Can you just become a Buddist if you weren't born into it?

Question

I like the buddist belief, but is it possible to call myself a budda believer if i am an american living in the US......it just sounds wrong calling yourself that

Answer 1

Sure it's okay! All Buddhists had to start as newcomers, even those born into Buddhist cultures. You can believe in its tenets, even if you haven't gone through training or initiation. If you want to get serious, there are plenty of good Buddhist sites for info, and listings of Buddhist centers near you. Here are some links, among many.

The first site below is my favorite and the last one is a good example of a training center, showing that people all over the world practice Buddhism, even in conjunction with other religions.

Go for it!

Answer 2

Yes, you can become a Buddhist if you weren't born a Buddhist. Buddhism is not a birth-right religion.

But there is a difference between calling yourself a Buddhist and practicing Buddhism. In other words, Buddha's beliefs weren't beliefs per se...he sought enlightenment through meditation, for example. And he taught that one has to engage in such practices if one is to find what he found.

So you might wish to study up on the practice of Buddhism and begin practicing it to see if it is your path. Identifying as a Buddhist means very little in and of itself.

I am a Christian, by the way. I happen to know a bit about Buddhism, having practiced Zen meditation and read numerous Zen masters in the past.

Answer 3

Certainly you can become a Buddhist. To do so, when you know enough about Buddhism and feel this is what you want to do, a teacher can perform a ceremony, whereby you 'take refuge' in the Buddha, the Dharma (his teachings of eternal truth) and the sangha (the Buddhist community). I performed a ceremony for an American student student who had been attending my centre here in the UK for a couple of years, just before she left to do voluntary work in South America this summer.

Answer 4

You can be an American Buddhist. Lots of people have found spiritual fulfillment with the Buddhist religion. Just find a good solid website (something preferably ending in .org) and find out what you must do to become a Buddhist. Read up on the religion, even if you already have (which I assume you have). I'm glad you've found something for your spirit. Blessed be.

Answer 5

You can be a buddhist no problem. It's not a racial or cultural thing. The buddha nature is thought to be in all of us. Most of us just haven't realized it. That's called enlightenment. Knowing God.

To practice, there are many different ways. I chose Zen Buddhism. It is a form of meditation. It works for me. But unlike a lot of religious people I know that there are a lot of paths to knowing God.

Following the teachings of Christ is equally effective as long as you don't get caught up in all the religious squabbling about whos going to hell or not. None of that is important.

All the best to you.

Answer 6

Buddhism is just a system of practice founded on a set of moral precepts. Don't call yourself anything-just seek to follow the moral path set out by Buddha.

Answer 7

It probably sounds wrong for a real good reason. But, yes, you can if you want to. This is still the USA, at least for a while yet.

Answer 8

yes of course ...
it is a life philosophy and is open to anyone
do some more study , see if there are any people in your area who can help you take your study further
good luck
xx

Answer 9

YES! OF COURSE!!!

If you want to bcome a buddhist, all you have to do is see a monk and we will tell you how (take the 5 precepts......)

Answer 10

you are what you believe in.

If you believe in the teachings of the Buddha then you are a Buddhist :) it is that simple.

it is like my life story "I was a Neo-Pagan then i found Christ and now i am a christian" simple conversion.