What is the God concept, according to Buddhists ?

Question

I will share with you "What Buddhists believe
concerning the God-concept."

People from Judeo-Christian backgrounds especially have asked often if Buddhists
believe in "God". This depends on what is meant by the word "God", for there is a diversity of opinions in the Judeo-Christian world about who or what God is !!

If by the word "God" we refer to the principle of love and compassion, then yes, Buddhists do actually accept those principles. Love and compassion are the essential core of The Buddha's Teachings. Many similarities exist between The Buddhas" Teachings (from 2,500 years ago), and Jesus' Teachings (from 2,000
years ago) in this regard.
If we take "God" to refer to one who has infinate love, and wisdom and who is free of vengeance and partiality, then yes, actually
Buddhists do accept this principle. Love, wisdom, patience, forgiveness and imparitality are qualities of ALL of the Buddhas.
If "God" is used to refer to a creator, then Buddhists have a different, more logical view.
Their view is not based on blind faith.
From a Buddhists logical view, there was no beginning to the continuities of physical matter and consciousness. Since many logical difficulties arise if the existence of a creator is
posited, Buddhists propose a logical alternative.
Buddhists do believe that our mind, was "not" created by another being or by
God, because consciousness cannot be created out of nothing. Furthermore, why would a God create us? Surely there is No logical reasoning to create suffering or even to create beings who have the potential to degenerate from perfection into sufferings. "Buddhists believe that if the cause(God) is perfect, its result(its creation) should also be perfect and without suffering; so the creation of a perfect God should be perfect. If created beings have the potential to degenerate, then they are not
perfect." Reason and Logic are Necessary!
Buddhists do not accept the ideas of original sin, or of an eternal damnation. Nor is a blind faith sufficient alone to attain Peace. Buddhists
live they're life based on logic alone.
But it Must be emphasized, however, that Buddhists see the plurality of religious beliefs
and practices as beneficial. Since people do not think in the same way, a diversity of beliefs enables a person to select a system that helps him or her live a more wholesome, better life.
Thus Buddhists emphasize the importance of Patience toward all human beings and the necessity of religious tolerance.
Also, many who do not have or practice any religiousity, but demonstrate many good morals and ethics which they live by with a clear conscious, are respected, and shown patience and tolerance by all Buddhists.

I hope this gave you and others out in Yahoo Land, a clear understanding on Who & What God is, from a Buddhists viewpoint.

Happy Holidays to you and to everyone out there.

From: An R.N. with a Master's Degree - having
over 32 years in the Psychiatric Field.

Some helpful information for anyone who

struggles with anger !

There is an Excellent book out
called:

"Working with Anger."
BY: Thubten Chodron.

It gives healthy, wholesome alternatives, and techniques to use to overcome anger, and to cultivate Patience.

Answer 1

Couldn't wait for someone to ask you, huh?
Nice theology and all, but this is a Q&A site. Not actually a pulpit. While I agree with the Buddhist philosophy, I would rather not see this type of thing here unless it is part of the spirit of the site.

Answer 2

Hello =)

I am something of an open-minded Buddhist....

Lord Shakyamuni (THE historical Buddha of our time) never said that any god did not exist. He venerated all of the Indian gods of the time...Brahma, Shiva, and Indra, in particular. What he had to say about them, mostly, however, was that Brahma, who was considered the Indian "creator" deity "was not the builder of this house"....

By that, he meant that he accepted the people's beliefs in their gods, but totally disagreed with the concept of a god of "independent origination" or a "creator god" of any sort. Brahmins of the time, who continued to believe in their Brahma god, but accepted the teachings of Shakyamuni, considered that Brahma arose out of conditions of Karma, and, in the formation of the universe, played a role in its creation, by uttering the "word" -- OM...

I find this an interesting parallel to the Judeo-Christian Concept of "In the beginning was the word, and he spoke into being the heavens and the earth"........

I find that there is room for the beliefs of any other religion within the "sphere" of Buddhism, and that Buddhism is not exclusive of any other religion. One's beliefs may have to be "tweaked" a bit, in that it is important to know that nothing, not even a creator god can exist without condition or cause. But aside from that, all else is reconcilable.

Namaste, and Happy Holidays....

--Tom

Answer 3

sturdy for you! yet you could no longer say that that is an R.N. with a grasp's degree having over 32 years in the Psychiatric field as a source! Do you surely understand what the only whom you talked to is attempting to permit you be attentive to?

Answer 4

Whoa, that's an answer not a question. They don't really have a god, they worship Buddha, with meditation.