Curious about everything..

Jordan

I was raised Catholic, but for about a year now I haven't felt really "at home" in the religion. I have been doing some research on different religions and beliefs and something about Buddhism just feels right. I have so many questions though. How would one go about converting? How can I be 100% sure that this is the right thing for me? My entire family is strict Catholic, how should I tell them? Any advice is welcome. (:

federica

Jordan wrote: »

I was raised Catholic, but for about a year now I haven't felt really "home home" in the religion. I have been doing some research on different religions and beliefs and something about Buddhism just feels right. I have so many questions though. How would one go about converting? How can I be 100% sure that this is the right thing for me? My entire family is strict Catholic, how should I tell them? Any advice is welcome. (:

I was a complete Roman Catholic for around 40 years, when I decided to switch rafts and have never regretted it...
When I say 'complete', I mean:
Born, baptised and confirmed. Educated in a convent, married in full nuptial mass and acted as a Parent Governor in a Roman Catholic school for 2 terms of office running....

There is nothing compelling you to 'convert' to anything.
Buddhism is something you can adhere to and practice alongside your RC faith without fear of any main contradiction.


if it's right for you, it will feel right.
if it isn't, it won't.
Relax.
You're not in competition, there is no conflict and it's a simple premise.
Nothing you will ever read in Buddhism will tell you that you must deny God, or refute his presence in your life.
As things will swing in the future, so they will swing.
Look up Thomas Merton.

Now he was a visionary.....

I must say, when I told my family I gained 110% support.
remember, there is nothing in Buddhism which contradicts a life well-led.
It's a good set of guidelines for anybody to live by. God, or no God.

be well, with much Metta.

Fede

Jordan

Thank you so much. Your post is really helping me. Everything about this just feels right. As for my family, they may be hesitent but if I tell them what you have shared with me, it may make them a little more accepting. (:

GuyC

Hi Jordan,

Jordan wrote: »

How would one go about converting?

If you want to do something "official" you could participate in a refuges and precepts ceremony. I guess taking the five precepts in a formal ceremony can be useful if you are that way inclined but, in my opinion, it is not essential. Taking the precepts is one thing, keeping them is where the practice is.

How can I be 100% sure that this is the right thing for me?

Up until you become enlightened you will only be able to know bits and pieces of the Dhamma are true. The good news is with a little bit of experience of the benefits of practice we can be 1% sure that the Buddha was right, then our faith grows a little which encourages us to practice until our experience leads us to be 2% sure and our faith grows some more and we practice some more...5%...10%...etc. The only way to know 100% is to become fully enlightened.

My entire family is strict Catholic, how should I tell them?

I have not had to deal with this since I come from a family of Atheists but there are probably other people on this forum who have had to deal with a similar situation to yours who are capable of offering some good advice.

truthseeker

The first question is whether there is any need to tell. Unless your family expects you to join Christian activities together, there may be no need. I came to the conclusion that there is probably no God shortly after my confirmation (in my case confirmation class may have had a negative effect... ). However, I did not feel that this was worthy of an announcement, since my family wasn't very religious to begin with. If my family was religious, I would probably have tried to discuss the doctrinal issues with them that did not make sense to me. That would be less confrontational and it would somehow foster understanding of how the conclusion was reached.

Cheers, Thomas

Mick

G'day Jordan,

Buddhism
not sure
try it