How to convert to Buddhism?

The Buddha designates a person who has achieved enlightenment through wisdom. He has reached nirvana. He can be designated by other qualifiers such as Blessed. The name Buddha can therefore refer to several people. The best known is undoubtedly the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, who is the archetype of the pure and perfect Buddha.

Dharma designates all social, political, family, personal, natural or cosmic norms and laws. Dharma is a rather difficult word to translate, it generally represents the teachings of a Buddha. In the West, the term is sometimes translated by the word religion.

Nirvana is a key concept in Buddhism. Even though this word originated in Hinduism, it is now much more used in Buddhism. It ensured its success with the general Western public where it became, wrongly, synonymous with a state of permanent happiness, with a paradise.

The Sangha can be translated as community. It designates, in its most restricted sense, the spiritualcommunity of arya-bodhisattvas, or the aryas having already achieved a direct perception of the emptiness of phenomena, the first of the bodhisattva lands.

Explore the different types of Buddhism

Two main paths currently exist to be a Buddhist namely Mahayana Buddhism which is a Sanskrit term meaning great vehicle; and Theravada Buddhism which is an ancient branch of Hinayana Buddhism from the Sthaviravada school. The latter is relatively conservative. It is also closer to early Buddhism than other existing Buddhist traditions. Even though they have slight differences, each path leads to the same goal.

The Theravada is mainly oriented towards Dharma while the Mahayana is mainly focused on the goal of becoming a Bodhisattva.

Note that there are also other paths leading to Buddhism such as esoteric Buddhism and Zen Buddhism which emphasizes meditation from the seated posture known as zazen. You should know that the path to follow is not really important, because, whatever the specialization, Buddhism is normally the same.

Visit Buddhist temples

Doing a retreat in a monastery is an option for those who want to know Buddhism better. Some monasteries offer discovery, meditation or mutual aid stays.

By carrying out research on the Internet or in other social networks, the aspirant to religion will be able to see that there are many monasteries. Furthermore, attending Buddhist temples allows you to know a little more about the life of the Buddha and understand his teaching Dharma.

Understanding the four noble truths

The four noble truths are the pillars of Buddhism. Understanding them is therefore very important and essential if one wishes to convert to Buddhism. They are the main teachings of this religion. The first noble called Dukkha means that life is full of suffering. All stages can suffer everyone namely birth, death and illness. By adopting the teachings of the Buddha, it is entirely possible to free oneself from suffering.

Then, the second noble truth called Samudaya defines the origin of Dukkha. In this truth, we must know that suffering does not come alone. There are always causes that you need to know to be able to find a solution to the problem. In general, it is mainly the thirst for something that one cannot have that is the main cause.

Afterwards, in the third noble truth, namely Nirodha, we take actions to eradicate suffering as soon as the cause is determined. Once the problem is resolved, we can achieve final liberation.

Finally, the fourth noble truth which is the Magga or Noble Path is made up of elements that must be followed. These are right vision, right thought, right speech, right action, right effort, right attention and right contemplation. By respecting all these, one can live properly and achieve Nirvana.

Moreover, the four truths are not negative since they are there to help reduce suffering, to show that the search for pleasure is not something important.

Integrate the Buddhist community

Like all other religions, Buddhism is communal. To convert to this belief, the aspirant will be kindly welcomed by Buddhist monks who will offer their help with information. Traveling with Buddhists is a great way to get involved in the community. However, even if Buddhism is open to anyone wishing to convert, it still presents barriers such as language, for example because Buddhism is especially widespread in Asia.

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It would therefore be a major asset for the candidate to speak several languages ​​apart from French. Staying in touch with the community is also a very good way of integration. By going to the monastery closer to home, for example, you can attend prayer and meditation sessions.

Knowing Nirvana and Karma: Important Steps to Convert to Buddhism

To convert to Buddhism, it is imperative to know what Nirvana and Karma are. The first originated in Hinduism, but is now used in Buddhism. It is a state of pure permanent happiness like heaven. As for karma, it is the result of actions performed. It determines the rebirth of a being and is therefore closely associated with the cycle of reincarnations. Whether good or bad, karma can influence immediately five lifetimes or thousands of years. It depends on when certain effects should manifest.

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If one performs bad actions in life like lying, stealing or killing, the returns from these are negative.  On the other hand, doing good deeds is very advantageous. We can feel happy and fulfilled. Future generations can have peace of mind since no negative karma of their ancestor falls on them if they have always done good deeds.

Search the path of the Three Refuges

The three refuges are the main object of the rite that the candidate must pass to be able to become a lay Buddhist. It is necessary to always have respect for the Buddha, the Sangha, the Dharma, but also for others. The ideal is to always show generosity to all those close to you and those around you. You have to help them without asking for feedback if they have problems.

In the Buddhist religion, one should also try to understand the meaning of Buddhism as well as the teachings of the Buddha. The latter shows the best path to follow to reach nirvana. Indeed, the Buddha guides each follower on the path of happiness, love and peace. Just follow it.

Finally, one would have to learn to adapt to the Buddhist community in order to convert to Buddhism. It is called Sangha. It is made up of everything that surrounds me, namely friends, family and the Buddhist master. Within the Sangha, the practice will be easier and more pleasant. However, the conversion time to Buddhism is quite rapid if one wishes to become a Lay Buddhist, while to become a monk, it takes about ten years.

Respect the five Precepts

Once Buddhist status has been obtained, you must now respect certain oaths made during the transition ceremony. The new Buddhist must now respect five precepts in his daily life. These ensure practitioners do not backslide into the lower worlds such as the world of animals, the world of wandering spirits and the world of hell during their reincarnation after the present life.

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Not killing is one of the precepts to respect, in other words we must not destroy the lives of others, the lives of sentient beings. Then the second is not to steal or take what is not given to him or what does not belong to him. The third is not to commit sexual misconduct or have illegitimate or immodest sexual relations. One should refrain from illicit sexual relations. Then, the fourth is not to lie, not to say words that are false or inaccurate. And finally, you should not ingest products that alter the mind such as drugs or alcohol.

If the person happens to not follow one of these five Precepts, he must repent and try not to do it again in the future.

The benefits of converting to Buddhism

Buddhism is a fabulous way to understand the world around us and where we find ourselves.

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Harmonization with one's environment is one of the advantages that practitioners of Buddhism can have. Furthermore, they can have inner peace away from all illusions and suffering. These illusions are the first source that causes unhappiness in man. Thanks to meditation, the latter can look at life with more love and compassion. Certainly, conversion to Buddhism is not easy, but it is the key to inner peace and above all to the simplification of daily life by adopting certain precepts such as respect and protection of all life, one's own protection, fair speech and finally karma which is the understanding that a person's actions will have effects on themselves. The follower is therefore protected from any addiction harmful to his life.

The disadvantages of converting to Buddhism

Buddhism cannot be absolutely categorized and can be confusing, especially if one comes from Christianity, the Jewish or Muslim religion, not to mention many other doctrines. Indeed, we may find the new concepts of Buddhism such as karma, rebirth or emptiness and the practice of meditation difficult. Apart from all these, the presentation of Buddhism through different traditions can vary more or less which may confuse the interested person.