I am thinking about converting to Buddhism what are the main things I should know?

Doli: I am thinking about converting to Buddhism what are the main things I should know?
HI! I am thinking about converting to Buddhism (I am Christian) and I would appreciate it if anyone who knows about/practices the religion could give me a few important facts about the religion.

I would also appreciate it if you could suggest a book for beginners.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Zen Zorba
Read “Love, Freedom and Aloneness” By Osho

The best book I’ve read. And If I could offer any advice, it would be to practice Zen Buddhism, instead of bothering will all the theoretical stuff. Experience is the best teacher. Meditation can teach you truths that no words can make you understand.

Answer by Samantha B
I think “Lighting the Way” by the Dalai Lama is a fantastic book for someone interested in Buddhism, but coming from a different path.

Answer by robert c
i pray you dont

Answer by Guess who’s going to Hell?
That it trains you to kill your mind. Buddhism seeks the death of thought.

Answer by Domino
That if you’re interested in getting into heaven, Buddhism won’t get you there. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one gets to the Father except through Him… Buddhism will enlighten you, just as Adam and Eve were enlightened after eating of the forbidden tree. Unfortunately, their enlightenment wasn’t what they had expected.

Answer by use your brain
my advice, practice it directly. dont ask us.

Answer by Spirit
Read this book:
https://www.bhagavad-gita.us/

Answer by Song
Well if you’ve been a Christian, then there are a few things you will have to get used to.

First of all, there is no purpose to anything. We are enslaved on a wheel and we will be until we ourselves decide to simply cease existing. There is no salvation, and the universe is an impersonal place that created you by accident and really doesn’t care about you at all.

Secondly, you will have to learn to do what you are told and not think for yourself. Buddhism is a religion designed to help people cope with hopelessness rather than to realize Gods purpose for everything. According to Buddhism, since nothing really changes, there is no real meaning, and life is an endless cycle of suffering and misery, then there is no point in speaking the truth, because we are all going to die soon, just as soon as we suffer some more.

Finally, you will have to stop trying to help people. It’s ok to feel compassion for other people. But when you see people hurting, it’s their own fault, because of something evil they did in their past lives. So it’s best to just leave them to their own misery. It has nothing to do with you, and if you try to help others, you will really only create more suffering for yourself.

If you can adjust to all of these things, I think you will make a fine Buddhist.

Answer by John the Buddhist
There is a good book for beginners called “what Buddhists believe”, you can find the whole thing online, I highly recommend it, even though it has a Theravadan Bias.

For my own sect, Here is a link to a website, I am not it’s author.

https://www.nichirendaishoninsbuddhism.com/

edit: some people are saying falsehoods, Nirvana is NOT nonexistence or annihilation. Common misconception.

But an even better definition from Nichiren Buddhism is not that rebirth ends, as there is a happier way to experience the cycle of rebirth, from the mind of a Buddha, your own Buddha nature.

Answer by † Seek truth †
You must not be a true Christian. Otherwise you wouldn’t dump Christianity like this. Buddha was an idol. Jesus is our Messiah. You need to really get born again.

King James Version (KJV)
John 10:10

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10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain

John 10:27-29

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27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Answer by Ryunyo
It’s not about “knowing” or “believing”. Everything you “know” now is warped by your likes, dislikes and habits. Stop stirring up these three forces and look at everything as if it were the first time you saw it. Stay on the path just by being completely honest with yourself.

A very good book is “Awakening the Buddha Within : Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World” – by Lama Surya Das, who teaches Tibetan style Buddhism, not usually my favorite, but he is so clear! He teaches in a way that is understandable to westerners (he is Jewish, and says his mother calls him “My son, the Lama”). If I had read this book first, it would have saved me many years!

