18
votes
Accepted
Does God exist in Buddhism?
Unfortunately, this is one of the first questions people ask, especially if they are coming from a theistic background. As a result, many who require the belief of a 'God' as a precondition, turn away ...
- 25.7k
17
votes
Why do Buddhists believe there is no creator?
For most people God is a dualistic concept. Meaning, for a typical person the unspoken assumption is: "I am here and God is over there". So when I think about God, when I speak to God -- I inevitably ...
- 58.3k
12
votes
Accepted
Why do Buddhists believe there is no creator?
First, some canonical background:
According to the Acintita Sutta, speculating on the origin of the cosmos or similar topics will lead one to confusion i.e. it cannot be understood.
According to the ...
- 37.4k
11
votes
Accepted
Are there Goddesses in Buddhism? If yes, who are they?
I'll answer in two parts-- what sort of looks like a god in Buddhism and which of those are female.
Early Buddhism didn't see gods as important to solving their fundamental problem of ending ...
- 7,121
10
votes
Why do Buddhists believe there is no creator?
"Monks, I will teach you the All. Listen & pay close attention. I will
speak."
"As you say, lord," the monks responded.
The Blessed One said, "What is the All? Simply the eye & ...
- 25.7k
9
votes
Is the Buddha God?
The Dona Sutta might be helpful:
On one occasion the Blessed One was traveling along the road between
Ukkattha and Setabya, and Dona the brahman was also traveling along
the road between ...
- 2,592
9
votes
Would Buddhists object if Gautama Buddha were seen as a Prophet by Islam
You see friend, it's a sad state of affairs. Even the Buddhists of this site reject your respect of our teacher on the grounds that your faith is wrong in their eyes. And if your faith is "wrong&...
- 58.3k
7
votes
God in Buddhism
Buddhism is agnostic: it makes no claims about the existence (or non-existence) of any god. The Buddhas (for there were several aside from the eponymous Gautama) were merely those who are sufficiently ...
- 5,015
6
votes
Why do Buddhists believe there is no creator?
For completeness, there isn't one Buddhism, there are many Buddhisms. The other questions already address the Buddhisms with either no god or no interesting and relevant gods.
By a process of ...
- 7,121
6
votes
Accepted
Did the Buddha know God?
The God you speak of, is known as the Great Brahma or Mahabrahma, the first being to appear in the Mahabrahma plane, when the world expands again. Also, take a look at the 31 planes of existence.
The ...
- 37.4k
5
votes
Why do Buddhists believe there is no creator?
The Buddha used to remain silent, when Hindu Brahmins used to ask him about his views on God. He used to give the example of a man carrying a lamp and walking along a village road in the night, trying ...
- 157
5
votes
Accepted
Saying May God Bless you
Just think of the flip side of it @Akila… If the patient is a devout Buddhist.. still almost all will say "may god bless you" at the time of leaving. Will they ever say "Namo Buddhaya" when arriving, ...
- 9,695
5
votes
Accepted
Is Maha Brahma a GOD?
Maha Brahma is a realm, and not “A GOD”. Any living being (including each of us) has been in all realms in this beginningless sansara. We have been at the highest (except the five pure abodes in rupa ...
- 9,695
5
votes
Can a non-Buddhist get Nirvana?
Attaining Nirvana is not about labeling one self as Buddhist. To attain Nirvana you should follow the path to Nirvana. Any body following this path will reach the destination regardless of what they ...
4
votes
Why do Buddhists believe there is no creator?
Admittedly, I'm a beginner myself. 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 ...
- 855
4
votes
Are there rules that prevent chaos in our world?
My scientific education tells me that:
The world is as it is and behaves as it does (and is observed by people).
People (scientists) observe that behaviour and then invent rules which describe (or ...
- 46.3k
4
votes
Do the gods help us if we pray to them according to Buddhism?
As the common saying goes: "god(s) help those who help themselves", if the gods could help someone, it'd be only in accordance with that individual's wholesome kamma. Someone who kills, ...
- 9,707
4
votes
Life after death
We have to all believe that we at least have this life let alone past or future lives. In Buddhism one thing connected or leading to the final goal is to develop revolution towards you aggregated ...
4
votes
Is the Buddha God?
Is the Buddha God?
No. Although in Mahayana, the Buddha gains qualities of a God such as immortality and superpowers. But these are the same immortality and qualities than anyone who successfully ...
- 7,121
4
votes
Does God exist in Buddhism?
The answer is yes, but in a different way.
Maha Brahma, Great Brahma:
Maha Brahma really exists, but his existence is viewed as temporary and impermanent, He is an extremely powerful being who ...
- 868
4
votes
Gods realm, how do you get out? Achieve Nibbana in this realm?
From the perspective of the old Pali scriptures, I am not aware of anywhere that states: "It is more difficult to achieve nibbana in the a godly realm than in the human realm".
For example, AN 4.123 ...
- 40.5k
4
votes
Why Buddha said "There is No God" and Later "There is God"?
In Buddhism there are deities and Brahma living in the 31 planes of existence. But unlike many other religions they are not almighty and of infinite life. They are also in the cycle of Samsana and are ...
4
votes
Is this nibbana or god?
That is Nibbana, and not god or Brahman or any kind of Ultimate Reality. It is that which is experienced by the mind, when it is completely free of all fetters and defilements.
I quote from this ...
- 37.4k
4
votes
What is the meaning behind the concept of "gods" in Buddhism?
In his commentary of MN 49, Ven. Thanissaro wrote:
It is a play on the word brahma, which is not only a noun denoting the
highest levels of devas, but also an adjective meaning "of great or
high ...
- 37.4k
3
votes
Are there rules that prevent chaos in our world?
They are called the Five Niyamas. Simply put, they are all processes of causes and effect. If the causes are present, there's an appropriate effect. If the causes are not present, there's no effect. ...
- 25.7k
3
votes
Are there Goddesses in Buddhism? If yes, who are they?
Depending on who you ask, Buddhism does or doesn't have Goddesses. The issue is complex because people define these terms differently, and Buddhism often co-opted the practices of the cultures in ...
- 2,229
3
votes
How does Buddhism describe God?
There is no “God” in Buddhism. The idea of (capital G) “God” — one single being who created the universe — is from Abrahamic religion. There is not one of anything in Buddhism. There is not even just ...
- 131
3
votes
A man asks Buddha about god's existence
I have never read or heard of this story before. The Buddha did not teach Buddhists to seek or worship 'god' (Brahma). Further, the scriptures report the Buddha said to Brahmans that no Brahman ...
- 40.5k
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