Ha! Ha! Ha! You know Buddhism well. I suggest exploring it for yourself. When the time comes, you'll know to convert.
The only help I can offer would be to tell you the four noble truths,which are the core of the Buddha's teaching and they are - 1.Life is suffering 2.The cause of suffering is desire 3.To eliminate suffering,one must eliminate desire 4.To eliminate desire,one must follow the eightfold path.
There is nothing to convert to. Unless you are thinking of joining some Buddhist order. Just read, study, and live the way.
That's like an invitation to a cult! What is the 8-fold path, one asks. And then they follow your path to find out. Nice carrot! But one is not a horse. ^ This guys knows what he's talkin' 'bout.
in a sense most buddhists dont even realize they are, no buddhist exists, and there is nothing to convert to from the diamond sutra Subhuti respectfully asked the lord Buddha, "Most Honored One! In the future, if a person hears this teaching, even if it is a only a phrase or sentence, is it possible for that person to have a true faith and knowledge of Enlightenment awaken in their mind?" "Without a doubt, Subhuti. Even 500 years after the Enlightenment of this Buddha there will be some who are virtuous and wise, and while practicing compassion and charity, will believe in the words and phrases of this Sutra and will awaken their minds purely. After they come to hear these teachings, they will be inspired with belief. This is because when some people hear these words, they will have understood intuitively that these words are the truth." "But you must also remember, Subhuti, that such persons have long ago planted the seeds of goodness and merit that lead to this realization. They have planted the seeds of good deeds and charity not simply before one Buddhist temple, or two temples, or five, but before hundreds of thousands of Buddhas and temples. So when a person who hears the words and phrases of this Sutra is ready for it to happen, a pure faith and clarity can awaken within their minds." "Subhuti, any person who awakens faith upon hearing the words or phrases of this Sutra will accumulate countless blessings and merit." "How do I know this? Because this person must have discarded all arbitrary notions of the existence of a personal self, of other people, or of a universal self. Otherwise their minds would still grasp after such relative conceptions. Furthermore, these people must have already discarded all arbitrary notions of the non-existence of a personal self, other people, or a universal self. Otherwise, their minds would still be grasping at such notions. Therefore anyone who seeks total Enlightenment should discard not only all conceptions of their own selfhood, of other selves, or of a universal self, but they should also discard all notions of the non-existence of such concepts." "When the Buddha explains these things using such concepts and ideas, people should remember the unreality of all such concepts and ideas. They should recall that in teaching spiritual truths the Buddha always uses these concepts and ideas in the way that a raft is used to cross a river. Once the river has been crossed over, the raft is of no more use, and should be discarded. These arbitrary concepts and ideas about spiritual things need to be explained to us as we seek to attain Enlightenment. However, ultimately these arbitrary conceptions can be discarded. Think Subhuti, isn't it even more obvious that we should also give up our conceptions of non-existent things?"
None of the above responses is incorrect. However, they may not answer the OP's question. A "buddhist" is traditionally someone who has "taken refuge" in the Buddha (teacher), Dharma (teachings) and Sangha (community). "Taking refuge" simply means that you recognize that they are the only sources of refuge from suffering. You can take refuge quietly in your heart, or you can do it publicly in a ceremony. So, to "convert", you need to understand what the three sources of refuge are, and to believe that nothing else will prevent suffering.
From my religion class.. Buddism is a lifestyle, not a religion. If you want to convert take it into lifestyle and adapt.
