Hurrah!

Last night I went for my first Dharma Study, though it was a bit of a drive - I had to haul my cookies all the way to Gulf Breeze (just outside of Pensacola) to visit Palyul Changchub Choling. They're "... a sangha or group who study and practice Tibetan Buddhism in the Nyingma tradition according to the Palyul nam-cho practices.[Links are mine]"

I doubt I can go every week right now (2 hrs in a car with $3 gas), but they're such a great group, and I can do preliminary practices (Ngondro) with them and take refuge the next time the lama comes. I've thought about it, and I think Tibetan Buddhism is the best place for me to start right now, although I have a great deal of respect for the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. Going to the study group last night felt so right - I was comfortable with the meditation session and the dharma discussion - I felt at home in the material and even felt like I had something to contribute to the discussion. (For what it's worth, they were discussing What Makes You Not a Buddhist by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse. I don't have it, but it seems like an interesting read, if slim. Maybe once I've caught up on my other Dharma reading....Apparently, this is a much lighter/easier work than their last selection, which was a book on Dzogchen.)

Perhaps soon I can go back, and maybe I'll even remember to bring my camera. ^_^