To Buddhists who study the original teachings

OK, let me start off by saying I am aware that in the 45 years or so the Buddha taught, he wrote not a damn thing. Not sure if his disciples wrote anything either. However I am very curious if anyone knows a good book(s) that give a balanced and informed description and explanation of what we know of the original teachings by him. I've grown curious about the philosophy (yeah I'm a walking fucking cliche - another Westerner/fallen away Christian becoming interested in Eastern thought, it makes me just as sick as it makes you how grossly unoriginal I am).

I would prefer a book that isn't written to sort of satisfy Western readers, and I don't want New-Age stuff interspersed in it. I would like to learn the nuts and bolts of what the Buddha taught. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

the heart of the buddha's teachings by thich nhat hanh

 

Pali Canon or Tripitaka

 

I read a book by Thich Nhat Khan or whatever his name is. I don't mean any offense to his fans, but this being in the "present moment" needs to stop. It's not possible, and all you are doing whilst meditating is thinking, whether it's about breathing or your chakra or the unity of mankind. Buddha is just as responsible for the same crimes. Presenting this as a solution to anything whatsoever is a curse to the whole of mankind. THERE IS NO WAY TO 'BE' IN THE PRESENT MOMENT, BECAUSE YOU ALREADY ARE.

 

I am not a particular fan either but to be in the present moment is a particular type of attention, not a description of where you are.

 

Thanks, I'll give them a look.

 

I did mean attention by the word 'you', not the physical being. It would obviously be difficult to physically be where you aren't.

 

The mind is naturally abstract. It can be involved in any kind of abstraction that has nothing to do with the circumstances of the present, i.e. dreaming of someplace or sometime not in the present. What I will do tomorrow or what I did yesterday, or how will things turn out.

 

The Secret of the Golden Flower it's taoist but shit. Gotta learn about meditation

 

Read the Dhammapada man.. it's right here..

http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/dhammapada-01.html

 

Crimes 'eh?

Being in the present is practicing mindfulness.

 

Isn't that just thinking about the present? I see no way by the application of effort to give your attention to the present without knowing you are doing so. To know is to be in the past, not the present.

 

If you already know, then why are you inquiring?

If you are right, then why type about such?

 

It's all just to much

 

The Great Way is not difficult
for those who have no preferences.
When love and hate are both absent
everything becomes clear and undisguised.
Make the smallest distinction, however
and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart.
If you wish to see the truth
then hold no opinions for or against anything.
To set up what you like against what you dislike
is the disease of the mind.
When the deep meaning of things is not understood
the minds essential peace is disturbed to no avail.

-Sengstan

Things don't have to be complicated.. people choose to complicate petty things.

Does a river contemplate its movement? Or question if it is flowing "properly"?

 

Times of being just to myself

 

Because that's what the thread is about, and Buddha's quest and 'teachings'. Like everyone else I'm interested in being in the present, and logic and experience says to me it's not possible, at least through any effort or non-effort.

 

I always understood the highest regard as 'just being.'
Not, being in now or then. Here or there. In this way or that way.

Just simply, being. Because having it in your mind to be a certain way brings the self into duality. If I strive to be 'this way' then there is, of course, another way I can be. Otherwise, I would not have it in my mind to strive to be 'this way'. What reason is there to strive to be 'this way' if there is no 'that way?'

 

No.

Knowledge is being shared, or knowledge is, being shared, or knowledge is shared being.

You may observe the present when the historical narrative in your mind has been stilled. I agree that we see in a physical sense, only the past as it takes time for reflected light to reach you and be interpreted as form.

However, capturing reflected light with the eyes is not vision. Vision is making sense of the reflected light that you see. Knowledge flows freely into an open mind.