Expert: Alex Wilding - 4/2/2008

Question
Hi there... I'm new to the NYC area and have long wanted to begin practicing Buddhism but don't really know where to go. I have friends around the country who have steered me towards different literature (The Tao, Siddhartha, and other texts) and strongly feel that this is the faith I should be following.

So how does one get started? Is there a place in NYC where I can go and ask questions/join in/find my place.

Thanks for reading...

-Karla

Answer
Hi Karla,
Well first of all, welcome to the club, but your question suggests to me that your problem will be the wealth of possible approaches. Buddhism has branches with *very* different styles (Vajrayana, Theravada and Zen, just to name the most obvious three), and it sounds as if you don't yet know which of these you will be most suited to. Even if you could say, for instance, that it's the Vajrayana (Tibetan style) for you, this also has some quite different styles, some excellent teachers and groups and some flaky ones. How can you tell which is which? I think that the most important thing is to realize that at this stage you *cannot* tell the difference, so if you feel attracted to one particular school or group, don't jump to the conclusion that it is the "one" for you. (A bit like personal relationships, eh?)
I certainly don't have any familiarity with NYC (I'm a European now living in Australia), but I have some knowledge of the various schools - mainly of Tibetan Buddhism.
Do you have an idea at all yet of which of the three broad types I mentioned above appeals to you? You may have to go to a lot of centres before you start to find your way - but that can be both fun and valuable, too.
There is a big centre out in the state (Woodstock) for the Karma Kagyu, which is the branch I'm most connected with - find them at http://www.kagyu.org/ If you look at their "Practice centers" you'll see a dozen or more subsidiaries in NY, including three in NY-NY! (Bear in mind that this is just *one* branch of the Kagyu, which is *one* branch of Tibetan Buddhism.) I see they even have one based near Times Square Station - details under http://www.kagyu.org/kagyulineage/centers/usa/usa-nyc.php

One last comment - most people are nice, no need to be nervous about being new. If anyone does not make you welcome, *they* have a problem.

Is that any help?