As more ppl is worshipping him rather than following his teaching.
2007-04-21 15:01:28 · 16 answers · asked by Didie C 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Buddhists do not worship The Buddha or the statue of The Buddha, but merely show respect and are thankful for the teachings he brought to mankind, especially those within the Four Noble Truths AND The
Noble Eightfold Path.
Buddhists recognise, by through the words
The Buddha himself said, that he is not a god, or a prophet of a god, but a teacher, who was concerned about helping mankind understand the causes of their sufferings, and showed us how to put an end once and for all to our sufferings. As we lesson our sufferings in life - selfish attachments in life, we acquire some peace of mind and happiness. When we finally end all our sufferings - all our Selfish Attachments in life
then we reach the Highest, eternal Happiness - Nirvana/Nibanna.
- Encourage you to speak, directly to Practicing Buddhists, to really see if they
worship The Buddha or not - Buddhists do not worship him, but Do Follow his wise skillful Teachings, and are Thankful for those Teachings.
2007-04-21 19:02:14 · answer #1 · answered by Thomas 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Buddhists NEVER considered Buddha as a God. Those who knew the teachings of Buddhism never even needed an image of Buddha in order to practice his teachings.
We kneel and bow before his image as an act of respect, not worshipping. This is the old way of paying respect to our teachers/parents and symbolically, it is done for three counts, for the first, the Buddha, second his teachings and third, the Sangha -the order of monks... the ones who represent the Buddha, his teachings and the Arahants, perfectly enlightened ones.
Though Buddhists do make offerings of incense, lights, fruits and so forth as act of devotion/symbolic, and it is more of a cultural practice rather than anything else. We know that the Buddha don't need those kind of food for consumption nor even the deities need them (as mentioned in the scriptures, our food is not deemed 'suitable' for the celestial beings).
2007-04-23 04:05:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sakyamuni Siddhartha Gautama Buddha [whom I guess you are referring to] was the Teacher of the Eightfold Path which is a practical guideline to ethical and mental development with the goal of freeing the individual from attachments and delusions; and it finally leads to understanding the truth about all things. Together with the Four Noble Truths it constitutes the gist of Buddhism. Buddha, incidentally translates as the "Enlightened One" - a title he was given for his having found the Path to Nirvana or the Final Release by his efforts. That, however, is a Concept I fear is beyond the ken of one who would ask such a question. However, since this is a Concept which is very difficult for one who comes from the background of the Desert Messianic Faiths, permit me to enlighten you that in the Oriental Philosophies [because they aren't exactly Religions like the ones from the Deserts] consider all things [not just the Human Beings, but also all the flora and fauna and even the trees and inanimate objects] to be a part of the Universal Consciousness that you call God. So, from that viewpoint, Buddha is as much God as you are. All the best.
2016-05-20 23:06:16 · answer #3 · answered by karol 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People prays to him for his blessing since Buddha promised blessing and protection for all who ask it from him and his students. While worshiping gods means that you also loves god and fears gods' wrath. Buddha watches over people but gods judge poeple. When people regrets for what they've done, although Buddha cannot protect them from their karma ,he and his students will help them and guide them throught it. That is why he is no God but a great teacher.
2007-04-24 09:33:45 · answer #4 · answered by holyfire 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How do you know that more people are worshiping Buddha, rather than following his teaching? What is your source of information? Please add this to your additional details.
2007-04-22 12:32:07 · answer #5 · answered by Teaim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The very term "buddha" means "enlightened". Buddha was born into a priviledged family; his father gave him 3 mansions and 40,000 dancing girls. His only quest in life was to find out the meaning of suffering. He sought to find out about suffering; the cause of suffering; the cessation of suffering and the path to eliminating suffering by following the eightfold path. Once he sought the answers he was looking for he felt thaat he had become enlightened by the answers he found.
Buddhism began as a heresy within Hinduism....various Hindu sects had risen up to try to avoid reincarnating from one life into another and into more and more lives in order to be free from reincarnation and into Nirvana.
2007-04-21 15:33:29 · answer #6 · answered by The Carmelite 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. Buddha merely claimed to be awakened, or enlightened as the western world is more familiar with the term.
2007-04-21 15:13:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, I would not consider buddha to be a God or my God.
2007-04-21 15:15:44 · answer #8 · answered by jrealitytv 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Buddha was a teacher. Buddhists do not worship him.
2007-04-21 15:09:06 · answer #9 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
No, traditionally the Buddha isn't a God in Buddhism, those are the Deva class, e.g. Brahman
2007-04-21 15:04:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