Expert: Justin Choo - 3/17/2006

Question
hia... im dean and im 14 yers old and i have been learning about your religion and i would like to become a member...

i know it may sound stupid that i am a 14 year old boy but i find with my stressful family situation, i feel the path that the buddhist religion offers would help me...

...and also i would really like to reach inner peace...

so please help me, and educate me, in this religion...  

Answer
Hi Dean,

Welcome to this site of inner peace and happiness.  Stupid people will not visit this site.  You have something deep inside you that have prompted you to seek real truth which will lead to understanding and to inner peace.  Once we understand the teachings of the Buddha we will understand human nature and the also the real nature of this world.  With this understanding we can then accept many unpleasant things coming into our lives because it is the imperfect nature of this world that we have to experience sorrow.  You are now a "member" of the Buddhist community, because you are now seeking the truth in the teachings of the Buddha.  The most important step now is to practise his techings which will reward you with inner peace and happiness.
The Buddha discovered the way to peace and happiness through realizing the true nature of life and this universe. It was more than 2500 years ago in northern India where the Buddha through harnessing the power of his mind realized that if man were to be free of greed, hatred and delusion, he had to look inwards into his mind, and start cleansing his inner defilements. If one reduces one's defilements, one would experience peace and happiness. He discovered that the whole world had certain characteristics and that life continued to exist because of certain causes. This world is very uncertain and unsatisfactory, because we cannot be fully satisfied in life; and that nothing is permanent. He also pointed out that because of our craving for permanent and complete satisfaction, we were always miserable. Once we understand and come to terms with this imperfect world, we will not complain too much, and will live through life with wisdom accepting the whole "package of life".

Please spend your time to surf through the following sites which will give you all the info about Buddhism:

http://www.ksridhammananda.com
Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda is my revered teacher. His writings have benefitted countless people throughout the world.

http://www.geocities.com/wave_books
You can obtain excellent publications from them.


http://www.buddhanet.net
http://www.dharmanet.org
http://www.buddhism.about.com
http://www.parami.org/buddhistanswers/index.htm
http://www.nibbana.com
http://www.triplegem.net
http://www.buddhistchannel.tv
http://www.bswa.org/modules/news/
http://dharmaavenue.com/home.htm  
http://www.thebuddhistsociety.org
http://www.fundamentalbuddhism.com
http://www.maithri.com/index.asp
http://www.parami.org/buddhistanswers/

Please come back if you need more info or answers.  I will be very happy to share all my knowledge with you.

Smile from justinchoo :-)