Some popular classic texts include The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh, and On the Path to Enlightenment by Matthieu Ricard. If there’s a Buddhist center or community near you, ask one of the teachers for recommendations on what to read first. You can find Buddhist texts and books online or at a bookstore or library.
Set aside time each day to spend reading and absorbing the material. Studying the teachings consistently will help you absorb it all better. Pick one phrase or mantra from your teaching that day to use in your meditation.
The 4th truth contains the Noble Eightfold Path, which is a Buddhist set of principles detailing 8 steps to spiritual awakening.
You can even find a teacher who is already a Buddha to act as a mentor and role model. If you know a Buddhist who is very experienced or knowledgeable, consider asking them to become your teacher. Say something like, “I really want to become a Buddha but I need extra help. Would you be willing to tutor me?” Another option is to take a group class at a local community college or meditation center. There are also online courses led by Buddhist gurus you can sign up for.
Check in occasionally by asking yourself, “If I died right now, would I be happy or proud of how I spent my last moments?” If the answer is no, find a way to improve your current situation to change that to a yes. For instance, if you’re in a boring meeting at work, instead of dwelling on how long it’s dragging on, appreciate the softness of your favorite sweater on your back or impress your boss by offering a new idea.
For example, maybe you’re walking fast because it’s freezing outside and you only have a thin coat on. But then you realize the homeless person has no coat, and nowhere to go. Imagine if that was you. Since you stopped to considered their point of view, you might give them some of your loose change to buy a warm meal instead of just passing by. This practice spreads more love and peace, rather than indifference and hurt.
Avoid dwelling on the past or living for the future. If you notice those thoughts pop up, like when you start worrying about your big date tonight, redirect your attention to the current moment instead. A good way to bring yourself back to the present is by taking a few deep breaths and focusing on the sensation of the air moving in and out of your nostrils.
For example, don’t spend all of your time working, but don’t laze around 24/7 either. The middle path would be spending 8 hours a day at the office, and then coming home to relax or be with your loved ones. This applies to how you treat others, too. While you don’t want to be rude to someone, for instance, you also don’t want to be fake. The balance would be to be honest about your feelings while still being compassionate.
Download a meditation app on your phone or follow along with a guided video online if you want help getting started. You can meditate on a mantra, like “be the change you wish to see in the world,” if you have a specific intention you want to focus on that day. You can also try chanting “om” or listening to soothing sounds, like crashing waves or birds chirping. Meditate any time of the day for as long as you’d like. You can always start with 5 minutes, then slowly build up to 1 hour a day, for instance.
Write the 10 Meritorious Deeds somewhere that you see them everyday as a reminder, like in the notes app on your phone or on a piece of paper on the fridge.
Be picky when selecting what to keep and what to get rid of. Do you really need all of those shoes in your closet? Apply the minimalist mindset to your buying habits, too. Only purchase what you need and avoid impulse buys. The more uncluttered your life is, the more uncluttered your mind will be.
You’ll know you’re a stream-enterer when you’re practicing Buddhism because you know it’s the right thing to do, not because you feel like you should to fit in. If you’re struggling to get rid of lingering doubts or insecurities, find a guru or teacher to help guide you and answer any questions you have about what you’re learning.
You can also overcome greed by doing more service, like by volunteering in the community or helping others.
Meditating on purity every day can help tame sexual thoughts. Some Buddhists do choose to be completely celibate to help prevent any attachment to lust or fantasies.
Be patient if you don’t understand no-self completely. It’s a very abstract concept that can take years to grasp. As all sentient beings have the same buddhahood by nature, we are all equal by nature. You can practice the observation of karma and recognise the fact that everything as an unity to gradually achieve no-self. Nirvana also requires a very advanced meditation practice. Focus only on the sensation of your breath to completely clear your mind of all thoughts and achieve this state. A convenient way for people in this era to achieve this state is by substituting all wandering thoughts with one single yet powerful thought - Amitabha Buddha. Shakyamuni Buddha has foreseen that we egoistic people in this era are impossible to achieve the state without the help from a buddha who has yet to enter nirvana. He described in the Buddha Speaks of Infinite Life Sutra (Sukhāvatī-vyūhaḥ-sūtra) how Amitabha Buddha made 48 vows to help all sentient beings attain buddhahood in the most convenient and effective ways.
