BUDDHIST..................A BLUE PRINT 509
(ii) The introduction of a ceremony like Baptism is in Christianity for the laity. There is really no ceremony of conversion i.e. for becoming a lay disciple of the Buddha. Whatever ceremony of conversion there is, is for becoming a Bhikkhu, for entering into the Sangha. Among the Christians there are two ceremonies (1) for Baptism showing acceptance of Christianity and
(2) for ordination i.e. becoming a priest. In Buddhism there is no ceremony like Baptism. This is the main reason why people after becoming Buddhist slip out of Buddhism. We must not introduce a ceremony like the Christian Baptism which every lay person must undergo before he can be called a Buddhist”. Merely uttering the Pancha Sila is not enough. Many other points must be added to make person feel that he is ceasing to be a Hindu and becoming a new man.
(iii) The appointment of a number of lay preachers who could go about and preach the Buddhists and see how far they are following the Buddha’s Dhamma. The lay preachers must be paid and secondly they may be married persons. In the beginning they may be part time workers.
(iv) The establishment of a Buddhist Religious Seminary where persons who wish to become preachers could be taught Buddhism and also comparative study of other Religions.
(v) The introduction of congregational worship in the Vihara every Sunday followed by a sermon.
- In addition to these preliminary steps it is necessary to do some other things which require to be done in a big way as aid to our propagation campaign. In this connection I make the following proposals :
I. Building big temples and Viharas in the four important towns, (I) Madras; (2) Bombay; (3) Nagpur and
(4) Delhi.