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I was reading a particular question about conversion.

This particular answer discusses how one converts to become a buddhist: How does conversion work in Buddhism?

First of all, there isn't one agreed upon definition about when you are truly a Buddhist. Some people say you are a Buddhist if you consider yourself to be one, others say you need at least several years training from an acknowledged Buddhist teacher.

Is it possible to become a buddhist without a formal teacher or formal teaching? If so, does one just learn from online experiences and research?

Lowbrow
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chrisjlee
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Pretty much so. Buddhism is a path of personal growth, so you do what you feel it's best for your own development.

It's not something that I recommend, but you can even be a Buddhist and break all the precepts. The only requirement is that you mindfully explore the consequences of your actions (i.e. their kamma). Then you have a chance to learn why you are following the precepts, i.e. not because someone commanded you but because you know by personal experience.

If personal experience tells you that you need a teacher, then go for it. If you do better by personal research, then go for it. Experiment while always being mindful. That can never fail you.

Also read this: How does one become a lay Buddhist?

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Alessandro Macilenti
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    If you break all of the precepts, you would not be a practicing Buddhist, just a non-practicing one. – Chozang Jan 06 '18 at 02:48
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First of all, there isn't one agreed upon definition about when you are truly a Buddhist

This is wrong! The agreed upon definition is that when you take the triple refuge you are considered a Buddhist. Yes, it is possible to become a Buddhist without a formal teacher as long as you understand taking refuge in the Triple gem. After that, the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha are your teachers.

Here are five ways to take refuge in the Triple Gem as per the Visuddhimagga:

Sankha Kulathantille
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    Hi Sankha. Thanks for your answer. Could you elaborate a bit on the process of taking refuge in the triple gem? –  Feb 12 '15 at 15:51
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    @Harshani, added another link for you. It explains 5 ways of taking refuge. – Sankha Kulathantille Feb 12 '15 at 16:18
  • Thank you very much Sankha:) I have been practicing for a long time now but have actually not taken refuge in the triple gem before. I do try to follow the 5 precepts as best as i can. Can i do no. 1, the chanting? Just by myself here in my room. –  Feb 12 '15 at 18:08
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    Yes, you can do #1 by yourself. Just like assuming the status of a pupil. – Sankha Kulathantille Feb 12 '15 at 19:27
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    I took them now:) Now i will take the 5 precepts. Thanks for your help. –  Feb 12 '15 at 19:34
  • Seems like it would be challenging to take refuge in the sangha without having any in person experience with other buddhists. There are online sanghas of course, but it seems more challenging then daily meetings with a mentor and spending each day at a sangha surrounded by people who care and support you. – Thien Feb 12 '15 at 20:17
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I think a better question is why you feel the need to become a Buddhist. Self identification is just another form of attachment. Why not just practice Buddhism and be done with it? :-)

  • The Buddha encouraged people to formally take the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts. – Chozang Jan 06 '18 at 02:50
  • Then do it! But doing so just to call yourself a Buddhist is just an exercise in "this is me, this in mine, this is who I am". –  Jan 06 '18 at 13:31
  • The Buddha was never concerned about speculation like that. He simply encouraged people to take the Refuges and the Five Precepts and practice them. He was very down-to-earth and practical. – Chozang Jan 06 '18 at 17:02
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    e.g. "Any kind of mental formations [sankhara] whatever, whether past, future or presently arisen, whether gross or subtle, whether in oneself or external, whether inferior or superior, whether far or near must, with right understanding how it is, be regarded thus: 'This is not mine, this is not I, this is not my self.' - Anatta-lakkhana Sutta In this case, specifically the unwholesome sankharas of pride (I am a Buddhist) and covetousness (I want to be a Buddhist). –  Jan 06 '18 at 17:54
  • You were defining pride in a way that directly contradicts the Buddha's teachings. I'd encourage you to read a nikaya or two. – Chozang Jan 07 '18 at 19:45
  • @Tharpa If you want to post a comment which criticises an answer: 1) comment on the answer, but never try to disparage the person or user; 2) try to make it a constructive or a prescriptive criticism (your most recent comment would be clearer if you included a reference whichever definition of "pride" you're thinking of, and/or if it explained what the "direct contradiction" is); 3) stay on-topic i.e. ensure that your comments are discussing the answer, not discussing comments. – ChrisW Jan 07 '18 at 20:09
  • The Pali word for pride here is mada. While it means pride, it also has the connotation of inebriation or drunkeness. Literally "getting high on the idea of..." So in this case, one is intoxicated by the idea of being Buddhist. He arose after receiving the precepts. "I am a Buddhist", he thought, smiling to himself. His head felt three inches higher than it did before he knelt down to take the vows that formally made him a member of Buddha's long enduring sangha. –  Jan 07 '18 at 22:31
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I started practicing Buddhism as a self-taught curious kid. And I got really into it when I found out that I had not to be affiliated to a certain institution: I had only to apply some concepts to my life and seek to make good.

