[Aaron757]

okay thank you, Aloka-D and FBM. Thank you Karma Yeshe also. I just saw your post when I posted this comment. I will look into the different traditions before making a final decision. I am still really confused I think about the process. It is discouraging to me that I don't have a Sangha.

When I was interested in Buddhism about a year ago I talked to a person from a sitting group in this small town where I live. She believed in the souls reincarnation after death and that scared me away from approaching that group. I am more opened minded now so her believing in reincarnation wouldn't really bother me at all. I wonder if I should try to get involved with that group again? But then again I don't have transportation to get to the group.

I live in a really small town. I know I was told by a person on this website that she lived in a small town too. I just am really confused.I will keep investigating Buddhism more before becoming officially a "Buddhist". It is unlikely that I will be able to go to a Buddhist temple for a very long time. I don't have car insurance and I don't have any money as a way to get to get to a bigger city where there might be a temple. Also, I am getting mixed answers from written things online and in a book about rebirths being reincarnations of a soul. That people have past lives etc. Why does there seem to be a disagreement on this with things that Buddhists have written or said to me (not on this site, from previous experience)?

Yeah, I had the feeling that the person on that website might not have been well informed.

I guess I just don't understand why there are many views on how one becomes a Buddhist. It is confusing to me. Does everyone have their own story? One thing that i'm not used to is that there seems to be a mixture of opinion online.

I also am not sure how much I should study and investigate before I try to officially go through some sort of "ritual" to become a Buddhist. I know I have asked about how to become a Buddhist before. I just don't get it. For example, in the Roman Catholic religion I went through a year of religious educating before being confirmed (fully brought into the Church). There was a specific way that you absolutely had to follow to become a Catholic. I do not consider myself to be a Catholic or a Christian in general anymore, but I don't understand the process of initiation into Buddhism. Is there one? Does it depend on what type of Buddhism you practice?

I am very sorry if this is annoying or repetitive. I just am very confused and unsettled about this. I'm the type of person that likes to plan ahead and maybe that is a flaw of mine.