Expert: Justin Choo - 7/20/2009

Question
I'm a 17 year old male and I would like to become a Buddhist. I've read about parts of it and I'm sure this I would like to do. But I need alittle help getting started.

What are their holidays? And how does one take part in it?
Any writes (books) we follow?
Do Buddhist have to shave their heads and were robes?

I have more questions just about general things, if you could send me a link to anything that you feel could answer my questions it would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Answer
Hi Arthur,

Welcome to the path of contentment and inner peace.

Obviously, you have not read a lot about Buddhism.  

Your question: "Do Buddhist have to shave their heads and were (wear) robes?"

Answer:  Certainly not.  Only monks do.  Buddhists are just plain human beings like you and me!!!

To start off, you may like to do two things:

1. I strongly recommend you to read this book by my revered teacher:

You can find it here:

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/whatbelieve.pdf

2. Please follow this blog by one of my teachers:

http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/

----------------------------------------------------------------

Having done that you can then spend your time surfing through the sites below:  (Have Fun!)

Welcome to the path of inner peace and happiness through realizing universal truths of existence. The journey is a long but rewarding one. The destination may be unreachable but the journey itself is a lesson in life. The following web sites will provide helpful information:

http://www.buddhanet.net (The “mother” of all Buddhist web sites)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/buddhism..

For general answers and information:

www.buddhismatoz.com

http://www.budsas.org/index.htm

http://www.buddhivihara.org/index.htm

http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?title=Main_Page


http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/
E-Sangha forum.
This is a very active and highly authoritative forum.

http://www.dhammasukha.org
This is also a very active forum, mainly on meditation.

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv
This is a Buddhist news channel, giving latest news in the Buddhist world.
http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/whatbelieve.pdf
"What Buddhist Believe" by Ven. K Sri Dhammananda. This book explains the Buddhist perspective on life's general questions.
Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda was my revered teacher. His writings have benefitted countless people throughout the world. He had recently passed away (18 Mar 1919 -- 31 Aug 2006)

http://youtube.com/user/dhammatube
Short Buddhist talks



http://www.ksridhammananda.com
Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda is my revered teacher.

http://www.justbegood.net/index.htm
http://www.geocities.com/wave_books/index.html
You can obtain excellent publications from them.

http://www.allexperts.com/ep/948-61982/Buddhists/justinchoo.htm
Ask more questions from the “Expert”.

http://www.dharmanet.org
http://www.buddhism.about.com
http://www.parami.org/buddhistanswers/in..
http://www.nibbana.com
http://www.triplegem.net
 

http://www.wildmind.org/
http://dharmaavenue.com/home.htm..
http://www.thebuddhistsociety.org..
http://www.budsas.org/index.htm..
http://www.fundamental-buddhism.com..
http://www.maithri.com/index.asp..
http://www.parami.org/buddhistanswers/..
http://www.abhayagiri.org/
Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, the first monastery in the United States to be established by followers of Ajahn Chah, was founded in 1996 in the mountainous forests north of Ukiah, California.
http://www.watnongpahpong.org/indexe.php..


http://www.bswa.org
This site is in Western Australia where Ajahn Brahmawamso resides. He is an English monk and is a very popular speaker. You can listen to his talk through this site.
http://www.foresthermitage.org.uk/

http://www.amaravati.org/abmnew/
Ajahn Sumedho is the most senior Western monk, trained under the Thai forest monk tradition. He is an American and is resident in England.

Ajahn Sumedho and Ajahn Brahmawamso are from the same teacher, the late Ajahn Chah of Thailand.


Have fun and be happy :-)



[You are also invited to visit my blog:]
http://lifeislikethat999.blogspot.com/