but I can tell you spirituality is sort of like a amusement park. Each person arrives with their own needs for their own reasons and chooses to get on the ride that seams like a good starting place for them.
No one can tell you where you belong or where to get off.
In recent years many people have found the writings and lectures of Eckhart Tolle as a good bridge from the regular american experience to spirituality. His is an amalgamation of alot of eastern ideas and concepts, without any metaphysical dieties or divine intervention. A good starting place is the Power of Now. That will sort of clean your palate and prepare you to think or feel or perceive in new ways.
Personally, my experience with local, hometown buddhism was a no-go. The young monk wasn't ready and they recalled him back for more training after he threw me out for asking one question.
So, just like anything else, the practitioners are the greater part of it for someone new. So, if one flavor doesn't resonate with you, just try another.
Also, the Dali Lama had many books at bookstores that can get you going.
Lots of ways in, and then you find your own way around.
I like the freedom from the common western guilt/shame/punishment paradigm that spirituality offers. I'll never go back, but I really can't tell you which brand of eastern philosophy I follow.
It's all good!
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