There "are" Buddhists who worship the Buddha.
The Mahayana Buddhists worship him and his 10 deciples.
So why do people say that Buddhists "don't" worship the Buddha?
2007-03-11 22:25:53 · 11 answers · asked by ? 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Buddhism is about reaching enlightenment yourself, not worshipping a deity.
Buddha is an example of one who's reached enlightenment and Buddists can look to him for guidance; that is different from worshipping an all-powerful being.
2007-03-11 22:46:11 · answer #1 · answered by mgerben 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hmmmm....good point. I think people say it because to say that Buddhist worship Buddha then makes people believe that Buddhist view Buddha as a deity, which they do not. Buddhists always say that the Buddha was a great teacher and that they revere and honor his teachings and him. In this way we'd say that they worship Buddha. However it seems that when you say that Buddhists worship Buddha that then Buddha because deified in peoples minds. Except that Buddhists do not view Buddha as a deity (no more than Jains view Mahavira as a deity...instead they view him as a great teacher...or as they call their teachers "ways across the river"....and now say that his existence is as a perfect soul). Instead it is Hindus that deified Buddha as an incarnation of God. In a way Hindus and Buddhists both worship Buddha, it's just that when a Buddhist worships Buddha it is a way of showing respect, reverence, and honor to a great and enlightened teacher for his teachings while when a Hindu worships Buddha it's not just as a great guru but as an incarnation of God.
Just my humble opinion. Peace be with you.
2007-03-11 22:45:51 · answer #2 · answered by gabriel_zachary 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The Buddha is a teacher, and honored; not a prophet who is worshipped. There is a profound difference, and sometimes the ways of honoring him are confused by those who worship a deity.
2007-03-12 00:25:03 · answer #3 · answered by Bill K Atheist Goodfella 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because (and I may be wrong because I'm not a Buddhist) but their way of worship is more akin to honoring and having admiration.
2007-03-11 22:30:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
And there are Christians who are snake charmers and speak in tongues. What's your point?
Buddhism, by design, is a godless religion. If anything, it's a philosophy. Buddha did not want to be worshipped and did not consider himself a deity. It is those that put him up on a pedestal that worship him.
And to A2Z: Please be so kind as to not cut and paste drivel like that. Talk about intolerance. Buddhism a deviant philosophy? Yeah.. When you can point out radical Buddhists killing for their "god" by blowing up busses, trains, buildings and masques, I'll believe you.
2007-03-11 22:31:43 · answer #5 · answered by umwut? 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Because most don't worship him as a deity
2007-03-11 22:27:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Huh.... A Muslim hating on Buddhism. That's a new one to me, anyway.
2007-03-11 22:41:36 · answer #7 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
depends how you define "worship." imho, it's not like taking jesus into your heart or faith in God.
2007-03-11 22:28:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
i thought budhists dont actually worship budha? im not(wasnt) one so i wouldnt know really.
2007-03-11 22:38:20 · answer #9 · answered by lnfrared Loaf 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
buddhists worship hindu gods.
2007-03-11 22:31:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 8⤋