What is a Buddhist?

[Adrian]

"Am I a Buddhist?"
I saw this question on a Buddhism sub-forum in Thailand.
The questioner wanted to know how one becomes a Buddhist. Do we just decide for ourselves and, if so, what would make our decision a valid one? Or is there a ceremony, perhaps preceded by instruction and the sponsor's discernment that the person is ready?
I am aware of people formally taking refuge in the Triple Gem, though I've never seen it. I gather Soto has a ceremony of this kind, but I can't think of the name of it.
Really, how does one become a "Buddhist"?

[Saijun]

Re: What is a Buddhist?

"Am I a Buddhist?"
I saw this question on a Buddhism sub-forum in Thailand.
The questioner wanted to know how one becomes a Buddhist. Do we just decide for ourselves and, if so, what would make our decision a valid one? Or is there a ceremony, perhaps preceded by instruction and the sponsor's discernment that the person is ready?
I am aware of people formally taking refuge in the Triple Gem, though I've never seen it. I gather Soto has a ceremony of this kind, but I can't think of the name of it.
Really, how does one become a "Buddhist"?

Hello Adrian,

Just my thoughts--

I once heard a joke/observation from a monk:

"There are two kinds of people in the world--Buddhists, and those who haven't yet realized that they're Buddhist." Which is to say, the ceremony is an important acknowledgment, but if one follows the Dharma (whether or not that's what one calls it) one is a Buddhist.

Metta,

Saijun

[Seiryu]

Re: What is a Buddhist?

Really one does not become a Buddhist, Buddhism is a way of seeing the world, and living in the world. If the teachings speak to you and you start incorporating them into your everyday life, then you are a Buddhist.

But to your question, taking refuge in the triple Gem makes it formal, where you get a new Buddhist name, and become a card carrying Buddhist (so to speak). in zen we have the ceremony of Jukai where we formally take the 16 Bodhisattvas vows as a formal way of committing to the Buddhist path.


Gassho

Seiryu

[Onken]

Re: What is a Buddhist?

All,

I've thought about this question, "What is a Buddhist", and I have to agree that if ones adopts Buddhist views, precepts and actions, one IS a Buddhist in one's own view. However, I also believe that one needs to take something like jukai to I guess "officiate" it. If one describes themselves as a Christian (this talks about your beliefs), then fine, but the formal religious acceptance of sacraments officiates a Catholic or other religious denominations.

Thought?

Gassho,

Matt

[disastermouse]

Re: What is a Buddhist?

'Buddhist' is primarily a self-designation, IMHO. I haven't taken Jukai (who knows if I ever will), but I still self-designate as Buddhist.

[Jundo]

Re: What is a Buddhist?

All,

I've thought about this question, "What is a Buddhist", and I have to agree that if ones adopts Buddhist views, precepts and actions, one IS a Buddhist in one's own view. However, I also believe that one needs to take something like jukai to I guess "officiate" it. If one describes themselves as a Christian (this talks about your beliefs), then fine, but the formal religious acceptance of sacraments officiates a Catholic or other religious denominations.

Thought?

Gassho,

Matt

I feel this is about right. If one seeks to follow sincerely the Buddhist Teachings and Practice, and bring them into the core of one's life, then one is a "Buddhist". No name or ceremony is important to that.

Yet we have a ceremony of Jukai (Undertaking the Precepts) which we celebrate, and which includes our committing to the Buddhist Path and the Lineage of Buddhist Teachers and Students going back ... back to the Buddha himself. However, if ya ask me, the "celebration" merely celebrates the existing fact that otherwise has already been brought to life in one's life.

This is much like a marriage ceremony celebrates an existing love and commitment for individual people to continue together onward on that path ... and, in turn, the love relationship and commitment is celebrated and somehow affirmed and bound together by the wedding ceremony ... and really both are one. One without the other is perhaps weak.

I will be announcing information in the coming weeks looking forward to our next Jukai, but you can see some of how it went in previous years here ...

viewforum.php?f=7

Gassho, J

[disastermouse]

Re: What is a Buddhist?

All,

I've thought about this question, "What is a Buddhist", and I have to agree that if ones adopts Buddhist views, precepts and actions, one IS a Buddhist in one's own view. However, I also believe that one needs to take something like jukai to I guess "officiate" it. If one describes themselves as a Christian (this talks about your beliefs), then fine, but the formal religious acceptance of sacraments officiates a Catholic or other religious denominations.

