A Map for Beginners

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Interest in Buddhism is growing quickly, especially in the West. This is in part due to that Buddhism is a teaching that emphasizes moderation and self-help development. It provides a path for spiritual and personal development. There is no need for blind faith or unthinking worship. Buddhism encourages questions and investigations into its own teachings, and teaches us to take responsibility. Is very much in harmony with modern science.
Applying the teachings of Buddhism to daily life is explained on this site in fairly everyday terms. You can also find deeper looks into some basic concerns of Buddhism, and links to further information here and there.
There are answers to interesting questions on such as karma, and many easy suggestions to get the best of your practice, whether you call yourself a Buddhist or not.

Map of ancient India. Click on the map to see a larger one.

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Buddhism originated in ancient India, also called Vedic India. Both Buddhist and Hindu texts share that common ground along with at least parts of Tantra.
There are many Eastern teachings that derive from Vedic times and ancient Indian soil. Accommodating oneself to them can easily take up the better parts of one's life. Yet we could need to follow suit with our over-riding conditions to function likably and well. A beginner has to guard against getting indoctrinated by accepting this and that teaching in good faith. It can be very easily done and as one result of indoctrination one gets incapacitated, maybe for the whole life.
It may be very hard to survey the asserted values and possible gains in strangely alien teachings, and costumes, and cultural sides to them. Welcome good and solvency-helping basic teachings and instructions. Not all of them help, and in addition much may eventually tie in with one's inherent nature.
Bread-winning, a good, decent life, and spiritual progress needs to be taken care of. Some forms of humour mask gladdening insights for those who are interested in profound knowledge that might eventually pave the way for success. Ask yourself:

Are you well?
Can you move around freely?
Do you have enough and sound enough mastery where you live?

If not, there is a chance that seductive and gross teachings - trivial matters too - have got the better of you. You should counteract that. Passing thoughts and being spontaneous may be greater than thought directed onto you by others, but learn to consider carefully and well. Ask for evidence, for good evidence. Build on that and refuse to overstretch.
Naturalness is good. A further tip from the Himalayas:

If you were to fall to your death from a very great height it would be a shame not to enjoy the view as you fell, or to appreciate the wind in your hair or warmth of the sun on your face. [Tibetan essentialism].

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Buddha never uses any threats, or tries to force anyone to accept his teachings. He prefers to hand out his teachings in a logical and reasonable manner.
Buddha also advises us not to concern ourselves with unproductive speculations.

If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism. - Albert Einstein

Literature

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