Tag: Vajrayana

Challenges for the Householder – Learning the Dharma

It is wise to be like Sariputta and use your powers of discernment to determine if you believe something you have read or been taught. The sign of a healthy practice is to question what is being taught and come to your own conclusions.

Introduction

This is part of a series I am writing on Challenges for the Buddhist householder. The series started with Exploring the Householder Path in Buddhism and in a previous post I explored the challenge of Time to Practice. In this post, I will elaborate on the challenge for the householder in learning the dharma.

The word dharma has multiple meanings. A simple definition is as follows:

“In Buddhist literature, dharma often refers to Buddhist teaching and practice in general. In this sense, dharma is used by Buddhists to encompass everything that was taught by the Buddha (or more precisely what a given tradition believes was spoken by him).” Source: Dharma by John Powers

In the context that I am using, I refer to the dharma as sources of information for the householder to learn and study Buddhism. This would include sources that are said to be from the Buddha and those of other Buddhist scholars.

Consider this blog post as a starting point to begin learning about Buddhism. The truth be told I could write a whole book on the challenge of learning the dharma for the householder.

Learning the Dharma

Challenge for the Householder

The householder will probably not have a teacher, whereas the monastic most certainly will. This requires the householder to often learn about the dharma on their own. Unlike some 2500 years ago when the Buddha taught the dharma, we now have multiple ways to accomplish this. In the Buddha’s time, the dharma was passed along as lectures as this was prior to any of the dharma being written down.

Now we have many books on Buddhism available to us, both in written and audio formats, podcasts, websites, videos, and local temples. In this way, we have a huge advantage, especially for the householder who can learn about Buddhism in the comfort of their own homes. This is exactly how I started my journey, reading and listening to books written by Jack Kornfield, The Dali Lama, and Thich Nhat Hanh.

Sources for the Householder

There are countless sources of information that have been published on Buddhism in many different forms. It would be somewhat counterproductive to go into too much detail here. Here are some sources of information for learning the Dharma that I am aware of:

