Anonymous wrote:Avoid New Kadampa at all costs. My sister is in it and it's a cult.

Is your sister avoiding the family?
What makes it a cult ?

Are you going Buddhist because you are mad at your atheist/Christian/Jewish parents, or because you're drawn to how it's actually practiced in Buddhist countries? These are *really* different.

If the former, look for parking lots filled with leftist bumper stickers. You'll find your people.

If the latter, your best bet is the bigger ethnic ones; usually they run some classes in English. In my experience, people are pretty welcoming. Cambodian Buddhist Society/Vatt Budhikharma in Silver Spring is quite good and does a lot of events. Wat Lao Buddhavong in Catlett would be another one to try.

Following this too.

Bump up — did you find anything OP?

Waking Up app by Sam Harris gets into Buddhist philosophy without any religion.

Thank you everyone! I've read a lot of books and would love to find a teacher and/or a group to practice with in DC or close-in MD.

Avoid New Kadampa at all costs. My sister is in it and it's a cult.

Anonymous wrote:Myanmar

You sure as Hell better be Buddhist there.

Myanmar

Agree with the above - Dalai Lama also has some good books, as does Pema Chodron- when things fall apart.

I like books by Dr. Mark Epstein - mixes Buddhism with psychotherapy

Tara Brach podcast is very popular.

I like Sally Kempton - more Hindu but still Eastern. She wrote a column for Yoga Journal for a long time - I should look those up.

Wishing you the best as you explore the Noble Truths.

I don’t have a suggestion for a group, but any books by this man: https://www.amazon.com/Thich-Nhat-Hanh/e/B000AP5YRY%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Also, find a good yoga studio. I enjoyed Yoga District when I lived in the District.

I'm interested in exploring Buddhism. Could anyone direct me to a group to start with? I'm in NE DC. Namaste.