Expert: Bodhicitta - 5/17/2005

Question
hi. i am a student in england. i am fourteen years old and currently in my beleifs and values lesson. i would like to know i few thigs about buddhism.
first of all what is the goal of a buddhist? what is enlightenment? and how would you go about becoming a buddhist?

Answer
Hi Kingsley
Thanks for your interesting questions.I get questions from
throughout the world these days. But I am in england too!
I have given talks in a few schools. I always think
people at fourteen have all the right questions. Adults often forget to ask good questions. So it is good
your asking questions for yourself and as part
of your course.

here is my best shot at some answers for you...if they don't fully answer your questions do please ask more
questions...

<<what is the goal of a buddhist>>

Buddhism is a path to awakening.
The starting point for Buddhism is that we are all confused and we are all out of touch
with reality. There are many analogies for this. It is like
we are in a dream and dont know it. We are in a magical
illusion. A mirage.The modern image of the Matrix is
very Buddhist if you have seen that film. All these
are saying that the universe is very different from what
we imagine.

A king from the North of India had a son Siddhartha who lived 2500 years a go in India and
developped
a system of meditation, a set of methods that one could
follow to wake up! Because Siddharta followed these methods himself he
became known as Shakyamuni Buddha.

If you followed these methods  you would become
Kingsley Buddha! This is what Buddhism is. It is a path any one can follow
and become Buddha! We are all in our hearts Buddha we just
have not realized it

<<what is enlightenment?>>
Enlightenment is becoming Awake. Getting back in touch with our real nature which is wisdom and compassion. Getting back in touch with reality. By doing this
we can be of use to others.

<<"and how would you go about becoming a buddhist? ">>

you would start by finding a Buddhist teacher and learning
a little about Buddhism and learning meditation. Meditation is the important activity of Buddhism. Through meditation we can learn little by little to reconnect with
our real minds . Meditation is what the Buddha taught.

Buddhism is about your experience so you take it at what ever pace you like.One might be inspired by Buddhism and meditation for some months or years before wanting to call oneself a Buddhist.

Usually after some time one realises that Buddhism is a life times path and one wants to acknowledge that. One has
found something that rings true and works.

There is a ceremony called Refuge when one officially wants to become Buddhist and acknowledge that. The form of refuge is to
say that the only real refuge one has in life is Buddhism.
Friends become sick and die. Money runs out. Everything else is somewhat impermanent and unreliable. So thats why
it is called refuge.

Usually one might take simple vows as well as the main refuge too . These are usually the five precepts. Not to kill , not to lie, not to steal, not adopt sex in an aggressive way, not to take excessive alcohol so ones awareness never  becomes clouded.By taking these vows
one's ability to meditate becomes improved.

Hope this helps. Please feel free to come back to me with any other questions or comments.

Bodhicitta