Editing Religious conversion (section)

=={{anchor|Conversion to Dharmic religions}}Dharmic religions==

=== Buddhism ===
{{See also|List of converts to Buddhism}}
Persons newly adhering to Buddhism traditionally "[[Refuge (Buddhism)|Taking Three Refuge]]" (express [[faith in Buddhism|faith]] in the [[Three Jewels]] – [[Buddhahood|Buddha]], [[Buddhist paths to liberation|Dhamma]], and [[Sangha (Buddhism)|Sangha]]) before a [[Bhikkhu|monk]], [[Bhikkhunī|nun]], or similar representative, with often the sangha, the community of practitioners, also in ritual attendance.

Throughout the [[timeline of Buddhism]], conversions of entire countries and regions to Buddhism were frequent, as Buddhism spread throughout Asia.  For example, in the 11th century in [[Burma]], king [[Anoratha]] converted his entire country to [[Theravada Buddhism]]. At the end of the 12th century, [[Jayavarman VII]] set the stage for conversion of the [[Khmer people]] to Theravada Buddhism.  Mass conversions of areas and communities to Buddhism occur up to the present day, for example, in the [[Dalit Buddhist movement]] in India there have been [[Dalit Buddhist movement#Organized mass conversions|organized mass conversions]].

Exceptions to encouraging conversion may occur in some Buddhist movements. In [[Tibetan Buddhism]], for example, the [[Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama|current Dalai Lama]] discourages active attempts to win converts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cephas-library.com/na/buddhism_dalai_lama_against_prosylitizing.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209125201/http://www.cephas-library.com/na/buddhism_dalai_lama_against_prosylitizing.html|url-status=dead|title=Dalai Lama opposed to practice of conversion|archivedate=February 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>Dawei, Bei (2012).  [https://web.archive.org/web/20140219190818/http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/savifadok/2759/1/BuddhismConference1.pdf Conversion to Tibetan Buddhism: Some Reflections], in: Ura, Dasho, Karma: Chophel, Dendup, Buddhism Without Borders, Proceedings of the International Conference of Global Buddhism, Bhumtang, Bhutan, May 211-23, 2012, The Center for Buthane Studies, pp, 53–75</ref>

===Hinduism===
{{See also|List of converts to Hinduism|Shuddhi (Hinduism)}}
[[File:Bodhinatha-samaya-diksha.JPG|thumb|240px|A yajna initiation to Hinduism ceremony in progress]]
Hinduism is a diverse system of thought with beliefs spanning [[Hindu views on monotheism|monotheism]], [[polytheism]], [[panentheism]], [[Hindu views on Pantheism|pantheism]], [[pandeism]], [[monism]], and [[Atheism in Hinduism|atheism]] among others. Hinduism has no traditional ecclesiastical order, no centralized religious authorities, no universally accepted governing body, no binding holy book nor any mandatory prayer attendance requirements.<ref name="sitachak">{{Citation | last = Chakravarti| first = Sitansu| title = Hinduism, a way of life| publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publ.| year = 1991| page = 71| isbn =  978-81-208-0899-7}}</ref><ref>[[Julius J. Lipner]], Hindus: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition, Routledge, {{ISBN|978-0-415-45677-7}}</ref><ref>MK Gandhi, [http://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/essence_of_hinduism.pdf The Essence of Hinduism], Editor: VB Kher, Navajivan Publishing, see page 3; According to Gandhi, "a man may not believe in God and still call himself a Hindu."</ref>  In its diffuse and open structure, numerous schools and sects of Hinduism have developed and spun off in India with help from its [[sannyasa|ascetic]] scholars, since the [[Vedic period|Vedic age]]. The six [[Āstika and nāstika|Astika]] and two Nastika schools of [[Hindu philosophy]], in its history, did not develop a missionary or proselytization methodology, and they co-existed with each other. Most Hindu sub-schools and sects do not actively seek converts.<ref name="cookson">{{citation | year=2003 | title = Encyclopedia of religious freedom | author1=Catharine Cookson | publisher=Taylor & Francis | isbn=978-0-415-94181-5 | page=180 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R0PrjC1Ar7gC&q=seek&pg=PA180}}</ref> Individuals have had a choice to enter, leave or change their god(s), spiritual convictions, accept or discard any rituals and practices, and pursue spiritual knowledge and liberation ([[moksha]]) in different ways.<ref>Bhavasar and Kiem, Spirituality and Health, in Hindu Spirituality, Editor: Ewert Cousins (1989), {{ISBN|0-8245-0755-X}}</ref><ref name="gf">Gavin Flood, Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Editor: Knut Jacobsen (2010), Volume II, Brill, {{ISBN|978-90-04-17893-9}}</ref> However, various schools of Hinduism do have some core common beliefs, such as the belief that all living beings have [[Ātman (Hinduism)|Atman]] (soul), a belief in [[karma]] theory, spirituality, [[ahimsa]] (non-violence) as the greatest dharma or virtue, and others.<ref name="subramuni"/>

