How to become an Buddhist ?

Question

How do you become an Buddhist, if you were born into a different religion ?

I don't know who gives the thumbs down :(

Answer 1

Buddhism, to my knowledge does not have any rituals or ceremonies or entry exams. Note however that there are many different types of Buddhism that may have differing entry requirements or conditions. (Tibetan buddhism is very different from Zen buddhism for instance). You don't 'become' a buddhist through any specific action or perfomance. Rather, it is a mental process. So the first step is to read up on buddhism, study the life of the buddha, study its core values and principles. Remember that buddhism is by and large a way of thinking about life, as such anyone who embraces buddhist philosophy is, by this definition, a buddhist (again, affiliates of certain buddhist school may protest and disagree with my definition). The next step is practice, which in most buddhist school means meditation.

Answer 2

Buddhism welcomes the teachings of other religions. You can still be part of the religion you were born into and become a Buddhist.

Answer 3

i might prefer to make sparkling that Buddhism does not % out itself as a faith, yet as an preparation :) Buddhists do no longer prefer to segregate themselves from people of different religions like how some religions inspire. Buddhists can prepare different religious holidays (inclusive of Christmas, Hanukkah and so on and so on) through fact lower back, Buddhism isn't a faith with 'codes' and 'conventions' and 'regulations' and 'rules' and so on. Buddhists do no longer worship Buddha, Buddha replaced right into a guy who chanced on Enlightenment, and so Buddhists learn the existence of Buddha interior the desire that they too will attain Enlightenment. yet Buddhism is barely one way of attaining Enlightenment (Thaddeus Golas says "Enlightenment does not care the kind you get there"). i assume in precis, Buddhism is approximately living in solidarity with the worldwide. Vegetarianism is inspired, yet no longer needed. you're no longer a 'undesirable' Buddhist in case you consume meat. I propose i ought to write an entire thesis on what Enlightenment 'is', yet certainly, it extremely is realising that we are related to each thing in this universe, all of us got here from, and belong to, the comparable existence-tension (this existence-tension which Christians % to call God, which Muslims % to call Allah, and so on). it extremely is approximately disconnecting from the techniques, that's the source of all discomfort, and re-figuring out with our actual Self. Buddhists do no longer hate on different religions, there are no longer any regulations on a thank you to be a 'appropriate' Buddhist and the thank you to do Buddhism the 'appropriate' way. i come across such religious convenience in Buddhism through fact they settle for you from despite the fact that your history is, and there is in no way any forcing of doctrine like I certainly have experienced with specific different ideals. maximum of all, Buddhists in basic terms prefer to stay existence happy! :) I deliver love and advantages to you buddy, have an surprising day!

Answer 4

This is one of the rare religions in which what you do determines whether you are one or not. Formal club membership as such is not obtained through any weird rituals. You just... start walking the walk. "Make no ripples in life's soup", is probably a good thought to start out on.

Answer 5

There's nothing to JOIN. It's not a cult like ALL religion are. You just learn and practice the philosophies of Buddha.

Answer 6

Just start following the example of the Buddha.

Answer 7

You say these words, "I'm a Buddhist."

Then start practicing the precepts of the school that interests you.

Answer 8

Study the faith.
Choose which branch of Buddhism most suits you.
Study it more in-depth.
Then go try to live it.

Move to that faith's country of origin for a year, learn and experience what it has done for that culture.
( Extreme poverty, bad nutrition, a weak and vulnerable social ideology, etc., etc. )

Answer 9

Years and years of study.

Answer 10

Just question everything. That get's you pretty much 80% of the way there.