Buddhism
is a personal practice of a way of life more than a religion. Buddhists
can have another religion that they follow. This is evident in some of
the ceremonies you see some places, they are not strictly Buddhist they
have a Buddhist approach to another religion.
Your
Buddhism is yours and only yours. No one else can judge or tell you how
to act. You alone are responsible. Many people prefer a teacher (ajahn
- title of address to a monk) or mentor to guide them on the path.
Others wish to practice alone. The choice is truly yours. A teacher can
give you lessons in what Buddha said and help you learn to meditate
(part of the Eight Fold Path). There are books and web sites that can
assist as well.
Buddha
tells us:
Do not believe in anything
simply because you have heard it.
Do not
believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.
Do not
believe in anything simply because it is found written in your
religious books.
Do not
believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.
Do not
believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many
generations.
But
after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with
reason, and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then
accept it and live up to it.
This
differs from most other religions. They have books they wish you to
follow. They have preachers and leaders that tell you what you should
and should not do. When you go for "Refuge" and take the precepts (the
"commandments"), you are making a promise to yourself and no one else.
Following an ideal not an idol
Many
people think that Buddhists worship the statue they bow to. They are
honoring the example or "ideal" that Buddha presented for us. They bow
three times to honor him, his message (the Dhamma) and the community of
believers (Sangha). This is done one time upon entering a room with a
Buddha statue. In formal ceremonies, it is repeated.
Face
the
image of a Buddha:
Repeat
the
following. (italics are phonetic Pali - say one or the other)
Phutthang pujemi
Dhammang pujemi
Sangkhang pujemi
I offer homage to the Buddha (bow head to floor)
I offer homage to the
Dharma (bow head to floor)
I offer homage to the
Sangha (bow head to floor)
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammā Sambuddhassa(repeat 3 times)
Honor to Him, the
Blessed One, the Worthy One, the fully Enlightened One.
Phuttang
saranam gacchami
Dhammang
saranam gacchami
Sankhang
saranam gacchami
Dutiyampi Phuttang saranam gacchāmi
Dutiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchāmi
Dutiyampi Sankhang saranam gacchāmi
Tatiyampi Phuttang saranam gacchāmi
Tatiyampi Dhammam aranam gacchāmi
Tatiyampi Sankhang saranam gacchāmi
I go to the Buddha for
refuge
I go to the Dhamma for refuge
I go to the Sangha
for refuge
A second timeI go to the
Buddha for refuge
A second timeI go
to the Dhamma for refuge
A second timeI go to
the Sangha for refuge
A third timeI go
to the Buddha for refuge
A third timeI
go
to the Dhamma for refuge
A third timeI go to
the Sangha for refuge
Congratulations!!! You just became a Buddhist. This is the simple
beginning of a long path of self discovery and self awareness. Many
prefer to have a teacher or mentor along the way.
There is a
little bit more (always a catch?)
One needs to profess and attempt to keep the 5 precepts:
