Finding a Buddhist Tradition

The Buddha emphasized spiritual friendship. Ananda, his disciple asked, “Isn’t spiritual friendship half of the holy life?” Buddha responded, “No, noble friendship is the whole of the holy life.”

And, while here within Tufts Sangha we are working within a Dharmayana (multi-vehicle) approach, continued practice outside of Tufts will entail choosing a specific practice tradition–which will provide you with resources of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha specific to that path.

It is so important to have a community of spiritual friends dedicated to helping each other wake up, and a specific practice lineage within which to continue your exploration, especially after Tufts, or when you are away from campus.

When you meet a teacher, look for a sense of what in Korean is called inyoun, natural affinity, prior to making a commitment. You can use the sources we have included here, below, to begin to get a sense of what resonates for you.

For Practice

For Chanting

• How to practice chanting
• Theravada (Thai style) chanting (audio-visual, Pali text, translation)
• More Theravada chanting (audio, Pali text, translation)
• Tibetan chanting (audio, Tibetan text, translation)
• Soto Zen chanting, SFZC (audio, text)
• Plum Village chanting in English (audio, text)
• Soka Gakkai International Nichiren Buddhist style of chanting the “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo”

For Meditation

• Mindfulness practices
• Retreat opportuinities (self funded; scholarship from the retreat center may be available)
• Summer 2023 Retreat and Volunteer Opportunities

For Study

Tufts Buddhist Chaplaincy’s Comprehensive Reading List

Translations of Buddhist discourses and further readings:

• SuttaCentral Early Buddhist texts, translations, and parallels
• Access to Insight   Readings in Theravada Buddhism
• Buddhist Publications Society – Wheel Publications  Readings on Buddhism
• 84000 Translating the Words of the Buddha  Translations from the Tibetan Buddhist Canon

Other Resources

(Interviews, Podcasts, Media, Articles, and News on Buddhism)

• Buddhistdoor Global
• Lion’s Roar – Buddhist Wisdom for Our Time
• Wisdomexperience.org

Further Reading (via Goodreads)

• Introduction to Buddhism
• Theravada Buddhism (reading list)
• Mahayana Buddhism (reading list)
  • Zen Buddhism (reading list)
• Vajrayana (/Tibetan) Buddhism (reading list)
  • Vajrayana Explained