  • Literature – Thousands of books have been written on Buddhism and it is not the intent of this article to cover that mountain of literature. Instead, I’ll give you a short list of those books that are most meaningful to me:
    • Bringing Home the Dharma by Jack Kornfield is a great book for those beginning their Buddhist studies. “Jack Kornfield brings to life a way to understand and cultivate mindfulness, compassion, loving kindness, and true wisdom that penetrates to the core of what liberation is all about.”—Jon Kabat-Zinn
    • Food for the Heart by Ajahn Chah – I’ve listened and have read this countless times. This is a compilation of Ajahn Chah’s lectures on Buddhism. I would say the audience is those with an intermediate or advanced knowledge of Buddhism, but even the beginner would benefit from Ajahn Chah’s teaching.
    • Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki. An excellent book on the Buddhist mindset and practice. “Though covering Zen basics like zazen posture, bowing, intention, and so on, Suzuki Roshi’s masterwork is hardly just for Zen people—or just for beginners, for that matter. It skillfully introduces important Buddhist concepts like non-attachment, emptiness, and enlightenment.”—Lion’s Roar
    • Buddhism for Beginners by Jack Kornfield. Created specifically to address the questions and needs of first-time students, here is Buddhism’s vast spiritual legacy, presented by one of America’s leading meditation teachers.
    • The Essential Dogen by Kazuaki Tanahashi. Eihei Dogen (1200–1253), founder of the Soto School of Zen Buddhism, is one of the greatest religious, philosophical, and literary geniuses of Japan. His writings have been studied by Zen students for centuries, particularly his masterwork, Shobo Genzo or Treasury of the True Dharma Eye. This is the first book to offer the great master’s incisive wisdom in short selections taken from the whole range of his voluminous works.
    • In the Buddha’s Words by Bhikkhu Bodhi (editor and translator). This might be considered for intermediate or advanced students. The American scholar-monk Bhikkhu Bodhi, whose voluminous translations have won widespread acclaim, here presents selected discourses of the Buddha from the Pali Canon, the earliest record of what the Buddha taught. Divided into ten thematic chapters, In the Buddha’s Words reveals the full scope of the Buddha’s discourses, from family life and marriage to renunciation and the path of insight. A concise, informative introduction precedes each chapter, guiding the reader toward a deeper understanding of the texts that follow. This is one of my personal favorites and if you follow my blog you will see me referencing versus from the Pali Canon with most of them coming from this book.
    • Great Disciples of the Buddha by Nyanaponika Thera (Author), Hellmuth Hecker (Author), and Bhikkhu Bodhi (Editor). Twenty-four of the Buddha’s most distinguished disciples are brought to life in ten chapters of rich narration. Drawn from a wide range of authentic Pali sources, the material in these stories has never before been assembled in a single volume. Conveniently annotated with the same system of sutta references used in each of the other series volumes, Great Disciples of the Buddha allows the reader to easily place each student in the larger picture of Buddha’s life. It is a volume that no serious student of Buddhism should miss.
  • Audio books – All books I mentioned above are also available on Audible.
  • Websites – Here are my favorite Buddhist websites:
    • https://tricycle.org/about/ – an excellent website, they publish a magazine in addition to their online presence. They require a membership fee to have full access to their website and magazine. The mission of the Tricycle Foundation is to make Buddhist teachings and practices available and to explore their traditional and contemporary expressions. Our work is inspired by the freedom of mind and heart that the Buddha taught is possible.
    • https://www.buddhistdoor.net/ – I found this one recently and am really impressed by the content and all it has to offer. Founded in 1995, Buddhistdoor Global (BDG) is an online Buddhist journal providing a diverse range of English-language Buddhist content to the world, centered on the Dharma and dedicated to serving Buddhist communities and helping practitioners navigate their spiritual path.
    • https://secularbuddhistnetwork.org/ – I find this a good place to learn about secular Buddhism and Buddhist practices in general. Contributes to the lessening of human suffering and to human flourishing – both to individual transformation and a fundamental realignment of our planetary priorities. We also seek to decrease the suffering of other sentient beings as well as to promote the flourishing of conditions that sustain life on this planet.
    • https://www.buddhanet.net/ – This is a wonderful website with lots of great information on Buddhism and Buddhist studies. BuddhaNet™ is the result of a vision to link up with the growing world-wide culture of people committed to the Buddha’s teachings and lifestyle, as an on-line cyber sangha. In this way, an ancient tradition and the information superhighway will come together to create an electronic meeting place of shared concern and interests.
  • Podcasts – I don’t use podcasts very much, but I know for some this is a great way to learn more about the dharma. Here are a few I’ve found:
  • YouTube – There are a couple of Buddhist YouTube channels that I watch on a frequent basis, including:
  • Local Buddhist temples/organizations – If you live in a medium to large-sized metropolitan area almost anywhere in the world you may find Buddhist temples and organizations that have a physical presence in your community. I live in the Dallas Fort Worth area of Texas USA and we have several temples and meditation centers. These temples and meditation centers offer dharma talks and opportunities for group meditation.

Do you need to choose a type of Buddhist practice?

There are several types of Buddhism that you may consider studying. In my own experience, I have studied a number of them and chose to combine their teachings into my own practice. To simplify things you should start by looking at the three primary types of Buddhism, which also encompasses other forms. The three types of Buddhism are as follows:

  1. Theravada – This is a type of Buddhism focused on preserving the teachings of the Buddha from the Pali Canon. It is considered the oldest school of Buddhism. Other forms under the Theravada umbrella include:
    • Thai Forest tradition
    • Sri Lankan Forest Tradition
    • Southern Esoteric Buddhism
    • Modern Vipassana, or Insight movement
  2. Mahayana – Known as the Great Vehicle or Great Path. It is the second most popular form of Buddhism. Other forms under the Mahayana umbrella include:
    • The Madhyamika or “Middle Way” school
    • The Yogacara or “yoga practice” school
    • The Chan / Zen / Seon schools
    • Pure Land Buddhism
    • The Jodo Shinshu school
    • Shingon, also known as the “mantra” school
    • Nichiren Buddhism
  3. Vajrayana – Vajrayana (the “vajra” or “diamond vehicle,” signifying the indestructibility of its wisdom)
    • Tibetan Buddhism
    • Shingon Buddhism
    • Newar Buddhism
  4. Secular Buddhism – This fourth type is very popular in the Western world. You can find a nice overview here called An introduction to secular Buddhism. Secular Buddhism is a ‘this-worldly’ practical and ethical philosophy, focused on the value of the dharma for and in this life.

