How does one become a Buddhist?
In Buddhist countries such as Thailand there have never been specific ceremonies in which people formally affirm their devotion to Buddhism. This may to some extent be because Buddhism is not a religion based on the adoption of certain beliefs; and partly because there being no Buddhist evangelism there have been few new converts. For better and worse, people have generally taken their Buddhist identity for granted, assuming that they were Buddhist from the day of their birth.
The situation is somewhat different in India. Over the past seventy years or so large numbers of the Dalit people (formerly the so-called ‘untouchables’) have converted to Buddhism following the example of their leader Dr. Ambedhkar. Huge conversion ceremonies have been conducted, featuring the formal acceptance of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha as refuge and a commitment to living by the five precepts. (This formula of requesting the refuges and the precepts from members of the monastic order is incorporated into almost every Buddhist ceremony in Thailand)
Practically speaking, someone becomes a Buddhist when having taken refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha they start to apply themselves to the study and practical application of the Buddha’s teachings in their lives.
Ajahn Jayasaro
รูปภาพ : How does one become a Buddhist?
In Buddhist countries such as Thailand there have never been specific ceremonies in which people formally affirm their devotion to Buddhism. This may to some extent be because Buddhism is not a religion based on the adoption of certain beliefs; and partly because there being no Buddhist evangelism there have been few new converts. For better and worse, people have generally taken their Buddhist identity for granted, assuming that they were Buddhist from the day of their birth.
The situation is somewhat different in India. Over the past seventy years or so large numbers of the Dalit people (formerly the so-called ‘untouchables’) have converted to Buddhism following the example of their leader Dr. Ambedhkar. Huge conversion ceremonies have been conducted, featuring the formal acceptance of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha as refuge and a commitment to living by the five precepts. (This formula of requesting the refuges and the precepts from members of the monastic order is incorporated into almost every Buddhist ceremony in Thailand)
Practically speaking, someone becomes a Buddhist when having taken refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha they start to apply themselves to the study and practical application of the Buddha’s teachings in their lives.
Ajahn Jayasaro