What is Buddha's Views on God(s)?
Easter took place about a week ago and it brought up this question...What is Buddha's view on God? Let me state a few perspectives I've gleaned over a short period:
-Buddha did acknowledge the presence of devas, or "god-like" beings that had control over certain realms.
-These devas were also governed by karmic forces.
-In some sense, the devas were actually further from enlightenment due to the fact that their position puts them into more of a deluded state.
-I believe there were passages that stated Buddha actually spoke to these Gods or the highest one of them all Brahma and questioned the idea of his omnipotence.
In the end, questions of the supernatural were not the focus of Buddhism because they do not eliminate suffering. In moments of inspiration or inexplicable joy, are all of these attributed to illusions created by the mind? Is there a place for the divine in Buddhism?
Thoughts?
-Buddha did acknowledge the presence of devas, or "god-like" beings that had control over certain realms.
-These devas were also governed by karmic forces.
-In some sense, the devas were actually further from enlightenment due to the fact that their position puts them into more of a deluded state.
-I believe there were passages that stated Buddha actually spoke to these Gods or the highest one of them all Brahma and questioned the idea of his omnipotence.
In the end, questions of the supernatural were not the focus of Buddhism because they do not eliminate suffering. In moments of inspiration or inexplicable joy, are all of these attributed to illusions created by the mind? Is there a place for the divine in Buddhism?
Thoughts?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by anyon on -
That's a very interesting topic that applies to the daily life in a predominantly christian country like U.S. To develop a broader horizon of the worlds is very essential and basic step to become a Buddhist, and I guess almost every Buddhist is familiar with the Buddhist cosmology which constitutes of 3 big worlds and 28 realms in them. The world in the Earth that we, as humans, can sense, is just a small piece of it. Since this small piece is full of the hierarchies, the other more prevailing realms are sure to have more powerful leader. Since we, as human world, is subordinate to these worlds, the leaders there thus have some deep influences on some of us. This hierarchy, as a matter of fact, comes into shape due to the Karma. Human, with all the ridiculous deeds, is by no means better than the Brahmas.
About
Photos
© 2009 Created by Ryan Vong on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
