To practice Buddhism is to understand the Four Noble Truths and to follow the Noble Eightfold Path, but how that is accomplished in real life practice may be very different for each person based on their situations and circumstances. Below are some common questions that people have about Buddhist religious practice:
1) Do you have to go to join a congregation or go to a temple in order to practice Buddhism?
Sanghas (community of Buddhist monks) serves a very important purpose in preserving and promoting Buddhism, but one does not need to be a monk to practice Buddhism or even reach enlightenment. In fact many of the Buddhism's most important converts were lay people. For example, the Vimalakirti Sutra, describes how many disciples and Bodhisattvas bowed in reverence to the wisdom of the lay man Vimalakirti and his understanding of the Dharma. Similarly, one does not need to give up all worldly life and become a hermit in order to gain enlightenment. The Buddha stated "Though a person be ornamented with jewels, the heart may have conquered the senses. The outward form does not constitute religion or affect the mind. Thus the body of a hermit may wear an ascetic's garb while his mind is immersed in worldliness. A man that dwells in the lonely woods and yet covets worldly vanities is a worldling, while the man in worldly garments may let his heart soar high to the heavenly thoughts. There is no distinction between the layman and the hermit, if both have banished the thoughts of self." However, it is undeniable that living in the world of today, presents many challenges to one who is seeking enlightenment. As such, a temple can be a place where lay people can feel closer to the Buddha and his teachings.
2) If I want to start practicing Buddhism what should I do?
Although we are a site about the religion of Buddhism, we are not a religious institution or affiliated with a religious organization. As such, we are not able to describe what is the bet way to pursue formal religious practice. However, if you are looking for ways to practice as a lay person there are many things you can do. First, it is important to read the Buddhist sutras. Many of the sutras are available online, however, not all translations online are accurate. It is preferable to read sutras translated by professional Buddhist scholars. Since there are literally tens of thousands of Buddhist Sutras it is not practical to try to read them all immediately. Instead, it is better to read a few and reflect upon them diligently before moving on. Although there is no delineated sequence for how one is supposed to read the sutras, my suggestion is to follow the way the Buddha disseminated to his disciples, by starting with his early discourses, in the Dhammapada, to the later discourses in the Prajna Paramitas text. 2) Second, it is important to meditate. Meditation, along with compassion and wisdom is one of the three pillars of enlightenment. Meditation serves the very important purpose of allowing one to focus the mind. Buddhism has many concepts that are very difficult to grasp, a cluttered or distracted mind has little chance of understanding them. There are many schools of thought on proper meditation. In the end, it is important to find one which is suitable to you and not feel like you are doing it wrong or you can't meditate, if a method doesn't work for you. 3) Third, it is important to recite the mantras. Some people that consider Buddhism a philosophy and not a religion might feel that the recitation of mantras has no purpose in Buddhism as the individual is the only one responsible for his/her salvation, and that praying to a Buddha or Bodhisattva is counterintuitive to the Buddha's teachings. While, the Buddha did state that a person is alone responsible for his or her own destiny, to say that the recitation of mantras is useless disregards the fact that the recitation is an action, and according to the Buddha a very powerful action, with powerful reactions. When people recites mantras earnestly, they are filling their hearts with positive thoughts, which in turn leads to positive reactions within them, and without. 4) Fourth, it is important to preserve the teachings. Preserving the teachings can take many forms, some people like to write out the sutras by making copies, some people like to discuss the teachings with others, some people can make artwork, write books, create websites, videos, etc. If our ancestors had not preserved the teachings for us, we would not be able to learn Buddhism today, so it is important for us to continue the legacy for future generations.
3) How does Buddhism view other religions?
Buddha was very accepting of other religions and their teachers. There is a story how once there was a teacher of a different religion who was jealous of the Buddha's fame so he sent one of his followers to infiltrate the Buddha's sangha and spy on the Buddha. Once the spy arrived at the Sangha and heard the Buddha's teachings, he immediately converted to Buddhism and wanted to leave his other teacher. However, the Buddha said that he must return to his prior teacher and still pay him respect as his teacher, as the Buddha respected all religions. It is with this custom that future Buddhist rulers such as Ashoka the Great and Genghis Khan created lands where the open practice of all religions were permitted. Additionally, in the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha made it very clear that it was impermissible to denigrate other religious teachers, even ones where the teachings were contrary to what the Buddha taught.
4) Do I have to donate money to my local Temple?
Giving is very important to Buddhism. There are whole sutras written just on giving. (i.e. Ten Inexhaustible Treasuries in the Avantamsaka Sutra) One should always give when possible, whether to a temple, to a charity, to a friend, or to a stranger, as long as it is helping someone in need. However, one should not feel obligated to give to a temple, merely because it is a temple. But if it is a temple that brings positivity to its residents and the public then it should be given gifts, as monks cannot earn a living and depend on the giving of others.
5) What kind of Buddhism should I practice?
There are many kinds of Buddhism. The two main traditions of Buddhism, Theravada and Mahayana, and then there are many others like Zen and Pure Land. The Theravada tradition is more conservative, focusing more on the Buddha's earlier discourses and while the Mahayana focuses more on the later discourses. There is really no need for one to decide which Buddhist tradition to follow, until one has been fully exposed to both.
