Anagarika & Upasaka Ordination

[ccook70]

Hello,

Do I need to be formally ordained to be a Buddhist?

What are the different levels of formal ordination?

I am a lay person. What are my options for formal ordination?

How would I go about finding a place to be ordained at?

Thanks!

Corey

[Hickersonia]

Venerable Thanissaro wrote this on the subject of "going for refuge," basically beginning Buddhist practice:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... efuge.html

It won't answer all of your questions, but it was very helpful to me when I chose to follow Buddhism and should provide a solid foundation from which to decide which questions are most important to you right now.

Please be well, my friend.

[Goofaholix]

No, you don't need to be ordained to be a Buddhist, just like you don't need to become a priest to be a Catholic.

[Cittasanto]

Hello,

Do I need to be formally ordained to be a Buddhist?

No, all you need is to take up the three refuges and five precepts.

What are the different levels of formal ordination?

Anagarika is someone who upholds the eight precepts and the training rules all the time as a way of life, they are a modern ordination although there is some reference to white clad lay followers in the canon.

Samanera and Bhikkhu/ Samaneri and Bhikkhuni are the only forms of "Proper" Buddhist Ordination.

I am a lay person. What are my options for formal ordination?

it depends where you go to ordain

How would I go about finding a place to be ordained at?

search the internet and speak to monastics online via facebook or other social networking site.
DON'T rush things, Urgency sometimes needs tempered by reflection.

[ccook70]

Thank you for your wise advice.

Corey