Question: I wish to learn how to become a Buddhist. I have read books about Buddhism and about the teachings of Buddha. How to learn Buddhism fully?
By Khenpo Tashi
I’m very happy that you have some connection or desire to be connected with Buddha’s teachings. That’s very good. To learn Buddhism fully, we must rely on a teacher. If we have not met a teacher, we can consider these 3 methods, until we meet a teacher.
The first method is to read, listen and contemplate the teachings. Second is to be around other Buddhists, near a temple, or spend time with monks. The third method is to receive the Refuge vow.
The First Method
The first method, reading, listening and contemplating, is really good because your understanding will go deeper.
What should you read? Avoid reading the Tantras or the deep teachings, such as ’emptiness’. First, focus your reading on the Sutras. Read Buddha Shakyamuni’s life story and the Sutras, again and again. Read about Karma, and about Interdependent Origination.
Then, you read slowly. Imagine. Contemplate these stories and concepts. You can read the same Sutra a hundred times and still, you can learn something new from it.
What is lacking in this first way or the first method is the “activity” and the teacher. The “activity” means doing virtue, or becoming used to accumulating merit, or habituating our body, speech and mind to virtue. That is what we mean by “activity”. This is lacking in the first method of reading and contemplating.
Then, another thing lacking in this method is the teacher. As we read and contemplate without a teacher, we will have misunderstandings. That is unavoidable. That will happen. So just be aware that these two things will naturally happen, if you only practice the first way.
It is good to read and contemplate but still, the teacher is needed.
The Second Method
The second method is to be around monks, lay Buddhists and temples. This method will apply your knowledge from the readings, to practice, to purify your body, speech and mental misdeeds. To earn merit.
Also, in this method, you will make a habit of earning virtue, such as offering candles to Buddha, bowing, chanting, confessing your mistakes etc.
The problem or limitation of the second method is, we need the first method – the knowledge from the readings and contemplations. With this knowledge, our actions in the second method will be meaningful.
Without proper knowledge, our actions will just be a routine, not much meaning, not much effective.
The Third Method
Then going to the third method, taking the Refuge Vow.
You cannot just receive the refuge vow as a routine. You must understand the meanings behind it. And the meanings behind the refuge vow are very deep and vast. The first and second methods will help in this third method.
Then, after receiving the refuge vow, you must observe the DO’S AND DON’TS of the vow. That is a very heavy training. Receiving the vow, and afterwards, acting just like before receiving the vow, the vow will slowly become useless for you. It will lose its potency.
This third method, you don’t have to do immediately to become a Buddhist. You can start doing the first two methods, even if you have not taken the refuge vow.
For a beginner, try to remember these three methods or ways. They support one other. And also, each method is limited by something.
The first way is limited by misunderstandings and a lack of action. The second way is limited by a lack of knowledge. The third way is limited by a lack of understanding, lack of discipline and carelessness. All of them are limited by a lack of a proper teacher.
That’s it.