Is Buddha demonic?

Question

Someone said Buddha was demonic. Is this because he didn't talk about the existence of God? Because he never knew about (and so never accepted Jesus)?

And if he was 'demonic' what does that mean please?

Views please! Though please keep it polite and preferably longer than a couple of words. I want to know what you think, not just if you agree or not.

Thank you!

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AisdQ32Rok5z5nRa.XLBOH5FLxV.?qid=20070322023525AAcVVSM

Answer 1

Most fundementalist christians have no understanding of Buddhism at all. I have heard over and over people saying that Buddhists worship Buddha. They think that he claimed to be god. This is a total falsehood. It is amazing to me how little they know. Even more amazing is how little almost everyone in America knows about Buddhism.

I have seen a couple of people here say that they don't need to know anything about other belief systems as they know their religion is the only true one. Such closemindedness is terrifying to me. I think it does not show faith, but a great LACK of faith. They have to put up walls around their mind to keep them from thinking too much.

Answer 2

I think you won't ask such questions if you had really gone through the life of Buddha, the compassionate one. He is the personification of compassion. He pleaded for a lamb in the court of King while a great sacrificial ritual was in progress where the dumb animals are to be sacrificed for God. Buddha pleaded that the little lamb is as dear to God as all the human beings and God will not relish the food offerings of the king with the slaughtered meat of the lamb. Thus the king was prevented from the great sacrificial rituals. He turned the murderous thief 'Angulimala' into a virtuous human being by his loving sermon. Probably those who are ignorant about the great Buddha might have used such horrendous word to depict him. Read and decide. nagarajan.

Answer 3

Your correct. The man who founded Buddhism did not know about Jesus Christ. The first thing to remember is that Buddha is not a person. It is a state of enlightenment. Budd ism was started 543 years before the birth of Christ which why he is not mentioned. That is also why the year in Thailand is officially 2550. A state of enlightenment can hardly be demonic so I think your source was guessing. If you look at the web site below it will give you the basic start to Buddhism.

Answer 4

According to Tibetan theory...

Tibetan artwork is often done by Buddhist monks. They use visual images to explain the dharma, instead of words.

I have been told by a Tibetan scholar that the wrathful deities are really the same deities that are depicted as being peaceful. The difference is not in identify, but in circumstance/time.

So, the Buddha can be thought of as "demonic", in a matter of speaking. It's important to realize that the wrathful deities are stomping on the egos of the people they are wrathful to. The common depiction of bodies under the Deity's feet is meant to depict the egos that are shattered by the harsh awaking of a person. The skulls in the Deity's crown, and on his necklace, are meant to represent the death, and therefore, rebirth of those being stomped on.

It's also important to remember that death and birth are partners, and are inseparable. It all makes sense. Get it?

Answer 5

For me Buddha is not demonic at all. He planted the seeds of a very peaceful religion, which teaches man of himself, what man is. I think Buddha never wanted to talk of God existence because it was irrelevant: when one - as Buddha did - reaches enlightenment one knows of the existence and union with God, if the person is too far away from enlightenment there is no use of talking of God, that person would never really understand.
This is what I think from what I have learnt from Buddhism, but I am not Buddhist therefore please take this as my personal reasoning.
p.s. there is truth and beauty in every religion, it is the search of man for what is above us and incomprehensible to us. If one is true with himself he cannot be evil.

Answer 6

Demonic??? To have the label of a Demon you have to be scorned and out casted.

You have to be a God/Spirit who lives by your true nature, true will whether it is malevolent or benevolent. You have be your true self, honestly and without hypocrisy. Demons are Gods of the left hand paths. Dark Masters. Teachers.

Buddha is not Demonic since he was never out casted as such. He chose the middle path which leads no where literally. Nirvana is a state of non existence.

Answer 7

Buddha was a man - how could be be demonic? That's ridiculous. I don't believe in or accept Jesus or God either, does that make me demonic? (Of course there are some rabid types on here who would say it does, but I think the average intelligent person would realise that it doesn't.)

Answer 8

This is first time I have heard someone speak degradingly about Buddha. Though I am not a Buddhist but I like to know about other religions and what they preach. I am greatly pained to see that though all the prophets had only human welfare on their minds, their followers have been distorting their preaching to suit their ends.

Buddha, the enlightened one as he is referred to, relinquished a life of luxury(he was a prince) in search of meaning of life. Unlike most other preachers, he was a seeker not a know-all. He never claimed that he was son of God or his followers will go to heaven while others will rot in hell. His path leads you to be one with nature and seek your true self. Now is that demonic??????

The real tragedy is the refusal of christians to acknowledge any other prophet but Jesus (whom they refer to as son of God). They most definitely are not open-minded people.

Answer 9

The Lord Buddha was hardly demonic, please pardon my need to chuckle...../chuckles here/....heavens to Betsy, such misunderstanding and all over one person's statement, goodness me, it should be obvious to all now how small actions lead to large consequence. A good Buddhist lesson to be learned here.

The Lord Buddha was born many centuries before the birth of Jesus. God's were known at that time yet he rejected worship of them because worshipping them did not bring an ease to the suffering he witnessed. For many years he searched for the way to end this suffering, eventually finding the answer at age 35, from which time he taught his method to others so that they too could enjoy living suffering free. Hardly demonic behaviour.

/chuckles again/

Peace from a Buddhist....(good gracious..what a question!!)

Answer 10

I am a Christian but I have always said that if you do not believe in a supreme being then Buddhism was the best alternative for a way of life. Following its tenets will put you on a holy path. I believe that God will reward good Buddhists in heaven.