Religious conversion to Hinduism has a long history outside India. Merchants and traders of India, particularly from Indian peninsula, carried their religious ideas, which led to religious conversions to Hinduism in Indonesia, Champa, Cambodia and Burma.<ref>[[Jan Gonda]], The Indian Religions in Pre-Islamic Indonesia and their survival in Bali, in {{Google books|X7YfAAAAIAAJ|Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 3 Southeast Asia, Religions}}, pages 1–47</ref><ref>Richadiana Kartakusama (2006), Archaeology: Indonesian Perspective (Editors: Truman Simanjuntak et al.), Yayasan Obor Indonesia, {{ISBN|979-2624996}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Java's Hinduism {{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|Revivial}}|first=Thomas|last=Reuter|publisher=Hinduism Today|date=September 2004|url=http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2004/10-12/52-53_revivial.shtml|access-date=2008-03-16|archive-date=2020-12-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229174130/https://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=1308|url-status=dead}}</ref> Some sects of Hindus, particularly of the [[Bhakti]] schools began seeking or accepting converts in early to mid 20th century. For example, groups like the [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]] accept those who have a desire to follow their sects of Hinduism and have their own religious conversion procedure.<ref>See, for example: [https://archive.org/stream/IskconLawBook#page/n0/mode/2up ISKCON Law Book], International Society for Krishna Consciousness, GBC Press</ref>

Since 1800 CE, religious conversion from and to [[Hinduism]] has been a controversial subject within Hinduism. Some have suggested that the concept of missionary conversion, either way, is contrary to the precepts of Hinduism.<ref name="arvindsharma">{{cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|author-link=Arvind Sharma|title=Hinduism as a Missionary Religion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3J7qJA7L4xwC&pg=PA31|date=22 April 2011|publisher=[[State University of New York Press]]|location=[[Albany, New York]]|isbn=978-1-4384-3211-3|pages=31–53}}</ref> Religious leaders of some of Hinduism sects such as [[Brahmo Samaj]] have seen Hinduism as a non-missionary religion yet welcomed new members, while other leaders of Hinduism's diverse schools have stated that with the arrival of missionary Islam and Christianity in India, the view that "there is no such thing as proselytism in Hinduism" must be re-examined.<ref name=arvindsharma/><ref>Gauri Viswanathan (1998), Outside the Fold: Conversion, Modernity, and Belief, Princeton University Press, {{ISBN|978-0691058993}}</ref>

In recent decades, mainstream Hinduism schools have attempted to systematize ways to accept religious converts, with an increase in inter-religious mixed marriages.<ref name=subramuni/> The steps involved in becoming a Hindu have variously included a period where the interested person gets an informal ''ardha-Hindu'' name and studies ancient literature on spiritual path and practices (English translations of [[Upanishads]], [[Agama (Hinduism)|Agama]], [[Itihasa]], ethics in [[Sutra]], Hindu festivals, [[yoga]]).<ref name="subramuni"/> If after a period of study, the individual still wants to convert, a ''[[Namakarana]] Samskara'' ceremony is held, where the individual adopts a traditional Hindu name. The initiation ceremony may also include ''[[Yajna]]'' (i.e., fire ritual with Sanskrit hymns) under guidance of a local Hindu priest.<ref name="subramuni">SS Subramuniyaswami (2000), How to become a Hindu, 2nd Edition, Himalayan Academy, {{ISBN|0945497822}}</ref> Some of these places are ''mathas'' and ''asramas'' (hermitage, monastery), where one or more ''gurus'' (spiritual guide) conduct the conversion and offer spiritual discussions.<ref name=subramuni/> Some schools encourage the new convert to learn and participate in community activities such as festivals ([[Diwali]] etc.), read and discuss ancient literature, learn and engage in rites of passages (ceremonies of birth, first feeding, first learning day, age of majority, wedding, cremation and others).<ref name="subramuni"/>

===Jainism===
[[Jainism]] accepts anyone who wants to embrace the religion. There is no specific ritual for becoming a Jain. One does not need to ask any authorities for admission. One becomes a Jain on one's own by observing the five vows (''vratas'')<ref name=pshah>Pravin Shah, [http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/jainedu/5greatvows.htm Five Great Vows (Maha-vratas) of Jainism] Jainism Literature Center, Harvard University Archives (2009)</ref> The five main vows as mentioned in the ancient [[Jain texts]] like [[Tattvarthasutra]] are:{{sfn|Jain|2011|p=93}}{{sfn|Sangave|2001|p=67}}
# ''[[Ahimsa in Jainism|Ahimsa]]'' - Not to injure any living being by actions and thoughts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-08 |title=What is Ahimsa? |url=https://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/what-is-ahimsa/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Yoga Journal}}</ref>
# ''[[Satya]]'' - Not to lie or speak words that hurt others.
# ''[[Asteya]]'' - Not to take anything if not given.{{sfn|Jain|2011|p=99}}
# ''[[Brahmacharya]]'' - Chastity for householders / [[Celibacy]] in action, words and thoughts for monks and nuns.
# ''[[Aparigraha]]'' ([[Non-possession]]) - non-attachment to possessions.{{sfn|Jain|2011|p=100}}

Following the five vows is the main requirement in Jainism. All other aspects such as visiting temples are secondary. [[Jain monasticism|Jain monks and nuns]] are required to observe these five vows strictly.<ref name=pshah />
<!-- Do not change this to all religions, the Parsis do not let anyone convert to Zoroastrianism.-->

===Sikhism===
[[Sikhism]] is not known to openly proselytize conversions, however it is open and accepting to anyone wanting to take on the Sikh faith.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/00137/sikhism.htm |title=ThinkQuest – Sikhism |access-date=2011-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130073424/http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/00137/sikhism.htm |archive-date=2011-11-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sikhism.about.com/od/glossary/g/Sikhism.htm|title=Sikhism (Sikhi) the Sikh Faith and Religion in America|access-date=2011-07-27|archive-date=2011-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907071508/http://sikhism.about.com/od/glossary/g/Sikhism.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>