Leaving Buddhism

Abstract

Leaving Buddhism is a theme seldom addressed in Buddhist studies. Buddhism is generally perceived as a tolerant religion and followers are encouraged to scrutinise the Buddhist teachings and are free to leave the Buddhist faith. Buddhism does not sanction violence against apostates, there is no formal religious pretext for apostasy and Buddhism has not developed a concept of apostasy. However, for people who do apostasies from Buddhism, the worst consequences they suffer tend to be negative reactions from the family, including the risk of being ignored and shut out from family and community activities. The Buddha’s (c. 480 bce–c. 400 bce)1 attitude to apostasy is represented by an account of a meeting with one of the Buddha’s attendants Sunakkhatta. He was a disciple of the Buddha, but after a while he became dissatisfied with the Buddha’s practice and decided to renounce the teacher and his teaching. Sunakkhatta came to the Buddha and said: “Lord, I am leaving you, I am no longer living by your teachings.” The Buddha responded to this declaration by asking Sunakkhatta following questions: “Did I ever say to you; come, live by my teachings?” Sunakkhatta: “No Lord.” The Buddha: “Then did you ever say to me that you wished to live by my teachings?” Sunakkhatta: “No Lord.” The Buddha: “That being the case, who are you and what are you giving up, you foolish man?” (Digha Nikaya, iii 2–3). Sunakkhatta’s defection occurred when the Buddha was eighty years old and that was his last year in life (Batchelor 2015: 172). Neither in this case nor others did the Buddha suggest that apostates should be punished. The Buddhist traditions are so wide, diverse and multiplex that it often makes sense to refer to Buddhism in the plural form (see Strong 2015). Buddhism(s) is broadly divided into Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions and these traditions are historically evolved and culturally embodied. Because of the great diversity within the Buddhist traditions, this chapter on