How to achieve inner peace through Buddhism?

Unas Slayer of the Gods: How to achieve inner peace through Buddhism?
I was wondering what is the best path of Buddhism to achieve inner peace. I do not know much about Buddhism.

I would prefer to have the certain path not very strict or conservative.

I was thinking Zen Buddhism but I am not sure if this is an actual path.

Thank you!

Answers and Views:

Answer by Nanigopal R
Non-Hindus, have you ever thought that Hinduism always essentializes violence? Do other religions propagate the culture & ideology of violence? Religious reformers or prophets like Buddha, Christ & Muhammad did not use violence to conquer the hearts of people. Muhammad might have conquered other people, but that was to bring the word of God, not to rule or subjugate them. Consider his time, the society was then violent, & like Christ many of his followers suffered persecution. Also, Buddha & Christ sought to establish peace & love. But in Hinduism, every god & goddesses have weapons in their hands. Swastika, the Brhamana symbol, is actually a weapon, a sharp edged discuss (chakra). Ramayana & Mahabharata are stories of bloody wars. Has this violence-centred spirituality set the Hindu society backward?
Hindu gods all have weapons in their hands! Indra the Sky god, Varun the wind god, krisna the Cow god, Brahma the fire god all have weapons… are they warmongering ?

Answer by L T
Only God can give you true peace. People go searching and searching and don’t want to settle for someone who will love them forever (who knows why) and never find what they are really looking for. Who can go wrong with God?

Answer by geni
In most western countries, eclectic Buddhism is the norm. Please try Buddhist Wellness Group which is a yahoo group.

Answer by Joseph M
Zen is wonderful but the practice is fairly hard. You might find Theravada practices interesting (from S.E. Asia). Zen is more cerebral, T-V more working with body sensations.

Try them all, and see what feels right for you. Mastery of the mind is definitely a good way to make your life work better for you.

Answer by drago884
Zen Buddhism is a very fascinating path, and it has helped me on my journey.

Read ‘Three Pillars of Zen’ for reference, but better yet – go to a local Zen monastery – they will likely have meditation classes you can participate in as well as dharma talks, where they discuss actual Zen philosophy – which is in itself very simple.

There is only the one (call it source, mind, consciousness, god, buddha, what have you – the one is beyond names and concepts).
‘You’ as a person is simply an illusion. Therefore, to try and ‘achieve’ inner peace is meaningless. There is nothing to achieve my friend, because you, I, the entire Universe and every molecule in it is one thing, experiencing itself in a trillion variations.

Through meditation you can help yourself have this understanding at a deep level such that it reverbrates throughout all layers of your life – this is sometimes refered to as enlightenment – though of course that is also only a concept, a word, a thought – and as such, an illusion.

Once you see past the illusion that is the ‘reality’ we live in, you will achieve inner peace – except of course there will be no ‘you’ to experience that peace, there will be only the one, as has been since the beginning of time and will be until its end.

Hope this helped!

Answer by 小灵
Peace,
from my life do it FIRST !!
“benignity” to people and everything(众生).

Buddhism practice conception,
20’s,30’s,40….
recur “original point”(原点) is tiptop !!
(Main Title).

Answer by valhall13
Zen is good. I found inner peace through Tibetan Buddhism. Your spiritual mileage may vary.
As to the Christians who come to these questions and spout thier dogma. I can honestly say I never ever felt true peace as a christian. I only felt guilt and inner turmoil. I only found true peace by walking the path of the Buddha.
Please don’t let anyone dissuade you from walking the path of your choice.
peace.
om mani padme hum.
Kr.

Answer by P’ang
Just as there are many ways to get to New York City (walk, fly, drive, ride a bike, take a bus, etc.), Buddhism offers many ways to obtain the inner peace you seek.

Each Buddhist tradition has its own “flavor,” most of which comes from the cultural environment in which it has traditionally flourished.

Buddhism from Tibet has a strong Tibetan cultural flavor. Zen Buddhism has a strong East Asian quality (China, Korea, Japan). Vipassana Buddhism has been shaped by the cultures of Southeast Asia.

Most Buddhist traditions, regardless of “flavor,” share four practices:
– a focus on meditation practice
– chanting of various types
– prostrations (bowing)
– study of texts

These Buddhist practices will cultivate wisdom, compassion, generosity, creativity, kindness and other beneficial qualities in those who sincerely engage in these practices.

Any practice tradition will be strict and conservative for those who don’t wish to do the practice. Likewise, any practice tradition will be comfortable and welcoming for those who are serious about transforming their life.

I’ve practiced in the Zen tradition for nearly 20 years. I feel at home in this lineage. But I have great respect for all traditions and recognize that each person must find their own home.

I encourage you to visit a number of Buddhist centers and find one that feels right to you. Once you find that center, go their regularly to practice with others. Remember that everyone at that center, whether wise or confused, comfortable or abrasive, is there for the same reason as you — to awaken to their true nature.

If you have specific questions, feel welcome to contact me.

Best wishes on your path!

Answer by Tommy H
In order to seek inner peace, a student studies the Buddhist scripture and tries to comprehend and understand the teaching. When the student failed certain understanding repeatedly, then the student stays at certain level. However, he can continue to gain wisdom on other areas. For example, in the Zhaun Falun Lecture, there is a discussion about smoking. If the student hasn’t understood the importance of given up smoking, then his body can’t be purified until he gives up smoking completely. There are other bad traits, habits, and wrong thinking that the student continues to improve.

If you’re about to practice Zen, read up discussion of the origin of Zen in the section “Different Levels Have Different Laws” of the Zhuan Falun Lecture on the web. If you want to know how Buddhism started and its development, see section “Buddhist Qigong and Buddhism”.

Falun Gong is a unique Buddhist School, teaching an ancient practice for the body, mind, and spirit, based upon the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. Falun Gong consists of five sets of powerful exercises.

Falun Gong, Tibetans, other Buddhists, and Christians have been persecuted in China. The most offensive human right violation is the organ harvesting from the Falun Gong practitioners in China. Can you kindly sign a petition to stop persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, please ?
https://cipfg.org/en/news/petition.html

Answer by Tree
Hi Atheist Metalhead,

Buddhism has been around for more than 2,500 years.

It started in northern India and spread to North – Tibet and China, and to South – Thailand, Burma, etc.

From China, it was then spread to Japan and Korea.

Based on different cultures, there are different practices to “bring out” your inner peace (Buddha-nature).

When I lived in New York, I went to some Buddhism traditions and tried to see how I connected to these practices.

Finally, I chose Ch’an (Chinese Zen) traditions.

Here I quote my teacher’s words for you.

“Ch’an is mindfulness.” – Master Sheng yen.

You can find more Ch’an information here.

To put a long story in short, be mindful in daily life is one of the methods in Ch’an practice.

It’s easy and straight.

No mystery or supernatural power here.

But, please be patience.

Sometimes, it takes time to really know your Buddha nature.
(I’m still learning every day in my every thought.)

Metta,

Tree with joined palms