Convert to Buddhism
I’ve
had some people ask me how to become a Buddhist or how to convert to
Buddhism. My answer would start with ‘Why would you want to do that?”
What
I mean by that is what attracts you to Buddhism? Is it meditation?
You do not need to convert to Buddhism to meditate. Just follow one
of the many guides out there, join a meditation circle or even a lay
Zen centre.
Is
it the principle of Compassion? Again, anyone can practice
compassion. Some great Christian saints are examples of compassion.
People like Mother Theresa come to mind immediately when you think of
a compassionate being. All you need to do is practice it. Become
compassion. The Dalai Lama wrote numerous books on the subject and I
cannot pretend to be able to explain it better than him. I’ll refer
you to his books.
Look for
Dalai Lama in this Amazon search box to get a list of his books.
Why
do you want to be a Buddhist? Is it to be part of a community of
liked-minded people and feel their support? This could be a good
reason to convert to Buddhism. The Sangha is a very important aspect
of Buddhism. Buddha recognized that the community plays a definite
role in enlightenment and wrote extensively on the subject. He wrote
some guidelines for the communities of lay people and for monks and
nuns.
If
you want to join a community, you can go to my page on the
different schools
of Buddhism to
see which one appeals the most to you. You will then have to look for
a local chapter near you and contact them.
I
rencently started a World
Buddhist Temple Directory to help you find a place of
worship near you.
It
is still incomplete but please add your organization to it and people
in the future will find it easier to find you.
I often have
requests by email from people wanting to help them with their
conversion. I am not affiliated to any organization so I cannot
help you. This directory is the best place to find someone who
can.
Do
you feel the calling to become a monk or a nun? The best thing to do
in this case would be again to contact a local group and learn from
them before taking your vows.
Buddhists
are free thinking people. Buddhism gives a lot of freedom to everyone
to study, practice, and feel the teaching within yourself rather than
believing what someone tells you is true.
The Buddha is reputed to have said:
Do not believe in anything
because you have heard it.
Do not believe in anything because it is spoken by many.
Do not believe in anything because it is written in religious books.
Do not believe in anything on the authority of your teachers.
Do not believe in traditions just because they have been handed
down.
But after observation and analysis,
when you find that anything agrees with reason
and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all,
then accept it and live up to it.
In
Buddhism believing comes last. You first have to learn, study,
examine, test and then, when you find what really makes you tick,
start believing in it. I think it’s part of the reason why Buddhists
never wish to convert anyone to Buddhism. Conversion to Buddhism is
up to you and it is not to please someone else.
This
answer, even if completely true, might feel unsatisfying. Before you
go any further, I think you should review the main
principles of
Buddhism and study them. Applying them in your life makes you
a
follower of Buddha. Not in the sense of a religion but more in the
sense of following the teachings he gave us in order to do like he
did: awaken to a higher reality.
I
guess what I’m trying to say is that there is no need to follow the
Buddhist religion or to follow a leader or a certain school to attain
enlightenment and follow the Buddhist teachings.
If
in your practice you feel the need to take that step, then, by all
means, do it. Just be wary of charlatans and cult leaders who just
want your money.
Anyone
who has stayed in a hotel in Japan has probably seen a copy of The
Teaching of Buddha.
First published in 1925, the book was originally edited by Japanese
scholars of Buddhism before WWII and distributed widely throughout
Japan. The first English edition was published in 1934. The
Reverend Dr. Yehan Numata brought out another English
edition in 1962, and in 1966, after the establishment of
the Bukkyo
Dendo Kyokai (BDK) (Society for the Promotion of Buddhism), Dr.
Numata assembled a committee of Buddhist scholars to substantially
revise and edit a new English-Japanese edition. The
Teaching of Buddha has
undergone minor revisions and numerous re-printings since. It is now
available in fourty-one languages and over 7 million copies have been
distributed and placed in hotel rooms in over fifty countries
throughout the world.
If you would like your free copy, please request one at the
Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai home page
Do you have something to say on converting to Buddhism?
What do you think about converting to Buddhism, are you a Buddhist? How did you become one?