Do you need a Teacher?

Is it necessary for the householder to have a teacher? Most of the books you will read by Buddhist teachers will advise that you have a teacher at least in the early stages of your practice to guide you along the right path. Traditionally, this has been the advice, but it may not be practical for the householder as they may not have access to a teacher. I think the answer to this question depends a lot on your personal learning style.

In my case, I prefer reading as a method for learning versus lectures. This allowed me to reread passages in the book and use things like Google search to learn more about terms like dharma, nirvana, and karma. I also found a number of really good Buddhist YouTube channels that supplemented my reading. In some ways, the YouTube channels were a substitute for lectures. My advice is to use the resources that fit your learning style in the beginning and then add resources as you progress.

Conclusion

There is no wrong way for the householder to learn about Buddhism. Like anything else it is important to expose yourself to as many sources of knowledge as possible; all will lead to a better understanding of Buddhism. My advice would include being patient with yourself and your practice. You are in the process of understanding Buddhism and creating a practice for yourself. Ultimately if you are a householder or a monastic your practice must become your own, based on your own insights, and realizations.

Personally, I have spent 25+ years learning about Buddhism and I continue to learn more every day. It is a never-ending source of joy and has benefited me in countless ways. I wish you great joy as you embark upon this journey as a Buddhist householder.

I’ll leave you with a quote from Ajahn Chah that speaks to becoming a Buddhist and the role of the dharma:

In the same way, walking the path to reach the Buddhadhamma is something each one of us must do individually, for no one can do it for us. And we must travel along the proper path of morality, concentrations, and wisdom until we attain the blessings of purity, radiance, and peacefulness of mind that are the fruits of traveling the Path. But if one has knowledge of books and scriptures, sermons, and suttas and only that–that is, only the map or plans for the journey one will never know purity, radiance, and peacefulness of mind, even if one lives hundreds of lives. Instead one will just waste time and never get to the real benefits of practice. Teachers can only point out the direction of the Path, the fruits of practice, is strictly up to each one of us. Ajahn Chah – Food for the Heart

The key takeaway from Ajahn Chah is to not be too enamored with studying texts and even hearing sermons, but instead to focus on the practice. I myself include the reading of texts as part of my practice, but really it is but a small part. Use these texts in their various forms to get a basic understanding of the dharma, but don’t make this the core activity of your practice. The real work will be in changing your thinking, removing cravings and attachments, and meditating. If your goal is to end suffering and acquire peacefulness of mind you need to put in the effort to actually implement what you have studied into your life. This is the practice.

“Copyright 2025 TheStoicBuddhist.com. All Rights Reserved”

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I appreciate all comments and likes. Please follow my blog and you will be emailed notification of all new posts.

Namaste

Sources

Dharma: Definition of Dharma at Oxford Bibliographies

Types of Buddhism: https://www.lionsroar.com/buddhism/types

Secular Buddhism: https://secularbuddhistnetwork.org/an-introduction-to-secular-buddhism/

Ajahn Chah – Food For The Heart

Exploring the Householder Path in Buddhism

Exploring the Householder Path in Buddhism

Householder

For over 20 years I have been studying and practicing Buddhism as a householder. My interest in Buddhism began in my early forties, and now in my sixties I have a great appreciation for how this ancient philosophy has impacted my life for the better. One way to define a householder is to state what they are not. A householder is not a monk that has left their home for the monastic life. Conversely a householder as the name implies may live in a house or apartment, with or without other family members, and have a job at some point in their life. As I refer to the terms householder and layperson please consider them as the same thing for the purposes of this post. The other key difference between the layperson and the monastic is that the monastic has devoted their life to Buddhism, where the layperson has not. You probably know this already, but in pursuit of being complete I included this definition of the householder / layperson.

