Can anyone become a Buddhist?
Yes. It is a religion/path open to all. It is very nonjudgmental and allows individuals to decide for themselves how much they wish to commit to the practice. You do not have to join a group. You do not have to find a teacher. But both these will help you on the way. It is a very sensible religion – it does not tell you what to do or what to believe. It says – try it yourself and if it works and helps you then you are welcome to continue; if it does not work for you try something different. You do not have to go through a ceremony to become a Buddhist, though special ceremonies exist in each school of Buddhism. These generally involve “taking refuge” and accepting the morality of the “Precepts”.