Answer by teen*360
Haha… I would explain it to you, but I believe I don’t have the character space to do so. Buddhism is a way of life, just like breathing, sleeping and eating. You can’t expect to pick it up that quickly, you must fall in love with it, embrace it, and most importantly, have a passion to learn it and carry it with you throughout your life. They are no real rituals to Buddhism; like i said earlier, it’s a way to live life with happiness and peace.
Type in “The Buddha PBS” on youtube, and it will lead you to a documentary. It’s beautifully made, If I must say so myself. But that isn’t your only source. Visit your library. Do a little research. Good luck, and remember to enjoy this journey, if you are willing to take it. 🙂

Answer by ryuei2000
You should know at least roughly about the life and important teachings of the founder:

https://fraughtwithperil.com/ryuei/shakyamuni-buddhas-life-and-teachings/

You should know that there are many different schools of Buddhism:

https://fraughtwithperil.com/ryuei/2010/11/22/overview-of-buddhist-traditions/

You should know about basic Buddhist practices like chanting and meditation, for instance here are the instructions I give to people who visit my practice group:

https://fraughtwithperil.com/ryuei/2010/06/15/basic-meditation-instructions-for-nichiren-buddhists/

As far as books go here are what I would currently suggest that deal with basic teachings:

Life of the Buddha translated and edited by Bhikkhu Nanamoli
In the Buddha’s Words translated, edited, and commentary by Bhikkhu Bodhi
The Dhammapada translation and commentary by Glenn Wallis
Basic Teachings of the Buddha translation and commentary by Glenn Wallis

Here are some good books on the Mahayana:

Heart of the Buddha’s Teachings by Thich Nhat Hanh
Transformation & Healing by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Heart of Understanding by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Diamond that Cuts Through Illusion by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Vimalakirti Sutra (translation by either Burton Watson or Robert Thurman)
The Lotus Sutra translated by Gene Reeves
Introduction to the Lotus Sutra by Shinjo Suguro
Faces of Compassion by Taigen Dan Leighton

If you read those I think you will have a good overview of basic Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. Those are all good accessible books for beginners.

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei

Answer by Fake Genius
read some books in Basic Buddhism. also have a Buddhist dictionary for Pali translation. that should be the start. there will be some occasions when you need to ask the meaning of a word or a sentence or a paragraph. there you should seek answers. Yahoo groups can be actually helpful. Go to yahoo homepage and find the group https://groups.yahoo.com/ in the list of yahoo services. click the group and search for ‘Buddhism’. you can become a member in different groups where your questions will be answered appropriately.

for example – https://groups.yahoo.com/group/JourneyToNibbana/

How did I start practicing Buddhism in the first place? As kid we were taught about the basic moral five precepts – to avoid: killing, lie, stealing, immoral sexual misconduct, and intoxication. Practicing these five precepts is very important in stage by stage developments in Buddhism.

From that, we learned about the life of the Buddha and about karma (kamma). We had to get very basic ideas on them for the reason why we take refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, and how our actions have such and such consequences.

The relationship between a cause and its effect(s) is called karma in Buddhism. (It has different meanings in other Indian religions).

From that basic developments, after years of untainted (some people progress quite fast but not in my case), unbroken practice, we can start attempting for higher developments.

Higher developments can be found on the web (hint: sotapanna). But I don’t want you rushing for progress. Keep everything natural and as though you attempt nothing at all. Not wishing for progress is very important – that is like a gardener looking after his plants (the moral five precepts) not to be broken, not to be dead, but to thrive naturally. It also depends on the quality of the soil – that is how you have been developed already (you will understand this later).

Also try to know about these two words- (1) Ahimsa – being not dangerous or nonviolence, and (2) metta – lovingkindness. The moral five precepts is just these two but also for mental developments.

Also look into breathing meditation – anapana-sati. That is you just try to keep your attention on your inbreathe and out-breathe that you always know how the air touches your nostril. You don’t let your attention go away from that attention. You don’t care the noise, the insects, the people, etc. that you keep yourself calm and still and giving attention on your own breathes alone. This can be practiced anytime anywhere and you don’t have to close your eyes but your eyes are not supposed to look or see anything.

I’m a Buddhist indeed.

https://what-buddha-said.net/library/Buddhist.Dictionary/dic3_p.htm
https://www.buddhanet.net/bud_ltc.htm
https://books.google.com/books?id=DTWZLMGFFgkC&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=the+10+Attributes+of+the+Buddha&source=bl&ots=JQWWmsEjcy&sig=UjelHXXMmf8akm7XUfQxsDjsGvg&hl=en&ei=PzdVS5LMCI7i7AONhPWjCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAoQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=the%2010%20Attributes%20of%20the%20Buddha&f=false