How Do You Begin Learning Buddhism?

Step 1: Learn the four things the Buddha taught

The first teaching the Buddha gave after his awakening is called the Four Noble Truths. It comes down to four statements:

1. Life has many kinds of dissatisfaction (suffering)
2. Dissatisfaction has causes, mainly the greed, anger, and ignorance in one's own mind (origin)
3. These causes can be removed completely (cessation)
4. There is a path one can walk to remove them (path)

All of the Buddha's teaching is an unfolding of these four statements. If they make sense to you, go further.

Step 2: Taking refuge

The mark of formally becoming a Buddhist is taking refuge in the Three Jewels:

• Buddha: the teacher who shows the way
• Dharma: the methods the teacher taught
• Sangha: the people walking this path together

Taking refuge is an inner decision: from now on, when problems come up, you are willing to face them with the methods the Buddha taught.

Step 3: Learn in stages

The Gelug school puts special emphasis on "stages": going one step at a time, without skipping levels. Je Tsongkhapa summed up the whole path in three key points:

1. Renunciation: seeing clearly what real happiness is
2. Bodhichitta: wishing for everyone to be free from suffering and to be happy
3. The correct view of emptiness: understanding correctly how things really are

First listen, then reflect, and only then practice.

Three small things to do each day

1. Set a kind intention in the morning: today, as far as possible, harm no one, and help whenever there is a chance.
2. Recite a mantra during the day: for example Avalokiteshvara's six-syllable mantra, OṂ MAṆI PADME HŪṂ. You can recite it while walking or waiting for a bus.
3. Dedicate the merit in the evening: in your mind, give the good you did today to everyone who needs it.

Three reminders

• Find a reliable teacher and lineage: Buddhism is learned from people. A teacher's conduct, and whether their lineage is clear, matter a great deal.
• Do not rush to seek empowerments: tantric practice is built on the foundations above. If the foundation is not steady, an empowerment cannot be put to use.
• Learning Buddhism is not a trade for protection: prayer is part of practice, but what really makes the difference is whether your own mind has changed.