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Baptism or initiation rituals

catygtzcatygtz New
edited October 2011 in Buddhism Basics
Hello all!

I'm just starting with religion and I'm studying a lot of material to really try and understand it before I convert myself, but I was wondering if there's such a thing as baptism or maybe some ritual a person must do to be Buddhist?

Thank you

Comments

  • B5CB5C Veteran
    edited October 2011
    There is none. In order to become Buddhist have to support the teachings of the Buddha. Anyone can be a Buddhist. There is no stricked dogma, but basic principles to understand.
  • zombiegirlzombiegirl beating the drum of the lifeless in a dry wasteland Veteran
    some people choose to do a formal "taking refuge" ritual. it's not necessary, of course, to be a lay follower. i have never done it (some lay followers on here have though). i think it was similar to the ideology of baptism at my old church. they believed that baptism should be a choice when one is old enough to signify that you wish to follow jesus christ and his teachings. it is not similar to the belief that one must be baptized to get into heaven.
  • seeker242seeker242 Zen Florida, USA Veteran
    edited October 2011
    Something similar to that ceremony would be a "precepts ceremony" where you officially take and vow to follow the 5 precepts.
    Not to ...harm living beings.
    no...taking things not freely given.
    no...sexual misconduct.
    no...false speech.
    no...intoxicating drinks and drugs causing heedlessness.
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    edited October 2011
    Don't forget the secret Buddhist handshake... You guys always forget that :)
  • catygtzcatygtz New
    OK thanks guys, just one more question, if I would like to follow the precepts, would I need to take them in front of a monk, or is this something personal?
  • seeker242seeker242 Zen Florida, USA Veteran
    OK thanks guys, just one more question, if I would like to follow the precepts, would I need to take them in front of a monk, or is this something personal?
    It's personal. It's a mental act really. However, many people find that an actual ceremony helps with the mental resolve. Technically the actual ritual is just a traditional formality but a helpful one.
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    No, you don't have to do anything formal, and you don't have to do anything in front of anyone except yourself. Buddhism requires nothing but following the path. No dogma, no doctrine, no required rituals, no jewelry, no incense, no holy water, no biscuits, no wine, no seven virgins, no nothing. Just understand the Four Noble Truths and try your sincere best to follow the Noble Eightfold Path and **poof** you're a Buddhist. Just like that ;)

    Welcome!

    PS: There isn't really a secret Buddhist handshake :)
  • catygtzcatygtz New
    LOL thank you guys I really appreciate it!!
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    You don't even have to call yourself a Buddhist to be one. Buddhism is more about an understanding, or a way of life, or a practice leading to the cessation of suffering (depending on how you take "Buddhism"). There's no governing body that represents all Buddhism, there's no registration or membership that's recorded and has a list of names of who is a Buddhist -- in fact this is why the numbers on how "many" Buddhists there are can only be estimated, hindered also by the fact that Buddhists don't always identify as such on forms.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    There are in my teacher's word two camps of people regarding refuge. Those who want to wait longer before they understand what refuge means. Such a view makes sense in that refuge can be a very profound understanding and they are hesitant to say they take refuge before having a deep personal experience showing that they should take refuge. In essence they want to feel genuine.

    That is a totally valid perspective. But then there are those who may not understand refuge deeply and they may not be able to always maintain the precepts. But they are going on faith and use refuge as a symbol that they are opening to the mandala which radiates from the buddha outside of time and space and not a matter of buddha alive or dead.

    In other words the second type is taking refuge as something to inspire them rather than something they understand currently. And that view has a lot of power and value as well.

    But there is no authority that is telling you what YOU must do. Its a personal choice.
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    ...hindered also by the fact that Buddhists don't always identify as such on forms.
    I just check the "heathen" box :)
  • TakuanTakuan Veteran
    It's not required to go through an initiation to become Buddhist, but in some schools initiation is required for certain practices.
  • zombiegirlzombiegirl beating the drum of the lifeless in a dry wasteland Veteran
    It's not required to go through an initiation to become Buddhist, but in some schools initiation is required for certain practices.
    this is true. in nichiren buddhism (through the soka gakkai), i had a formal ceremony to receive my gohonzon, and there was another ceremony to set up my altar that my sgi group came over for.
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