Where to start?

I've been interested in Zen and Buddhism for a long time now, and have plucked some ideas and philosophies from the internet, but there is such a vast quantity of information that I have the feeling I'm drowning in it.

Does anyone have any tips/pointers as to where I can start? Books, tutorials, video's? Help! :D

Re: Where to start?

I would start with a good overview of the massive scope of Buddhist thought. If there was one book to go to a desert island with, it would be the Crystal and the Way of Light by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. Easy enough reading. Extremely clear meaning.

There’s also a DVD of Rinpoche explaining the three general categories of Buddhism, called A General Introduction to Dzogchen. In Dzogchen, the teaching starts at the highest level. If you want to experience what it is that the Buddha was talking about, you can get a direct introduction on Sunday, August 10th via webcast. I can help you plug into that if you like. Email me directly darren@the12stepbuddhist.com.

If you miss Sunday or that’s all too much to think about, Rinpoche gives the Worldwide Transmission three times a year. Then next one is in November some time.

The way I look at it, we might as well cut to the chase. You can spend your life mucking around, reading books, dabbling in this or that, sticking your toe in the water here and there. Or you can get down to the real meaning. That’s what Dzogchen is about, and is my answer to your question.

-d

Re: Where to start?

Your question is that of a classic Zen mondo, or exchange between a student and teacher.  Q. I want to learn Zen; where do I begin? A. Do you hear the sound of the river outside? Q. Yes. A. Begin with that sound.

You hear a sound. How do you hear a sound? Where is that sound? Outside, or in your ears, or in your brain? How do you know it is a river? The Spanish say rio. Is rio and stream the same or different?  What you are doing is investigating your self, your biology, all nature, your social conditioning, your experiences, your doubts. Soon you are examining specific actions and effects, karma. 

In Zen, we can read guides, and sutras, and classic koans and histories, but fundamentally it is the psychological and philosophical laboratory of the zafu, our sitting, where we focus the mind by whatever psychological device, such as mantra, or following or counting the breath, or just listening, or examining a conumdrum [e.g., what were you before your parent's were born?], and so forth. Meditation is truly how you begin.  It is the tool to self-discovery and social and metaphysical philosophy. You watch what bubbles up in your mind, make note of it without emotion, and let that bubble dissolve until the next form that appears. You learn from its content and context.  You learn to trust Great Doubt and Don't Know mind.  With time and practice, practice, practice, you and the world change yet appear the same.  As Hamlet said: There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

In other words, while all philosophy begin with a question….and you begin anywhere, for all knowledge has no walls and all paths lead to all places…..in Buddhism it begins and ends with you, individually, personally.  Books, videos, teachers can only point and provide maps. You must live, experience, go withing and without, and discover the actual terriitory for your self. 

Therefore, you need to learn learn how to meditate, and there are umpteen books and dharma teachers to help. Afterwards, you will need feedback from a formal or informal teacher.  If one style does not fit, then explore another. Like Goldilocks. The Hindu, Tibetan (Vajrayana) and Vipassana approaches did not fit for me, but I personally took to Korean Zen. And that came by serendipity. Follow your hunch, follow your bliss as Joseph Campbell urged.

Best wishes for a worthwhile journey.

Re: Where to start?

Just keep going. It's ok to be confused. But make sure you're not just chasing after what sounds nice. Follow what feels really true in your heart, even if it's difficult.
Everyone wants something different when they approach spiritual teachings.
I guess some advice would be that I don't recommend making teachings the ultimate source of understanding for you. Just look around you and inside you, see how you feel about everything. Pick up teachings casually and see what captures you as you go along.