Challenges for the Householder

In my next few blog posts I will address the challenges of the layperson in greater detail, but for those of you that are already a Buddhist or those considering Buddhism becoming part of your life it is important to consider the challenges. It is important to know that you are not alone and there millions of people that consider themselves Buddhist’s that are not monastics. In fact householders would be the vast majority of Buddhists. I would never want to give the impression that any of these challenges are insurmountable. To me these are some of the challenges not to be confused with impediments. While not an exhaustive list, these are some of the challenges I have encountered:

  • Time to Practice – Unlike the monastic the householder must divide their time between their role in society, family, and work leaving much less time for their practice than a monastic.
  • Learning the Dharma – The householder may not have a teacher, where the monastic most certainly will. This brings out a another challenge of how does the layperson learn and interpret the dharma?
  • Meditation – In some ways this is both a time issue and an issue of not having a teacher. How do you learn to meditate without a teacher? This also is directly related to “Time to Practice”.
  • Enlightenment – What is your path to enlightenment? Is it reasonable goal for the householder? Do you think a layperson can become enlightened?
  • Community – The monastic has the Sangha. The Sangha is made up of Buddhist monks and nuns, or bhikkhus and bhikkhunis, who follow a strict code of discipline and teach the Dharma to other Buddhists. Typically as a householder you have no one but yourself to make you accountable for your practice. How does the householder acquire a community of like minded people all studying the dharma, meditating together, and seeking Nibbāna?

Householder Advantages

Being a householder myself, I would be remiss if I omitted the advantages that I see for this lifestyle over that of the monastic. You might think that the householder is at a big disadvantage in advancing their practice verses the monastic, but in some ways the opposite is true.

  • Access to the Dharma – Over the past few decades we have seen the dharma made available to the householder in books, websites, social media, blogs, and audio recordings about Buddhism. In fact you have access to materials that even the monastic is likely to never read or listen to.
  • Integration – Unlike the monastic you will need to integrate Buddhism into a life that might include a job, family, friends, owning or renting a home. In many ways this is an opportunity to gauge how well your practice is progressing as you deal with the everyday issues and challenges faced by the layperson.
  • Customizing your Practice – As a householder your exposure to the dharma (teachings) may include different Buddhist sects such as Mahayana, Zen, Vajrayana, Tibetan, or Theravada. It is likely that your discovery of the dharma will come from various sources and in my way of thinking this may be an advantage, allowing you to customize your practice based on different texts. As a householder you might view the tenants of Buddhism in a somewhat broader context than a monastic being taught say Zen Buddhism.

Conclusion

I’m going to keep this intentionally short because I would like to do followup posts for each of the challenges and advantages for the householder listed above. One should also consider that the vast majority of those that consider themselves Buddhist’s are householders. My guess is that if you are reading this post you are a householder that is practicing Buddhism or have an interest in it.

In future posts, I would like to make a case for the Buddhist practice for the householder. The idea of the householder becoming a Buddhist is more relevant today, than it was 2500 years ago when the Buddha walked this earth. The access we have to the Dharma and tools like social media help us overcome some of the impediments we face living the life of a householder vs. a monastic. In this world consumed by greed, lust, destruction, and violence we need a north star to guide us towards a more meaningful existence and some modicum of happiness. I sincerely believe Buddhism can provide this and more…..

Call to Action

I would love to hear what you think about the challenges or advantages you encounter as Buddhist householder or someone that is interested in Buddhism.

References and Notes:

Nibbāna is the goal of many Buddhist paths and leads to release from the cycle of rebirth and suffering. For reference Nibbāna is the Pali word for Nirvana (enlightenment).

In Buddhism, dharma is the doctrine, the universal truth common to all individuals at all times, proclaimed by the Buddha.

“Copyright 2024 TheStoicBuddhist.com“

Please check out my companion blog inspirationalbookreviews.com

I appreciate all comments and likes. Please follow my blog and you will be emailed of all new posts.

Namaste