Expert: Justin Choo - 5/11/2005

Question
I consider myself a humanist, respecting all aspects of religions. I am coming accross with Kwain Yin and I am changing my views to becoming Buddhist. I am not living where one will find a community of large number of any other religions. My question to you is that even if you don't have sanga can one practice Buddhism?

Answer
Hi Anjaana,

Thank you for asking me.

Let me first clarify your comment. Kwan Yin is a very popular deity in Mahayana Buddhism.  The Theravada tradition which I practice concerns only the teachings of the Buddha. To have a better understanding of Buddhism, may I suggest you spend some time surfing through the following websites:
www.buddhanet.net
www.dharmanet.org
buddhism.about.com
www.parami.org/buddhistanswers/index.htm
www.nibbana.com
www.triplegem.net

Buddhism is more appropriately termed as "humanism", because it deals with the proper conduct of humans.  There is no commandment or dogma for a Buddhist to blindly follow. There is only the guidelines and noble precepts which the Buddha advised us to follow. As diligent Buddhists we use certain precepts to guide our lives. These are the 5 precepts: to refrain from killing, to refrain from stealing, to refrain from committing sexual misconduct, to refrain from telling lies, and to refrain from taking intoxicating substances.

Once you understand the teachings of the Buddha, you need not have to depend on the monks (sangha) in order to practise Buddhism. After all, the teachings of the Buddha are solely for us to practise by ourselves.  Just like in the case of electricity, we do not depend on Faraday (who discovered electricity) to teach us how to use it. We already know its principles.  Of course with the guidance of caring and learned monks our spiritual pursuit will be enhanced.

If you need more information please come back.

Smile from justinchoo :-)