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**Sukadrukanga** · 12-04-2011, 10:59 PM

Most laypeople choose not to follow the path, this can be due to one of the following reasons:

1- They still have inner doubts in relation to the Buddha and his teachings
2- Their attachments to worldly desires is stronger than their desire to get enlightened

Either way, laypeople cannot be considered as real buddhists according to your definition!!

I don't think I am saying that. You are making a few assumptions that I don't think are necessary true. For one thing, I don't agree that "detachments to worldly desires" is necessary on the right path. If it is, Buddha would not reject asceticism. Even if it is true, I see plenty of bhikkhus and bhikkhunis who are more attached to "worldly things" than some laypersons. Just different "worldly things."

Second, a layperson might not have a choice, because he or she might have some unpaid "karmic debts" to people surrounding him/her.

Please note that i am not trying to be judgemental here, but i am facing the same difficult choice to continue to live as a layperson or to do things the right way. I feel that calling myself a Buddhist while i continue to follow a different path is a form of self-deception.

I don't think your status as a layperson or as a bhikkhus matters. And I don't think Buddha said there is only one path. And I am not sure what's "do thing the right way."

This is a good question. If i can have a clear understanding of what does it mean to be a Buddhist, then i will be able to follow the path correctly. However, untill this moment i have not been able to see what do buddhists have in common!!! Things have to be in black and white sometimes and their should be uniformity in some way!

For example, in Islam there are minimum requirements for those who want to become a muslim, they call them the five pillars of Islam and if you dont believe in them, you cannot be considered as a muslim. Is there something similar to this in Buddhism? is there any minimum clear requirments?

Regards,
Bundokji

If you really want rituals, I am sure many school will give you a ritual that you want. But I think I have mentioned this before in another thread.
A teaching is Buddhism if it covers three concepts, anicca, anatta and nibbana. All commonly accepted schools in Buddhism all have these 3 concepts as the core. They differ only in the matters of specific Practices, focuses and implications of these concepts.

If you do your best to understand and experience these 3 concepts, that's really all you need to be on the right Path.
The benefit of being a bhikkhus might be that it gives you more time to think about these 3 concepts. Maybe.

12-04-2011, 10:59 PM	#24
Sukadrukanga Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 491 Senior Member	Most laypeople choose not to follow the path, this can be due to one of the following reasons: 1- They still have inner doubts in relation to the Buddha and his teachings 2- Their attachments to worldly desires is stronger than their desire to get enlightened Either way, laypeople cannot be considered as real buddhists according to your definition!! I don't think I am saying that. You are making a few assumptions that I don't think are necessary true. For one thing, I don't agree that "detachments to worldly desires" is necessary on the right path. If it is, Buddha would not reject asceticism. Even if it is true, I see plenty of bhikkhus and bhikkhunis who are more attached to "worldly things" than some laypersons. Just different "worldly things." Second, a layperson might not have a choice, because he or she might have some unpaid "karmic debts" to people surrounding him/her. Please note that i am not trying to be judgemental here, but i am facing the same difficult choice to continue to live as a layperson or to do things the right way. I feel that calling myself a Buddhist while i continue to follow a different path is a form of self-deception. I don't think your status as a layperson or as a bhikkhus matters. And I don't think Buddha said there is only one path. And I am not sure what's "do thing the right way." This is a good question. If i can have a clear understanding of what does it mean to be a Buddhist, then i will be able to follow the path correctly. However, untill this moment i have not been able to see what do buddhists have in common!!! Things have to be in black and white sometimes and their should be uniformity in some way! For example, in Islam there are minimum requirements for those who want to become a muslim, they call them the five pillars of Islam and if you dont believe in them, you cannot be considered as a muslim. Is there something similar to this in Buddhism? is there any minimum clear requirments? Regards, Bundokji If you really want rituals, I am sure many school will give you a ritual that you want. But I think I have mentioned this before in another thread. A teaching is Buddhism if it covers three concepts, anicca, anatta and nibbana. All commonly accepted schools in Buddhism all have these 3 concepts as the core. They differ only in the matters of specific Practices, focuses and implications of these concepts. If you do your best to understand and experience these 3 concepts, that's really all you need to be on the right Path. The benefit of being a bhikkhus might be that it gives you more time to think about these 3 concepts. Maybe.
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