Thought?

Gassho,

Matt

I feel this is about right. If one seeks to follow sincerely the Buddhist Teachings and Practice, and bring them into the core of one's life, then one is a "Buddhist". No name or ceremony is important to that.

Yet we have a ceremony of Jukai (Undertaking the Precepts) which we celebrate, and which includes our committing to the Buddhist Path and the Lineage of Buddhist Teachers and Students going back ... back to the Buddha himself. However, if ya ask me, the "celebration" merely celebrates the existing fact that otherwise has already been brought to life in one's life.

This is much like a marriage ceremony celebrates an existing love and commitment for individual people to continue together onward on that path ... and, in turn, the love relationship and commitment is celebrated and somehow affirmed and bound together by the wedding ceremony ... and really both are one. One without the other is perhaps weak.

I will be announcing information in the coming weeks looking forward to our next Jukai, but you can see some of how it went in previous years here ...

viewforum.php?f=7

Gassho, J

Are you saying that Buddhists who forgo Jukai are somehow 'weaker' or 'less Buddhist' than those that take Jukai?

Chet

[Jundo]

Re: What is a Buddhist?

Are you saying that Buddhists who forgo Jukai are somehow 'weaker' or 'less Buddhist' than those that take Jukai?

Chet

Not at all! There is nothing wrong at all with just "living together", as one beyond one. In fact, I think that the vital point is "living together" with self and others in a gentle and harm avoiding way guided by the Precepts ... and learning by the Buddhist Teachings, making them the axis of one's spinning life. The ceremony merely celebrates all that.

In fact, I think it pointless to just undertake that ceremony, then walk out the door and kill, cheat, lie, steal filled with greed, anger and ignorance! In that case, the ceremony is meaningless! Much better the other way around! (Reminds me of folks who go to church on Sunday, cut someone's throat on Monday).

So, the silly ceremony is not the point, the living is the point.

Yet ... somehow it ain't so silly!

Oh, by the way, Chet. Congratulations again on your recent engagement and upcoming wedding! I guess "tying the knot" has some power to it too! :wink:

viewtopic.php?p=54001#p54001

Gassho, J

[Hoyu]

Re: What is a Buddhist?

Hi All,

Matt posted this very interesting quote of what a Buddha/buddhist(not actually a word used in the quote, but rather my own extension) is on another thread and I thought it applied here as well. Just something to think about......

Matt wrote:
Chris--similar to another saying I've heard (and I can't remember the origin): "As soon as you steal, you are a thief; as soon as you sit, you are a budda"

Gassho,
John

[Onken]

Re: What is a Buddhist?

Matt wrote:
Chris--similar to another saying I've heard (and I can't remember the origin): "As soon as you steal, you are a thief; as soon as you sit, you are a budda"

So when we sit, we are just demonstrating our own Buddha nature that is inherent in us all. "When you steal, you are a thief"; I'm assuming this akin to leaving no trace?

Gassho,

Matt

[Hoyu]

Re: What is a Buddhist?

When you steal, you are a thief"; I'm assuming this akin to leaving no trace?

Perhaps leaving no trace as in just stealing everything in sight :lol:

Gassho,
John

[Onken]

Re: What is a Buddhist?

That's actually quite amusing. :lol:

[Keishin]

Re: What is a Buddhist?

buddhist is as buddhist does,
after all, according to Nishijima Roshi, buddhism is a philosophy of action!

[Hoyu]

Re: What is a Buddhist?

according to Nishijima Roshi, buddhism is a philosophy of action!

Hi All,

I'm sure this next topic in going to bring up must have been discussed before but I couldn't seem to find it using a search. The question is: Is Zen a religion or philosophy? I have heard many Zenjin(ok, i dont know if this is a real term or not ) say that Zen is not a religion. It has always confused me when people say this. Zen is a sect of Buddhism which is clearly defined as a religion by webster's dictionary. Since I haven't really classified it for myself(I just let Zen be Zen) I'm just wondering which camp some people here find themselves in and why?

Gassho,
John

[ChrisA]

Re: What is a Buddhist?

Thanks for asking this question, John:

The question is: Is Zen a religion or philosophy?

I thought about this question a lot when I was first reading about Zen. But now, just up from half an hour of sitting, I'd say: Zen is neither religion nor philosophy. Rather, it's a practice, one that cannot fit within the constraints of either of those designations.