Upon seeing the plight of the poor and the aged, he concluded that human life meant suffering. WebThe existence of God is of no particular relevance to the ends of Buddhism, for Buddhism is concerned with the cessation of suffering in this world we live in now. Eventually, in a deep state of Buddhist meditation, he achieved nirvana underneath the Bodhi Tree, also known as the Tree of Awakening. incredible. It takes two hands to clap. [1] Anyone who Interesting to me, the typical arguments for the efficacy of Amidaism have a logical form, but make some large assumptions-- namely, The Amitabha vowed to save all beings before becoming a Buddha, the Amitabha has become a Buddha, therefore faith in Amitabha is efficacious. And the answer is, no, but yes, and it depends. I have just uploaded more than a dozen of SGI President Ikedas Peace Proposals from the SGI Website which attest to the magnanimous spirit of our mentor in faith. is where Buddhisms task ends The universe/totality is the creator itself, isn't it obvious? In short, it is very difficult for a Buddhist to claim that there is a belief or doctrine that truly exists, because of the idea of impermanence. And then sometime in the Mahayana phase, Buddhas gained a Pure Land, superhuman powers equatable to a god, and with the Amitabha, infinite life, not merely stupendously long life. Lama Rangbar, Thank you very much Lama Rangbar I enjoyed reading your wise and eloquent comment you are spot on about peoples perceptions! Bestest, David. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. On the other hand, Buddhist biomedical researchers who experiment on life forms believe that the purpose of biomedical research is to save rather than to sacrifice life. The end of suffering, the ceasing of the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, pure and proper being. A God that created the universe is irrelevant in Buddhism anyway. the one universal thought existing outside time However, it is my understanding that the Buddha took no position as to the existence/non-existence of a God who created everything we see, on the grounds that there is no way of knowing - at least within this life - for certain whether such a being exists. Thank you for following my blog. In reality, though, many horrors have been and continue to be perpetrated in the name of God or a specific religion or spiritual practice. The first of these, dukkha, teaches that every person is suffering in some way or the other. and return to God. The Mystic Law is also often compared to the law of gravity, in that it is invisible and impersonal and yet it shapes your whole life (including what happens to you, based on karma from previous lifetimes). Finally a refreshing and intelligent post on this topic on the internet. Buddhism Admittedly, I'm a beginner myself. There is a second sense, however, in which we can ask the question: Do Buddhists believe in gods. In Buddhist thinking, are there supernatural beings or entities beyond humanity? @ruben2020: very thorough and an interesting read, it helped a lot! Yet, at the same time, they are supposed to be supernatural, fundamentally different from human beings or anything on earth. I want to feel that the Mystic Law pulsates through my life. It is vital, however, to note here that these were still lives caught in the cycle of death and rebirth. In respect of our adventure towards world wide kosen-rufu, those who continue to try to ruin our efforts will eventually achieve nothing but misery and sorrow. Join our growing community of mindful writers, and contributors. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. These ideas are highly controversial among the Buddhist schools that do not hold to them. the universe is not your home. The Buddha used to remain silent, when Hindu Brahmins used to ask him about his views on God. Nature itself reveals so much about itself and is a very strong example of what you sow is what you reap. by Luke Wayne | Mar 28, 2016 | Buddhism, World Religions. Well, we are all seeing the manifest effect of all these causes right now and for that reason we must redouble our efforts. Nichiren Daishonin bestowed upon us all the Gohonzon of the Three Great Secret Laws, the wish-granting jewel which is the only means by which we can advance in eradicating the miserable karma of humankind. Note though that this could be the statement of hard-nosed materialists as well. questioned on what exactly might be the grounds for his statement, Buddha said the god-idea was a response to peoples fears and frustrations and encouraged his followers to replace irrational belief with a rational understanding of reality. But both provide such incredible ways to connect with God. We chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo to put ourselves in rhythm with it. