I want to become a Buddhist. How do I do
that?
It begins with one deceptively simple act: making the inner commitment to
"take refuge" in the
Triple Gem, to accept the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha as your
source of spiritual
guidance. This act is what makes one nominally "Buddhist".
But going for refuge also implies a willingness -- if only
provisional, at first -- to accept the cornerstone of the Buddha's
teachings: the law of kamma. According to this universal principle,
if you act unskillfully and make poor ethical choices, you are
bound to suffer the consequences; if you choose wisely and act in
line with the noblest ideals, you stand to benefit accordingly. In
other words, your happiness ultimately depends on the quality of
your choices and actions; you alone are responsible for your
happiness. Your first act after seeking refuge should therefore be
to resolve to observe the five precepts -- the five basic
principles of living that can help prevent you from making grossly
unskillful choices. This is where the practice of Buddhism
begins.
You don't need a formal public ceremony or "initiation" to make any
of this official. You don't have to dress differently or wear a
badge that says, "I am now a Buddhist." The practice of the Dhamma
is a private matter and no one needs to know about it but you. Many
Buddhists do, however, find it invaluable to renew their commitment
to the Triple Gem and to the precepts from time to time in a more
formal way, enlisting the help of a good friend, a respected
meditation teacher, or a member of the monastic community (Sangha)
as a witness. Administering the refuges and precepts to laypeople
is a duty that Buddhist monks are glad to perform.
Many people find it difficult to sustain their commitment to the
Dhamma on their own, without the support of like-minded friends and
companions. (It can be hard to stick to the precepts if you're
surrounded by people who see no harm in telling lies, or in having
a secret romantic affair now and then, or in going out drinking all
night.) You may have to do a little patient detective work to find
this kind of support. Perhaps someone in your neighborhood hosts a
weekly meditation group ("sitting group") or sutta study group in
his or her home. If not, why not start one of your own? Or perhaps
there is a meditation center nearby that offers workshops and
retreats. And if there is a Buddhist monastery or temple in your
vicinity, why not pay the Sangha a visit?
Having taken these first steps, you can proceed along the Buddhist
path in your own way and at your own pace. Although you can learn a
great deal about Dhamma on your own, your understanding will grow
by leaps and bounds once you find a good teacher -- someone whom
you trust and respect, who keeps to the precepts, and who
understands the Dhamma and can communicate it clearly. Other aids
to progress in understanding the Dhamma are these: deepening your
understanding of the precepts; studying the suttas; getting to know
monks or nuns (Sangha) and become acquainted with their traditions;
developing a keen, discerning eye that can recognize which of
today's popular spiritual teachings actually ring true to what the
Buddha taught; and learning meditation. How you proceed is entirely
up to you, but the bottom line is this: learn what the Buddha
taught and put it into practice in your life as best you can.
If you ever decide that
the Buddha's teachings aren't for you, you are free to walk away at
any time and find your own way. There is no ceremony for
renouncing the Buddha's teachings. Just remember: your happiness is
in your own hands.