1) Do you have to go to join a congregation or go to a temple in order to practice Buddhism?
Sanghas (community of Buddhist monks) serves a very important purpose in preserving and promoting Buddhism, but one does not need to be a monk to practice Buddhism or even reach enlightenment. In fact many of the Buddhism's most important converts were lay people. For example, the Vimalakirti Sutra, describes how many disciples and Bodhisattvas bowed in reverence to the wisdom of the lay man Vimalakirti and his understanding of the Dharma. Similarly, one does not need to give up all worldly life and become a hermit in order to gain enlightenment. The Buddha stated "Though a person be ornamented with jewels, the heart may have conquered the senses. The outward form does not constitute religion or affect the mind. Thus the body of a hermit may wear an ascetic's garb while his mind is immersed in worldliness. A man that dwells in the lonely woods and yet covets worldly vanities is a worldling, while the man in worldly garments may let his heart soar high to the heavenly thoughts. There is no distinction between the layman and the hermit, if both have banished the thoughts of self." However, it is undeniable that living in the world of today, presents many challenges to one who is seeking enlightenment. As such, a temple can be a place where lay people can feel closer to the Buddha and his teachings.
2) If I want to start practicing Buddhism what should I do?
Although we are a site about the religion of Buddhism, we are not a religious institution or affiliated with a religious organization. As such, we are not able to describe what is the bet way to pursue formal religious practice. However, if you are looking for ways to practice as a lay person there are many things you can do. First, it is important to read the Buddhist sutras. Many of the sutras are available online, however, not all translations online are accurate. It is preferable to read sutras translated by professional Buddhist scholars. Since there are literally tens of thousands of Buddhist Sutras it is not practical to try to read them all immediately. Instead, it is better to read a few and reflect upon them diligently before moving on. Although there is no delineated sequence for how one is supposed to read the sutras, my suggestion is to follow the way the Buddha disseminated to his disciples, by starting with his early discourses, in the Dhammapada, to the later discourses in the Prajna Paramitas text. 2) Second, it is important to meditate. Meditation, along with compassion and wisdom is one of the three pillars of enlightenment. Meditation serves the very important purpose of allowing one to focus the mind. Buddhism has many concepts that are very difficult to grasp, a cluttered or distracted mind has little chance of understanding them. There are many schools of thought on proper meditation. In the end, it is important to find one which is suitable to you and not feel like you are doing it wrong or you can't meditate, if a method doesn't work for you. 3) Third, it is important to recite the mantras. Some people that consider Buddhism a philosophy and not a religion might feel that the recitation of mantras has no purpose in Buddhism as the individual is the only one responsible for his/her salvation, and that praying to a Buddha or Bodhisattva is counterintuitive to the Buddha's teachings. While, the Buddha did state that a person is alone responsible for his or her own destiny, to say that the recitation of mantras is useless disregards the fact that the recitation is an action, and according to the Buddha a very powerful action, with powerful reactions. When people recites mantras earnestly, they are filling their hearts with positive thoughts, which in turn leads to positive reactions within them, and without. 4) Fourth, it is important to preserve the teachings. Preserving the teachings can take many forms, some people like to write out the sutras by making copies, some people like to discuss the teachings with others, some people can make artwork, write books, create websites, videos, etc. If our ancestors had not preserved the teachings for us, we would not be able to learn Buddhism today, so it is important for us to continue the legacy for future generations.
3) How does Buddhism view other religions?
Buddha was very accepting of other religions and their teachers. There is a story how once there was a teacher of a different religion who was jealous of the Buddha's fame so he sent one of his followers to infiltrate the Buddha's sangha and spy on the Buddha. Once the spy arrived at the Sangha and heard the Buddha's teachings, he immediately converted to Buddhism and wanted to leave his other teacher. However, the Buddha said that he must return to his prior teacher and still pay him respect as his teacher, as the Buddha respected all religions. It is with this custom that future Buddhist rulers such as Ashoka the Great and Genghis Khan created lands where the open practice of all religions were permitted. Additionally, in the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha made it very clear that it was impermissible to denigrate other religious teachers, even ones where the teachings were contrary to what the Buddha taught.
4) Do I have to donate money to my local Temple?
Giving is very important to Buddhism. There are whole sutras written just on giving. (i.e. Ten Inexhaustible Treasuries in the Avantamsaka Sutra) One should always give when possible, whether to a temple, to a charity, to a friend, or to a stranger, as long as it is helping someone in need. However, one should not feel obligated to give to a temple, merely because it is a temple. But if it is a temple that brings positivity to its residents and the public then it should be given gifts, as monks cannot earn a living and depend on the giving of others.
5) What kind of Buddhism should I practice?
There are many kinds of Buddhism. The two main traditions of Buddhism, Theravada and Mahayana, and then there are many others like Zen and Pure Land. The Theravada tradition is more conservative, focusing more on the Buddha's earlier discourses and while the Mahayana focuses more on the later discourses. There is really no need for one to decide which Buddhist tradition to follow, until one has been fully exposed to both.