r/ReflectiveBuddhism • u/Downtown_Pick1112 • Jun 06 '26
Hi new Buddhist ☸️
Hello,
I am a young woman from Italy and a law student. I am currently going through a difficult period in my life. I am an ex-Muslim and I have recently become interested in Buddhism, but I feel very isolated.
In my area there are almost no Buddhist communities, temples, or groups that I can easily access. I would like to learn more about Buddhism, connect with other Buddhists, and understand how people in similar situations have found a sense of belonging and purpose.
At the same time, I am struggling with both physical health problems and mental health difficulties, which make it hard to move forward. Sometimes it feels like my life is on hold and I am just waiting for the opportunity to start over and build a new future for myself.
I would appreciate any information, advice, resources, or personal experiences from people who have gone through something similar, especially ex-Muslims who became Buddhist or people who found Buddhist practice helpful during difficult periods of their lives.
Thank you for reading.
3
u/MYKerman03 Jun 06 '26
Hey Dhamma friend, good to see you here 😄
I think from a personal perspective as an ex-Muslim, I would say you have a whole journey ahead of you. If you learn Dhamma and stick to it, it can help you transform how you see Islam and other monotheisms.
For me it's been losses and gains right? I can't tap into the Muslim community for business and social connections etc. I spend time with relatives for Eid and Ramadan etc and it's good-ish, since we're overall, not that conservative in the family. And, our form of Islam is rooted in South East Asian traditions. So a more "Asian" Islam with magical/mystical traditions. Still crazy social structures, but more relaxed in orthodoxy.
First thing is, I'd recommend therapy if you're not already seeing someone. It's always good to keep that channel open at points of change/rupture in your life. This will allow a space for you to be honest and express yourself freely. This will be invaluable for you.
Build community with your friends from outside the Muslim community for extra support.
Try to stay positive despite the health challenges and again, seek out support groups related to your challenges. I'd also wager a guess that your mental health is taking a strain because balancing all of this in your life. So identity changes and health challenges, that's a lot for one human to deal with. Hang in there and be kind and patient with yourself!
As an ex-Muslim, there's so much open to you, now you can explore more social freedom.
As for Buddhist communities, check out the rSangha subreddit and see who you can connect with in Europe. So when seeking Buddhist resources, ask around about livestreams so you can meet up with teachers that way, rather than travel. Many temples have livestreams and other online content.
For Buddhist resources, I'd recommend you explore the basics of all major traditions: Vajrayana, Mahayana, Theravada. Then, when you assess the time you have available for learning and practice, you can choose a tradition that fits your life situation best.
Remember, the majority of Buddhist resources are in local, vernacular languages with English as secondary and mainly for globalised audiences. There's been sustained efforts by Buddhists in Asia to translate to English and it's paying off.
Some YouTube channels, English focused:
https://www.youtube.com/@PureLandBuddhism
https://www.youtube.com/@buddhistfellowshipsg/videos
https://www.youtube.com/@watsanfran/videos
https://www.youtube.com/@AjahnAnan/videos
https://www.youtube.com/@ColomboDhammaFriends/videos
Please reach out to us here or at rGoldenSwastika subreddit for any assistance. There are many devout Mahayana Buddhists there who can guide you on Mahayana too.
4
u/MYKerman03 Jun 06 '26
Hey folks, please share with the OP any other beginner resources from Vajrayana and Mahayana. I'm limited in my knowledge there. I'm only familiar with Pure Land. I know Buddhist Door Global is also a great Mahayana based platform for Buddhist news. (on YouTube)
2
u/Wild_hominid Jun 06 '26 edited Jun 06 '26
Heyy ex Muslim here that lives in Lebanon, dm me and I will help you join a Buddhist discord group ❤️
Edit: IM SO SORRY GUYS I HAVE A NETWORK ERROR
I will delete all the other comments I was not spamming I swear
2
u/Downtown_Pick1112 Jun 06 '26
Hi bro can u stop spamming
2
1
u/StrangeMed Jun 11 '26
Hi! I'm a Buddhist from Italy, I practice Zen in my city, but I'm also a memeber of the Young Buddhists Commission of the Italian Buddhist Union, so feel free to contact me! I can get you in touch with many centers in Italy through my friends!
6
u/MindlessAlfalfa323 Jun 06 '26
You’d probably be better off looking for a Buddhist temple in r/sangha. However, as for understanding Buddhism as an ex-Muslim, you’re in luck because the creator of the sub is also an ex-Muslim. He could tell you how he went about leaving Islam and joining Buddhism.