As someone looking to convert to Buddhism, I’m trying to figure out some reasons I believe in the religion, one of those ways is by looking at other people’s perspectives. So tell me, what makes you 100% sure that Buddhism is the right worldview, way of living, and religion?
Before I start this post I just want to say I am not here to challenge or make anyone leave the Buddhist faith. I’m more trying to get a sort of idea of how to understand certain concepts before I decide to convert.
Hello everyone, I have been considering converting to Buddhism for weeks now and want people’s advice on where I should go from it. For context I am an 18 year old male who left my previous religion and was an atheist for a few years. I currently identify as a pure Agnostic which neither leans towards theism nor atheism. Out of curiosity, I wanted to learn to understand different religions, the Abrahamic ones did not really make sense to me so I went looking at the Eastern ones, of them Buddhism caught my eye. Not only did I see the positive impact it had on everyday people’s mental health and way of living, but it also helped me to believe in more supernatural ideas. For example, I fully will say that I believe in the idea of rebirth and reincarnation, not one that is done through a creator god but one that is essentially just a cycle of living, dying and being born again (samsara). The concept just made more sense to me than heaven and hell. I also believed that the teachings of the Buddha to work well on keeping the mind at peace and removing suffering from our everyday lives through the 8 fold path, and precepts of Buddhism. I also have started to believe in the most important teaching of Buddhism, which is Enlightenment, I feel like there are or have been many people who have been enlightened so I believe in that yet there are things I have trouble believing in.
When I said that I believed in more supernatural Buddhist ideas, it didn’t mean everything, I still find parts of Buddhist cosmology to be a bit odd in terms of the 6 realms, I find trouble in believing in devas, titans, and pretas, and in a way kind of interpret it as how Secular Buddhists would view it, which is as psychological states (this is not me saying I’m converting to Secular Buddhism) when I just said I believe in supernatural elements). There is also the question of Karma, I feel like I understand it at least 60% but I have some questions regarding that.
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I also have critiques on the story of Siddhartha Gautama and his origin as a wealthy prince, while there is no historical or archeological evidence of him being a prince, I have heard theories of him still being very rich living in an aristocratic society. Now personally I have heard of the term selective religion where I don’t focus on parts that don’t make sense to me or I don’t believe in and keep the rest and if I convert to Buddhism (considering my questions be answered), I’ll follow the teachings of the Buddha, live on the 8 fold path and live a righteous life while believing in the cycle of samsara while not focusing on parts that are harder for me to belief in, can I do that? Will I be viewed as a “real Buddhist” if I do that? I might make more posts here before I make my decision but I was hoping to get some responses and insights, thanks!