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
I want to convert to Buddhism
I was born and raised a Catholic. When my parents died, my siblings who are all "devout" Catholics has been so greedy on sharing with me the properties …
i want to live a buddhist's life.
I have a deep longing to train myself in a Buddhist way, by living it. I have attended lectures and visited temples in the Philippines; they gave me books …
A Journey for life
I am raised from a very Catholic country, the Philippines. My parents are devout Catholics. They enrolled us to private Catholic schools, encouraged to …
Beginning
I am 22 years old and have been raised in a very devout Mexican Catholic home. All the candles and prayers; saints and the idea of having to confess my …
Buddhism is amazing
Hi, my name is Michael. I'm fairly new to buddhism.
I grew up in a Christian home, but I never felt like I was a part of Christianity, and as I learnt …
crazed
I feel like my mind is running at 1000mph. I'm 24 years old and I feel like I'm 60 trying to make up for or get to some point before I die...
Medical …
Mike Johns
I'm a 30 year old man and for the longest time I've been jaded and cynical about life.
All the good seemed to have been replaced with evil and everyone …
Buddha is my teacher, Buddhism is my belief, and Buddha's teachings are my guide. =)
I am 19 and I'm a Buddhist since birth. Throughout my life as an adolescent, I've never really understood the teachings of Buddha completely.
In Buddhism, …
I Just Knew
I grew up in a Christian home and area, but never trully believed.
Then, I saw a statue of the Buddha Gautama Shakyamuni, and knew that that was what …
My views on the Christian Faith
I have lead a tormented life as a christian, Not believing and always searching for truth that I could not find. The Christian way has jaded my views …
I would like to become a Monk. But I am married among other "set backs"? Not rated yet
For most of my life I have been "Buddhist" per se, when it comes to my mindset. Despite being raised in an over zealous American Christian/Catholic family …
conflicted Not rated yet
Hi I'm Din from the Philippines and I'm 20 yrs old. I grew up in a devout catholic family and all the schools I attended were all catholic schools.
…
Zen Heart Not rated yet
I am Kim, 21 years old and this is my story on why I want to be converted to Buddhism...
I had a breakdown before.
I stopped school and cut …
Egypt? (Very Important) Not rated yet
The Question
Where I can find this chance to change for buddhism in Cairo, Egypt? I read the white book, many masters many lifes and other books, …
My Short Story.... Not rated yet
I feel naturally drawn to Buddhism at this stage in my life...The curiosity to explore Buddhism just came to me...It's hard to put in words.
The Buddhists …
the Vow Not rated yet
I was raised Catholic but quickly found my way to Tibetan Buddhism. I went to karme choling and began studying and continued on that path, through meditation …
Srimathi Not rated yet
This site is great. One comment- we Buddhists do not attempt to 'convert' in the way that Christians or Muslims do. Non Buddhists embrace Buddhism out …
Me and my Bible. Not rated yet
When I was little we were raised to always pray to God, follow the ten commandments, go to church, the works. I thought that that was my world, that the …
Intuition Not rated yet
I grew up in a very non believing family (any type of religion/beliefs). But I have always found myself drawn to Japan, especially the temples, culture …
teens Not rated yet
I'm 16 and I never felt like I belonged to any religion until we did a project in school about religions and I saw Buddhism.
I want to be a Buddhist, …
Joe Not rated yet
My life has been full of stress and seeing bad things between law enforcement and military, including 2 tours in Iraq. I am seeking more peace in my life, …
About Converting Not rated yet
Is it possible to be a part of liked-minded group of people without being converted?
I mean, for example, to join a golf club to be with liked-minded …
Namo Buddhaye Not rated yet
I have read many basic stories of how Buddha visited many places and gave the knowledge of life and mind.
He is never in contradiction with science …
MadgeDC Not rated yet
I have been studying Buddhism for over a year now- I would call myself a Buddhist because I practice what the Buddha taught. A few months ago I felt the …
Where to go to convert? Not rated yet
Question:
Where is the best place for someone to go and convert?
Answer: Hello and thank you for your question.
As Stated on the page:"If you …
Great Page! Not rated yet
Thank you so much for this post. I am glad I don't really have to convert to Buddhism in order to "be" a Buddhist.
It is refreshing to learn that not …
|

New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.