One’s experience of religion is most authentic and true when one dispenses with a ‘What’s in it for me” attitude when subscribing to a movement (something that the West has come to understand Buddhism as: nothing more than self-help). The individualistic approach of Buddhism that many modern people take towards it is, in fact, missing the point entirely. Rather, one must never lose sight of the very ambitious purpose of Buddhism. Buddhism indeed has a divine objective which all practitioners should orient their practice and devotion towards. This is liberation for all sentient beings. But what is liberation? The word, after all, is used in many different contexts. Understood in the Buddhist context, it is the generation of bodhicitta, the path of the Bodhisattva, and attainment of Buddhahood by all sentients. Therefore, one cannot pay lip service to Buddhism simply by saying it’s an inclusive and all-embracing religion. It is, but its inclusiveness is based on complex doctrines too many people are ignorant of. In other words, one cannot understand Mahayana Buddhism simply by having a ‘feel good’ emotion arising from reading its sublime texts. The psychological health that comes from Buddhism is a byproduct of a greater agenda. What is this greater agenda, and how does one embark upon it?
The generating of bodhicitta is perhaps the first and most important step. Understood in the context of Buddhism’s dialectic, it goes far beyond human rights, secular humanism and other ‘benevolent’ ideologies because it is the striving for all sentient beings to be ENLIGHTENED. Not simply happy; not simply prosperous, but for them to attain Buddhahood. It is a desire that exceeds even that of parents and gods, according to Santideva, because parents desire their children to have successful, meaningful, satisfying and acknowledged lives. Gods hope for their creations to thrive and acknowledge their love in return. As noble as these two things are, bodhicitta goes much further. Therefore, to learn to generate, maintain and intensify bodhicitta is the first step. I would recommend beginning with Santideva’s Way of the Bodhisattva.
Next, is to attain the cosmic vision of the multiverse as is the focus of the congregations in the Avatamsaka Sutra. This is the step not only to deep meditation leading to real insight, but also a scholastic study of the doctrines and practices, which is the first step to teaching others of the divine purpose. Only through this can we eradicate all mistaken assumptions of what it means to be religious; what it means to be Buddhist.
I agreed with you