IMHO you don't need to have a master/teacher to learn what Buddhism is really about, aside from its branches, and to start practicing it. But a teacher is really valuable, because we normally feel like sharing this experience to others, and because it is really hard to supress our ego.

The teacher will be there to share his experience but also listen. He will also be a constant reminder that we know too little and that we think too much.

I find it very nice to find others that follow Buddhism practices and to listen from their unique view and experience.

gibertoni
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  • Good response, but just thought I'd point out that the only thing the Buddha said about ego was that it doesn't exist. The idea that it's something to get rid of or suppress came 1000 years later. – Chozang Jan 06 '18 at 02:54
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The Buddha found the reality pertaining to our misery and the way out of it.

Anybody giving fair trial to the Buddha's practice or eradicating misery for one self can be considered a practising Buddhist. Some level of devotional acceptance of the teaching and the Sangha can also be considered Buddhists.

So most importantly is to develops some faith in the techniques and consider it your teacher and guide (without some faith you will not give it fair trial) then putting it to practice is the most important aspect off becoming a practising Buddhist.

Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
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It depends on what you mean "true" Buddhist. If you mean sincere, devoted, mindful and so on then of course.

Can you be enlightened? Yeah I think people say that, but only super super SUPER rarely!

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Buddha is only teacher of All Buddhist. But in this present lifestyle,timeless busy people need guidence, so Buddhist monk could help us, n useful here. Karuna,Shila,Metta are the pillers of Buddhism, so accept the pancashila in your day to day life, which helps a person to become a buddhist. It is not a Damma, Lord Buddha never produce any damma, he guided us a new way of lifestyle, which help us to enlightened inside.

Alpana Basu
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Yes, you can become a Buddhist without a formal teacher or formal training. I would recommend real, paper, dead-tree books as opposed to online research. Books on Buddhism tend to be of higher quality than some of the stuff you find online.

Eventually, however, I would encourage you to visit a monk (bhikkhu or bhikshu) or a nun (bhikkhuni or bhikshuni) at a temple.

I practiced Buddhism on my own for several years before I met any other Buddhists.

Chozang
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The question is not how to become a buddhist; the aim is to get freed from our misery (dukkha). This is possible through realizing wisdom (panna).

Everyone can become enlightened. The Buddha has given us the tools; showed us the path, but everyone has to cultivate it himself or herself.

Ajahn Jayasaro (* Mindfulness, Precepts and Crashing in the Same Car p. 33-35 emphasized text*):

'The Buddha says we can find an inner refuge in which we become like an island unto ourselves, like a mountain which is unmoved by wind and rain and weather. This kind of stability and integrity of mind 'is not found by turning our backs on certain experiences and trying to create some special blissed-out state. If you practice meditation because you’re fed up with life, or you’re fed up with yourself, and you just want to go somewhere else where you don’t have to put up with all this stuff, then you’re already on the wrong path. That is the practice that may lead to heaven. But it’s not the practice for liberation.

You might be able to enter some heavenly realm where you can just close your eyes and feel good for a while, but the ability to do that is conditioned by health, by external circumstances and so on, and it’s not something we can ultimately rely upon. The immediate understanding of things as they are, of highs as highs, lows as lows, thoughts as thoughts, perceptions as perceptions, this is where the stability comes. We begin to see things less as solid entities, we perceive less in terms of personalities and people, and more and more in terms of a stream, a conditioned flow of phenomena.'

Guy Eugène Dubois
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I would say that technically you could practice Buddhism without a teacher perhaps learning from book, blogs, videos etc... However from my own experience this didn't work very well. You will bring a lot of thoughts, opinions, stories and generally life baggage to your practice and your really need someone to help you sort this out. That might be a teacher or the sangha that grows up around a teacher.

From my own perspective I couldn't tell the difference between nihilism and Buddhism and this unnecessarily held me back. I trace this back to my own atheist background baggage. Conversely I know people with Christian backgrounds who struggled with perceived notions of sin in Buddhism and people with difficult family background who struggle with perceptions of purity. But whatever your background I would contend that a little help from your your (spiritual) teacher and friends would be a huge benefit.

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Crab Bucket
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  • I know what you mean. I come from a philosophical background of advaita, and struggled with the idea of anatta. – ruben2020 Feb 15 '15 at 05:42
  • Instead of "sin", the Buddha taught about harmful actions (bad kamma) and beneficial actions (good kamma) – Chozang Jan 06 '18 at 02:51