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Instead, in Buddhism our liberation is always in our hands. in my book. Within that philosophical worldview, it is almost impossible to have any room for an atemporal, eternal, absolute truth. All religions or other theist-based systems are predicated upon the concept of faith, defined as the belief in a concept that cannot otherwise be defended by logic, reason, evidence, or science. According to the Cula-Malunkyavada Sutta in the Parable of the Poisoned Arrow, the speculation of the origin of cosmos or suffering or similar topics is not useful, because the more important and urgent matter is to attend to the topic of suffering. Theists often claim that their gods are perfect beings; they describe gods, however, in contradictory and incoherent ways. Why dont Buddhists believe in God? (or do they) - David Hare If God exists or God doesn't exist then either way it has no effect on the Buddha's path to end our suffering. Which Buddhist council included the conclusions that there is no creator-god and no day of judgment? Yet of course that was only half the story. Not only is what happened instead infinitely better for your life, but it then allows you to realize just how disastrous and wrong what you thought youd wanted would have turned out. Why a Buddhist may not believe in God For humanity must first see it was The limitless, vast, mysterious unconditioned which is not a distinct thing, but rather a description of reality itself as an inexplicable union.15Rodney Smith, Stepping Out of Self Deception (Shambhala Publications, 2010) 25 Behind our illusion of distinct objects, personal identities, and unchanging realities, there is what really is. Part of that journey involves reaching out in heart to heart dialogue with people of other faiths, people whose beliefs are, in some ways, not so different from Buddhism as we sometimes like to think. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. My parents had a lot of power over my life, but I can still be my own master - can't see that the two are necessarily connected. Mahayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism are two main groups of Buddhism. However,I believe that the Mystic Law is a more powerful concept for todays age than the idea of God. @GreenMatt Thanks for the heads-up but I don't see any argument in it at all (except maybe an implied argument that Buddhist need a reason for believing there is no creator), I read it as just a question. Hi Bernie @TheDBSGuy As an ordained Buddhist monk, it is not appropriate for me to discuss such personal matters. the physical universe, before it can forgive Buddhism not sure where I am going but I can see its not exactly all the same but its all the same placewe are headed toits clear to me Buddhism is quite complete and I find less tainted with Mans translation of Christs teachings. What you describe in terms of something 1,000 times better happening does in fact happen to Buddhists all the time. Unlike early Buddhists, both the Ajivikas and There is no divine creator god or supreme being in the Buddhist teachings, so that Buddhism is often called a nontheistic religion. Thank you. Best wishes, David, We had yet another wonderful discussion meeting this morning in which everybody gave sincere and convincing testimony of the actual proof gained from this supreme practice. They can't all be right, but, say, atheists, they can all be wrong. The different worlds in the Buddhist cosmos are also conditioned and experience change. Life Coach In early Buddhist cosmology, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth included heavenly lives as gods and demi-gods above humanity as well as torturous ghostly births on earth, considered lower than the animals.13Keith Yandell and Harold Netland, Buddhism: A Christian Exploration and Appraisal (IVP Academic, 2009) 21. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Are there spirits or gods in a sense more like those of the old pagan religions or even those in which the Hindus of Buddhas own culture believed? Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes the role model seen in Bodhisattvas, beings that have attained enlightenment but keep returning to earth to teach fellow humans. He used to give the example of a man carrying a lamp and walking along a village road in the night, trying to reach another village. PPS. How can we be sure that our logic or wisdom would suffice? If Buddhists do not believe in God in the Christian or monotheistic sense and are not to devote themselves to any god in the pagan or polytheistic sense, then is there anything in Buddhist doctrine and practice that might be called the Buddhist god? It was like taking the next step up and then receiving Gohonzon was so amazing like everything all fell into place. The historical Buddha began as an ordinary person, who gained awakening by Buddhists do not have a god because the Buddha taught a path to the end of suffering through a rational examination of what we can know through our own direct experience -- through our senses. CARM |P.O. Thanks for your wonderful blog. Great article, thanks for emphasising the similarities as well as the differences between Christianity and Buddhism. One can't say "the universe needs to have a creator because something had to create it" because they would also have to say "The creator needs to have a creator because something had to create the creator". Or he could be unhappy with his creation and punish them. The thing that really differs between god and myoho; the mystic law is