Can I be a pagan and still be buddhist?

[LMC]

hey! so, Im fairly new to buddhism and am still learning all of the basics. but the thing is I'm a pagan and I worship a few different deities from different pantheons but would still like to be a part of the buddhist religion as well. would that be acceptable? thanks! :)

[Aloka]

I'm a pagan and I worship a few different deities from different pantheons but would still like to be a part of the buddhist religion as well. would that be acceptable?

Welcome LMC,

It would probably get rather confusing, because Buddhists take their refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. See link below :

http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma2/bds.html

To be honest, I don't think collecting up ideas from different beliefs such as those of ancient mythology, wiccan witchcraft, shamanism, nature worship, folklore, or from other religions and so on, and then trying to put them together in some kind of a system with the teachings of the historical Buddha, would be a good idea . Just an opinion of course, but personally I think it's better to keep one's daily contemplations and practice as simple as possible.

It might also be worthwhile to try and visit some Buddhist centres near to where you live, (or arrange to stay at one for a weekend), if you're seriously interested in Buddhism.

(We are not a comparative religion website, by the way, see Code of Conduct number 18)

With kind wishes,

Aloka


PS You can find some helpful resources pinned at the beginning of the topics in our 'Discovering Buddha's Teachings' area.

[philg]

hey! so, Im fairly new to buddhism and am still learning all of the basics. but the thing is I'm a pagan and I worship a few different deities from different pantheons but would still like to be a part of the buddhist religion as well. would that be acceptable? thanks! :)

There is a wealth of fascinating spiritual practices available today, both to study and to take part in. As to what you do about it depends on what you want from the spiritual quest I guess you are on, and the meaning behind the words you use. Do you just pay respects to pagan deities, or do you invoke them when you 'worship' them? If you believe they exist and interact with them, why would you also want to follow the Buddhist path which has no deity to invoke or worship?

I can understand you wanting to understand Buddhism more, or even taking up some of the practices such as meditation, but to actively participate in different forms of religion is a bit strange if you are doing it in a formal, public way, that needs acceptance from, say, someone running a Buddhist centre and also someone in charge of a pagan church. Most people like that would assume that you are committing yourself to their particular practice only.

On the other hand if you keep it all in the privacy of your own home the only person who needs to accept or reject your multiple practices is yourself.