Are there any buddhist out there, can any one help me understand the religion?

Question

How does one convert into buddhism? What is the religion all about? Are there officials at temples who i can discuss this sort of stuff with?

Answer 1

It depends where you are. If you are in East Asia, Buddhism is like the Christian Baptists, as in there are many different types. My mother is a practicing Buddhist living in the US. She occasionally goes to a temple, but mostly sits and meditates on her own. It is a solitary practice. I've been reading the following website--the author offers no gimmicks, and prefers to remain anonymous The Wanderling also offers a free on line course...Enjoy your journey!
http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/awakening101/ZenEnlighten01.html

Answer 2

Actually, one doesn't require any ceremony to be a Buddhist. However, as a symbol, Buddhists will say "Buddhang saranang gacchami, Dhammang saranang gacchami, Sanghang saranang gacchami" -- which means "I go for refuge to the Buddha, I go for refuge to the Dhamma, I go for refuge to the Sangha". The point of saying this is to gain inspiration and right understanding for their self-purification and to affirm their confidence in the Buddha or to recall the Buddha in their mind.
Some people may say that Buddhism is like a philosophy, but as a matter of fact Buddhism is about way of life in achieving true happiness. In temple, you may look for a monk (bhikkhu) or a Buddhist devout to discuss about what Buddhism is all about.
There is a book entitled "What Buddhists Believe" by the late Bhikkhu Sri Dhammananda. This book is a very good and informative book for the ones who would like to know what is inside Buddhism basically. You can download the book from http://www.buddhanet.net or you can directly search in the Google by typing "whatbelieve.pdf" to obtain the download link directly.
I myself am still learning. But, if u'd like to, you may also contact me at [e-mail] if you have any further inquiry.
I hope this very short information is useful. Best regards.

Answer 3

Iam not abuddhist but I know about the birth of Buddha and His journey to enlightenment Known as "Nirvana"
I will tell you that in short and it will make it easy to understand Buddhism.
About 2600 years ago In the state of Kapilavastu in Northern India a king named "Suddhodana was ruling. Indian culture had attained great heights even then and there were great astrologers and Astronomers around the court.
A son was born to the King and he wanted to know the future of the child predicted.
The Astrologers were unanimous in their opinion thet the child would become a world famous personality. The king wanted to know in what way?
Here the astrologers were of divided opinion and one group said that he will be a great emperor and the other said He will be a great sage whose name will rule the earth.
The king did not want his son to become a mendicant, so he arranged that the child will grow in guarded ebvironment without exposure to any sorrow of this earth.
The child was named Siddhartha. Siddharth grew up and was married to agirl named yashodhara and they had a son named Rahul. Days were passing happily for siddharth.
As destiny would have it one day he saw a sick person in the palace and wanted to know what was wrong with him
so they explained sickness to him
Another day he saw a very old man and wanted to know from which world he has come.
They told him the aeging is the natural process and every one has to become old
Yet another day he saw the procession of a dead body and asked what is it? They said that is the ultimate fate of all people.
These incidents provoked Siddharth into long thoughts and he began to understand that world is avery unhappy place where every one has to undergo suffering.Then the question came in his mind as to what can be done to remove the suffering?
He could not sleep. So one day in the middle of the night he walked away alone without informing any one in his quest for happiness. Siddhartha roamed India for 12 years and associated with many religious groups which could not give him a satisfactory answer.
Finally he came to the village of Gaya near Varansi city. He was sitting under a great peepul tree when suddnly he got the enligtenment in the form of an answer to his quest.
" He understood that DESIRE is the root cause of all human sorrow" The more one gives more happy he becomes.
so he started teaching people to give up unnecessary desires and help the sick , poor and aged of the world as voluntary service. He got his decsiples who followed his exmple and people began to call them Buddhists.
As usual in course of time all the simple principles taught by Buddha were forgotten and the whole thing was coverted to a religion and Buddha himself was elevated to the status of God nd his staue began to be worshhiped and all religious rituals were introduced. Different sects got formed and different group heads emerged That is how it is today.
I wrote all this because any one if he really wants, can practice the teachings of Buddha without embracing any religion

Answer 4

2 b a Buddhist u need 2 b v.calm & cool !!!!!!!
its of 2 types "shwetamber" [wearing only white clothes] & 'dikamber' [wearing no cloths] ! which one hmmhmm !
2 convert think 123987 times ? y wanna leave your own your relesion !???!!!!!!

Answer 5

this is a website that gives an overview of almost all religions/faiths
hope it helps!
peace!

Answer 6

nope......can't help you there.