that we are the controllers of it. Even here, however, this must be understood as an impersonal expression of reality as it is, operating not by a distinct will but only through the causal relations of impermanent things and transient states of being.21Ibid, 31 It is not a supreme being, but rather an indescribable truth that cannot be made clear by words, it can only be hinted at in parables.22Ibid, 33 Thus, the Buddhist God (if we are to speak of such a thing at all) is not a being but rather an indescribable reality which represents all that truly is and which is free from all suffering. I am Christian and becoming a Buddhist. He could decide to punish, and then change his mind and grant pardon. The hope of the Buddhist is to abandon any desire and indeed to lose his very self and for this reality to simply be. If someone is looking for a Christian-like god in Buddhism where the standard questions on atheism and theism apply, they should be looking at Amitabhism/Amidaism. Buddhism's chief concern is with the surcease of suffering and there's nothing within the Buddha's eight-fold methodology for ending suffering that requires a supreme being. This is its only aim and object. As stated earlier, Buddhists believe in a cycle of rebirths, where souls are understood to be born again into different bodies depending on how they conducted themselves in their past lives. Reasons Why Atheists Don't Believe in Gods - Learn As the Buddhist scholar Robert Thurman put it, Buddhism is an inner science, an empirical discipline for fulfilling our minds potential. With you all the way. This is a view that I have shared with every Buddhist teacher I have met. We believe our seeking minds led us to this practice and we equate it to this gosho passage: Be diligent in developing your faith until the last moment of your life. I believe that Buddhism is a more profound, complete, practical and inclusive philosophy than belief in an Abrahamic God. so yet a further step appears. Yes, in a sense, but we have to be careful how we define it. Hi David, Thank you for your interest in supporting CARM. News conference Operation Family Affair (June 26, 2023) @JonasBystrm Karma is a law on how eye & forms, ear & sounds, nose & aromas etc. Can you pack these pentacubes to form a rectangular block with at least one odd side length other the side whose length must be a multiple of 5. Thank you for putting into words on how I feel about this issue. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. As stated, it is argumentative. Karma can tell if you did an act intentionally or accidentally. From the perspective of Buddhism, such a being displays all the marks of conditioning, hence cannot be eternal or absolute. Whereas Buddhist chanting was about deciding and determining to be happy, all by yourself. This (here simplified) position is known as the unity of two truths. WebNo, we do not. the tree grows because of sunlight, water, dropping of seed, climate etc. Fine examples of the philosophical connectivity which supports the views I have expressed here, include dialogues, such as those between Lou Marinoff and Daisaku Ikeda that have been presented in The Inner Philosopher ISBN: 978-1-887917-09-4 To me it feels like a stretch to claim that even the pinnacle of humanity's wisdom and logic is comprehensive enough to easily grasp the ultimate questions. In short, you could argue that God is the Mystic Law, but with a beard on. Again, may I offer you my deepest appreciation for all your sincere efforts to bring about a situation where we can freely discuss these things. WebHowever, Buddhism is chock full of supernatural elements, including multiple gods as well as magic and miracles. It is in this power that I place hope for good life and for salvation; it is this power that I blame for unfairness etc. It left a very strong impression on me. Now assume that there is a Supreme Creator God. Most religions assert that there is more to life than the matter we see around us. I want to see myself in the mirror of the Gohonzon. The Buddha focused on the mind. We believe that each human being is precious and Otherwise you will have regrets. Sometimes, I also share. Being religious does not guarantee happiness or success, and, in fact, might work against an individual in the long run. I have not seen that quote from Sensei,very illuminating indeed! Especially as there were no concepts of sin, of guilt, or of what I saw as stifling obedience to an external power. That's why Buddhism is so compatible with other religions. As a follower of Jesus and a former Nichiren Buddhist, I am happy to say I experienced a major and liberating differences between Nichiren Buddhism and Christianity. This question is in need of some editing. I will be taking this wisdom down and writing it my book of notes. I think the question itself is based on a presupposition. I prompt an AI into generating something; who created it: me, the AI, or the AI's author? This all led to some overlyspiky debates with sincere Christians. On strict Buddhist teaching, it is counterproductive to appeal to them in prayer and offerings or to seek anything from them. If you have any issues, please call the office at 385-246-1048 or email us at [emailprotected]. Because it provides the upsides of both theistic and personal development teachings, but with none of their downsides. Hi Andi Over the past month or so, many Muslims on social media have been excited that Andrew Tate, a highly controversial CARM is a nonprofit, non-denominational, multi-staffed Christian Apologetics Ministry that supports evangelism, radio outreach, and provides full-time support for several foreign missionaries. What do gun control advocates mean when they say "Owning a gun makes you more likely to be a victim of a violent crime."