( CNN ) -- When Tiger Woods invoked his religious faith during his public apology on Friday , he readily acknowledged that a lot of people would be surprised . `` People probably do n't realize it , '' he said , `` but I was raised a Buddhist , and I actively practiced my faith from childhood until I drifted away from it in recent years . '' But Woods said his Buddhist faith would be a key part of his quest to put his life back together after revelations of his marital infidelity , which he admitted for the first time . Buddhist experts said Woods ' summation of the tradition 's beliefs was accurate -- and that his remarks likely will bring more attention to the faith in a week when its highest profile leader , the Dalai Lama , is visiting the United States . `` I have a lot of work to do , and I intend to dedicate myself to doing it , '' Woods said , reading a statement from Ponte Vedra Beach , Florida . `` Part of following this path for me is Buddhism , which my mother taught me at a young age . '' `` Buddhism teaches that a craving of things outside ourselves causes an unhappy and pointless search for security , '' he continued . `` It teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint . Obviously , I lost track of what I was taught . '' A handful of Buddhist scholars said Woods ' description of Buddhist teaching was spot on . `` Woods was quite accurate , '' said Janet Gyatso , a professor of Buddhist studies at Harvard University . `` Craving causes unhappiness . That 's a fundamental Buddhist idea . '' A 1996 Sports Illustrated profile suggested that Woods -- then in his early 20s -- took his faith seriously . He visited a Buddhist temple with his mother each year around his birthday , slept near a mother-of-pearl Buddha from his Thai grandfather , and wore a gold Buddha around his neck , according to the profile . Woods ' mother , Kultilda , is a Thai-born Buddhist . `` I like Buddhism because it 's a whole way of being and living , '' Tiger Woods told Sports Illustrated . `` It 's based on discipline and respect and personal responsibility . I like Asian culture better than ours because of that . '' When allegations of Woods ' infidelity began emerging after a November 27 car accident , Fox News Channel host Brit Hume stirred controversy by publicly advising the golf pro to become a Christian . `` He 's said to be a Buddhist -- I do n't think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith , '' Hume said . `` So my message to Tiger would be : Tiger , turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world . '' But Buddhist scholars say that forgiveness and redemption are core components of the faith . `` You 're always beginning again in the Buddhist tradition , '' said John Kornfield , a prominent Buddhist teacher based in California . `` You see that you 're causing harm , you repent and ask forgiveness in some formal or informal way , and you start again . '' Some Buddhism experts said that 's what Woods appeared to be trying to do today . Many Buddhists applauded Woods ' statement . `` The fact that people could see this kind of behavior causes suffering is an incredibly important message for all kinds of people who respect Woods , '' said Kornfield . Buddhism was in the spotlight this week before Woods ' remarks , with the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama -- a Buddhist -- meeting with President Obama in Washington on Thursday . Buddhism is among the world 's largest religions , with about 350 million adherents , including about 1.2 million in the United States , according to a 2009 report by Trinity College . The faith began in India about 2,500 years ago .
Woods : `` People probably do n't realize it , but I was raised a Buddhist '' Golf great , addressing controversy on Friday , says he had `` drifted '' from his faith . `` Woods was quite accurate '' in his summation of Buddhism , one scholar says . The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibet and has been for decades.