I am NOT asking a question that has anything to do with christianity! Please, no jesus stuff.
2006-10-02 10:31:39 · 14 answers · asked by kardea 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In the Dhammapada, in the chapter "The World", there are a couple references to heaven. In this context what is being refered to?
"the world in dark, few only can see here, a few only go to heaven
"better than sovereignty over the earth, better than going to heaven"
2006-10-03 01:52:33 · update #1
No, there is no "heaven" or "hell" in Buddhist belief. Buddhists believe that there is no individual soul that exists after death--either you reach Nirvana, or you are reincanated as another life form. What you are reincarnated as depends on your karma and your actions in your previous life. For Buddhists, the closest thing to hell is being stuck in a cycle of continuous reincarnation and unable to attain Nirvana.
2006-10-02 10:39:11 · answer #1 · answered by the cat who went to heaven 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not in the way Christians understand those words. Buddhists believe in Karma, which means the effects of your actions will eventually come back to you. So that if you do evil deeds, although you think you may profit from them here, that is an illusion and you are, in fact acquiring bad Karma.
Bad deeds illustrate an attachment to egoistical desires, which is characterized with matter, the low, etc... You, in fact, become what you desire through Karma. So that a bad life will lead to a lower incarnation. The "hell" which you create in this way is a "hell" of illusion which is sustained by your bad desires and actions.
The main difference between Judeo-Christian religions and Buddhism in this respect is that Buddhists don't see Hell as a final judgment from above. A being can always be redeemed. What Buddha teaches is liberation from false desires that lead into these hells. The Buddha is a being of infinite compassion and His ultimate purpose is to see all being eventually liberated from the Hell of the cycle of reincarnations.
Heaven, on the other hand, is known as Nirvana, it is a state in which one has liberate oneself from selfish desires and has become free from the cycle of incarnations.
2006-10-02 10:38:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are several different types of Buddhism. There are versions of "hell" that one may pass through on the way to reincarnation in some forms of Buddhism.
2006-10-02 10:33:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Buddhism is not a religion. Some really dumb Buddhists might practice a religion that teaches heaven and hell, but I've not yet met one of them.
2006-10-02 10:33:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Depends on your definition of heaven and hell. Some do, some don't. That isn't really part of the belief system, but you can incorporate it, if you like.
2006-10-02 10:37:56 · answer #5 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they believe in Nirvana, a kind of purgatory that releases you from the cycle of rebirth, or reincarnation. Nirvana isn't a place though, it's a state of mind. We just studied it in History class. Hope it helps. : )
2006-10-02 10:34:48 · answer #6 · answered by 90210 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is my understanding that they believe heaven and hell are the same thing.... Just at different ends of the spectrum
2006-10-02 10:33:55 · answer #7 · answered by miss_ruby_topaz 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They believe you have to follow the seven paths to enlightenment.
2006-10-02 10:33:08 · answer #8 · answered by william b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in a nut shell 'YES' its called life on earth for some
2006-10-02 11:02:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, we don't. No creator either. Creator and creation are the same thing. All is one.
2006-10-02 10:33:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