Hello, Beliefnet Buddhists and readers alike. I am Kim, and I have a very simple, though, substantial, problem. I wish to convert to Zen Buddhism, but I am only 15, and my parents will not take me serious enough to take me to visit some local centers. They think it is some play so I will "come off as more asian". I could care less about this, I simply wish to devote myself to a religion I find comforting and agree with. Is there a way to officially convert at home? What can I say to my parents? What books should I start off with?

Thank you for taking time to reply and your suggestions. I will look into both books and the website posted.

May 26, 2009 -- 5:41PM, Beginnerkim wrote:

Hello, Beliefnet Buddhists and readers alike. I am Kim, and I have a very simple, though, substantial, problem. I wish to convert to Zen Buddhism, but I am only 15, and my parents will not take me serious enough to take me to visit some local centers. They think it is some play so I will "come off as more asian". I could care less about this, I simply wish to devote myself to a religion I find comforting and agree with. Is there a way to officially convert at home? What can I say to my parents? What books should I start off with?

Ok. What you can do if you like is start listening to Linkin Park if you like. JK, well I recommend Chaung Tzu by Thomas Merton, Zen Mind Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki, and Jesus and Buddha as Brothers by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Really all you need to do to formally "convert"

is take refuge in the three jewels:

I take refuge in the Buddha

I take refuge in the Dhamma,

I take refuge in the Sangha.>>

However, apart from you, where is the Buddha,

the Dhamma, or the Sangha? Thank you for being you,

without you, none of this would be possible.

My mom is Christian Pentecostal and has thrown out

all of my Buddhist books, I have had to at least spent 100$ on

Buddhist books, most of them from Thich Nhat Hanh.

That's good for me, because it refreshes my practise really,

she is like a zen master or something....lmao.

Seriously, once you start to practise seriously,

your family will thank you very much for it,

because when you practise, they practise.

What are you practising? At first you will

be practising being a Buddha.

How do you practise being a Buddha?

Sit full lotus, like Suzuki Roshi describes in his book.

If you can't do that, do what you can.

After you've gotten that down, if you're lucky, you

may discover something else. You.

Then you're practise may really transform the

lives of those around you and bring the

cessation of suffering to others.

Christian, Jew, Atheist, Moslem, Buddhist,

are all labels, it doesn't make a difference:

God answers the prayers of anybody,

and Buddha-practise is Buddha-practise for anybody.

You can tell your parents that you are just exploring

other faiths, really they can't stop you from sitting practise

or reading about anything. Dedicate your practise

merit to their wellbeing.

I recommend getting a bell from buddhanet.net to start and end your practise as well

as bowing at the end to dedicate your merit to the well being of your parents.

Thank you for your practise.

:-)~@(&

wonderful advice Sadmonk!