Expert: Justin Choo - 8/26/2007

Question
I have always struggled with alcoholism and have had a very bad relapse in the past two weeks.
My clarity has become clouded and I researched buddhism online tonight for a few hours and have believe and realise that through buddhism, I can learn the truth underlying existence and I can be saved from myself and for once, be clear in my life and my goals and find peace within myself which would lead me to become a better person to myself, others and this earth.

What are the first steps I would need to take in order to practice buddhism?
Should I join a buddhist centre here in London?
Should I talk to a monk to guide me through the hymns and chants I should do daily, etc?

Thank you for your time :)


Answer
Hi EM-J,

Thank you for visiting this site, and welcome to the journey of inner peace and happiness.  

Of course the first step in doing anything is to get to know the thing.  So you should spend more time surfing through the internet.  At the end of this message, you will find the recommended Buddhist sites.  Please take your time to study them.  In the meantime, if you wish to visit Buddhist centres in London, try this address:  

Hamstead Buddhist Group

Address: New End Square, London NW3 1LT or 020 8444 4685 (Adrienne Jeffrey)  London
Affiliation: Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
Phone: 020 8452 4174 (Susan Jordan)

This is a Theravada group affiliated to centres run by Ajahn Sumedho, an American monk residing in UK.  He is the most senior Western monk under the famous late Thai monk Ven. Ajahn Chah.  You can find other Theravada centres in UK here:
http://www.buddhanet.net/wbd/search.php?keyword=&search=Begin+Search&country_id=...

If you need further info please come back and I shall be very happy to assist.  In the meantime please go through the sites below.  Wishing you well from Justinchoo:-)

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/whatbe..
"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.justbegood.net/index.htm
http://www.geocities.com/wave_books..
You can obtain excellent publications from them.

http://www.buddhanet.net (The “mother” of all Buddhist web sites)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/buddhism..
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.buddhistchannel.tv
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.lioncity.net/buddhism/
This is a very active and highly authoritative forum.

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.dhammasukha.org

http://www.foresthermitage.org.uk/
http://www.amaravati.org/abmnew/index.php/about_us/getting_here/
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 disciples of Ven. Ajahn Chah)