I'm not quite convinced it's 'me' so to speak, though it's always good to explore nonetheless. Has anyone here had any experiences with Buddhism?

I really enjoy what buddhism teaches. through all the readings I've done I really feel like you don't have to follow it religiously but can really benefit from the teachings. I find with most religions they are all based upon the same morals but buddhism really speaks to me. I do practice meditation and I really beleive if I have never introduced myself to buddhism I wouldn't be the person I am today. if you want to chat more you can IM me :)

I have found that the noble 8 fold path is of great significance in most of lifes dealings:
right thought
right action
right speech
right concentration
right meditation
right mindfulness
right intention
Beyond that it is a process of opening, and opening further, and even further still, of emptying self.
H.H. The Dali Lama has written many great books on the subject, it is vast with many varied practices, the basic tenants of truth run throughout all of them though. To escape the birth rebirth cycle and attain Niravana, benefitting all humanity and sentinent beings.
Summed up with the final phrases of the Heart Sutra,
Gate Gate Paragate Parasam Gate BodhiSvaha
or
Open, Open, Open further, Open even further, finally Enlightenment.
Suggested Reading:
Buddhism Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen 1977
What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula 1955,1974
Good topic. Hope to see some more...

Bump.
Ok If you don't need 'religion' look at early zen. Buddhism comes from more philosophy more than religion as in the as 'west know' it.
I cannot encourage you enough to read or listen to the thoughts of alan watts who spoke so eloquently about the subject in the 1970's.
He spoke a lot, this is a good start.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Do-You-Does/dp/ ... 59&sr=8-23
He's not a teacher, just a bright clear minded individual and funny.
You don't have to get really into the religion, Buddhism has no god....You're it! We're it! It all IT! it is refreshing.
Here's a little video to begin thinking....zen...





It's worth going into Taoism too.

I once fancied a young lady who was into an interesting branch of Buddhism called Sakko Gakkai International (which was itself a branch off of Nicheren Daishonin (sp) Buddhism)

My experiences of it were clouded by my own perceptions/biases at the time though.

Wow, I had no idea of this... I will be looking into Buddhism further. Refreshing and eye opening indeed. I'm glad you mentioned that in this thread James

Like all religions, all of which mostly started from a single individual finding self realisation, many branches of buddhism have evolved and developed over the centuries. Thus, today there are many monasteries, where families, seekers and communities gather to learn the teachings, that too have evolved and grown over the centuries. This has created, method, chants, prayer, and yes 'gods', that have made buddhism into a religion.
But do not let this distract from the real core and essence of the way which is a path to finding self realisation and freedom from the separateness that the human 'id' or 'ego' gives us.
In just a few seconds of self realisation, to witness that you are not you, but that which is, simply in manifest can teach you more than someone who spends a lifetime practicing ritual and prayer yet never letting go of illusion that they are separate, expecting some spiritual experience, to take place. That is simply a fulfilment of the ego.
Conciousness in all forms and matter is it, looking through you at the world, and yes if you want to, you can call it 'god', as long as that word doesn't bring with it the hierarchical, separate notions, as it does in the west.

On this note I would say it is well worth taking a look at 'Non-Dualism', which has also branched from Hinduism, as Buddhism did.