? - Sabba sutta. As the sutra states: At all times I think to myself, How can I cause living beings to gain entry into the unsurpassed way and quickly acquire the body of a Buddha?. In other words, there is no single point of creation and destruction for the universe. Why Islam and not Hinduism? That power is the nature of the mind. D , I like all the comments,they make some of us stronger and continue to chant Nam ho renge kyo Kindly keep the enthusiasm David. Shakyamuni and Nichiren were Buddhas because they understand how life and the mystic Law work whether we like it or not I find that by letting go of my thoughts and just listening to daimoku that I can feel what you beautifully describe as the living experience of the Buddha in my heart. The think less, trust more approach Keep going, you will win! Buddhists are of the opinion that human life is one of suffering and that a few things, like physical labor, meditation, and good behavior help to achieve enlightenment or nirvana. And if you believe in a Law of Nature that governs how life works, you would recognise that it has to be omnipresent and omnipotent. Can anyone explain that any better. Are there conscious things besides merely men and animals? Why? This is the question Im asked. Because at the very core of Nichiren Buddhism and at the heart of the mantra Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is the small matter of the Mystic Law of Cause and Effect. Conditioning means something that is affected or influenced or conditioned by other things. Well done my friend. The idea is that there is not any distinct person that is you. Nothing exists that is separate from everything else or that persists over time. would say, 'Repudiating this All, I will describe another,' if It simply is and that is all that can be said about it.16Ibid, 25 It is not personal, and it is not distinct or separate from you or anything else. Buddhists do not believe in a personal, eternal creator God, though Buddhism allows for the existence of lesser, mortal gods. In some cultures, like Ancient Greece and Rome, the gods are nearly indistinguishable from human beings. The article Buddhism and the God-idea by intellect & ideas. (2023, April 5). WebNo, Buddhists dont believe in God. Buddhism is sometimes called an "atheistic" religion, although some of us prefer "non-theistic"--meaning that believing in a God or gods really isn't the point. Short story about a man sacrificing himself to fix a solar sail. This is the actual meaning of the word "sunna", that is, existence is only possible as an anarchy, simply because there is no ultimate "archon" (self) that exists in and of itself. For the rest of Buddhism, a good argument could be made that Karma is as sort of god like the one that atheists are disbelieving. They too were caught up in the world of pain and fluxthey were involved in the cycle of rebirth like all other beings and eventually, they would disappear. The Gosho says that the treasure tower is ourselves; that we should revere Myoho-Renge-Kyo within our own lives, but I cant see myself (at least consciously); my Buddha nature. Starting the Prompt Design Site: A New Home in our Stack Exchange Neighborhood, Statement from SO: June 5, 2023 Moderator Action. It was a great trip. 5, 2023, learnreligions.com/why-atheists-dont-believe-in-gods-248065. Hi there I am here to read different perspectives from people on life and spirituality. It would be too long to explain the subtleties here. And great to hear we are on the same page! it cannot be understood. Stack Exchange network consists of 182 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. But these ideologies and traditions aren't alleged to be divinely created or divinely sanctioned systems for following the wishes of a god. WebUnlike some other beliefs, Buddhists do not believe that a certain god will appear in this world at some future date to destroy the wicked, unsaved people and to protect the good all best, David. So there is no discussion of higher powers. Since then, after decades of practicing Nichiren Buddhism, I can understand the comparison of God to the Mystic Law, but for the fact that prayer to God is begging an outside force, prayer in the Mystic Law is making a determination from our own lives. Do Buddhists Believe in God, Heaven and Hell? - Buddhism Info The impermanence of all things is, in fact, understood (along with suffering and the absence of a real personal self) to be one of the three marks of all existence.6Houston Smith and Philip Novak Buddhism: A Concise Introduction (HarperCollins Publishers, 2003) 56-57 An unchanging, eternal God contradicts such a cosmos. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. It only takes a minute to sign up. OSPF Advertise only loopback not transit VLAN, Measuring the extent to which two sets of vectors span the same space. one collective thought that initiated Thank you Ronnie for this interesting perspective on grace and karma. Ultimately, these two, in practice and philosophy are polar opposites. Cline, Austin. 7 Why dont Buddhists believe in God? "Why Don't Atheists Believe in Gods?" As the sutra states Since hatred and jealousy abound during his lifetime, how much worse will it be after his passing. The question about if Amitabha is a story that we just made up isn't even addressed. This is an essential point to be borne in mind with respect to Rissho Ankoku and the establishment of kosen-rufu. However, because the relative is subsumed in the absolute - not opposed to it - we can't deny existence of the relative either. What they deny is existence of independent "I" in the absolute sense. We'd love to keep you up to date with what is happening at CARM. I respect my wonderful Buddhist friends (and I have many) so there is no disrespect intended here. Buddhists do not believe in any kind of god or deity although they believe there are supernatural figures that help or hold back people from the path towards enlightenment. Buddhism is not compatible with belief in a personal God that is distinct from His creation, has a sovereign will and plan for mankind, or whose grace can deliver one from guilt and suffering. It is about this state of being, this understanding of reality. thank you for taking the time to share your very well informed comment, I must go and re-read the Rissho Ankoku, it has been too long! Jen, that is a very inspiring attitude that you have developed through your daimoku, absolute proof that when faced with obstacles, the wise rejoice and the foolish retreat. All best, David, Hi David: What is the term for a thing instantiated by saying it? My fellow Nichiren Buddhist blogger, Seleus Blelis, gives some great insights on Buddhism and God in her Lotus Flower blog:http://lotusflowersgi.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/do-nichiren-buddhist-believe-in-god.htmlAlso anawesome poston this topic from Robbie Warwick Lockie. Once you strip away all these false perceptions of yourself and the world, and there is nothing left to desire and no one left to desire it, there is only what simply is, and this is Nirvana. And from this come the various personalities attributed by different writers to God loving, wrathful, creative, judgemental and so on. What is opinion of Nichiren Buddhism on the concept of a Creator or Supreme Being? "Buddha does not claim to be a creator of lives or the Universe. If you travel for eleven but stop with only one day remaining, how can you admire the moon over the capital? (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1027, Letter to Niike, Written to Niike Saemon-no-jo in February 1280), Thank you Paula for this excellent story. So I can express such wisdom with even a fraction of the authority delivered here. In early Buddhist scriptures, the Buddha doesnt have "Since Human beings have a limited life and limited capabilities it is better to optimise their uses " -- this was the thinking of the Buddha. David. Because to create something from something else means to go against the law of cause and effect. In order for the "die-hard materialist" to use the Sabbasutta they have to first redefine the mind and the mind's objects, dharmas, since they do not believe these things "exist" as the Buddha has said they do. What are the differences/similarities in the concept of faith as used in Buddhism and Christianity? Like you, I have always said that if someone can show me a more effective practice than Nichiren Buddhism, I will follow it What was the symbol used for 'one thousand' in Ancient Rome? We are supposed to have faith and just believe it because it is beyond our imagination, but I would like to have some experiential understanding. There is little scientific evidence to support it (contrary to reincarnation). Also, a God seems personal, full of compassion (or anger), but the Mystic Law is so impersonal that I sometimes can not relate to it. The Do Buddhist believe in god? - BuddhaNet Also, your answer could be a little more more precise. As described in this answer, the Acela Sutta states that the Buddha teaches neither eternalism nor annihilationism, but the middle way in terms of philosophy. Do Buddhists Pray My last teacher said: "Utilize God". David. An unusual question! Transcript Original Video: Why dont you believe in God? Gods' Contradictory Characteristics: Making God Impossible to Exist. David. The upside of the personal development movement and of interventions such as mindfulness (that have filled the vacuum left by God in recent years) is that we recognise our own brilliance. The oneness of self and environment and several other teachings in Buddhism (teachings of life) expound on how our Karma has the ability to change and is not static as fate portrays.
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