Please forgive my ignorance of Buddhism. Plus I am not very good with words. I am Lutheran. I had a talk with my mother today, and asked her is it possible that Buddhists also believe in a Higher Power. Christians have a statue of Jesus in our churches as do Buddhists in there's. I don't believe for one minute that God would send all Asians or any other nationality to hell just because. He is to Kind, Merciful, Forgiving, and Carring God. Bottom line; "Do Buddhists believe in a Higher Power? Once again, PLEASE forgive my ignorance. But I just have to know. Thanks a lot for your answers.
2007-04-23 14:09:54 · 9 answers · asked by I feel better 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The historical Buddha was a Indian prince by the name of Siddartha Guatama. There are many statues of him and of many other Buddha's. Buddha is not a specific person but a term for someone who achieved a certain degree of enlightenment. Siddartha reached that level and is thus referred to as a Buddha. You do not worship a Buddha. The statue of a Buddha is to remind one of one's goal to seek enlightenment and to lead a good life of love and compassion for all creatures. So in some ways it is similar to the statues of Jesus because they are to remind us of our goals. But unlike Jesues the "Buddha" is not considered divine in same way that a Christian would consider it.
2007-04-23 15:01:16 · answer #1 · answered by Illusion 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Statues of Buddha and his students or pictures are used to remind people the mercy of Buddha. People respects Buddha and makes his statues and pictures to remember him. There are many higher beings in Buddhism but their role is not important. When Buddhists practices Buddha's teaching, fate will be altered and Gods have no influence on them. Buddha is a great teacher, not God. And also higher power in Buddhism not mean Gods can do anything they want as the creator in Old Testament. Gods can only act based on the karma of people and serve to reserve justice in earth.
2007-04-24 05:38:35 · answer #2 · answered by holyfire 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the jesus statue in Brazil was named one of the seven wonders of the world, thats pretty big. plus Jesus didnt make his own statue so what does that have to do with being powerful? also buddhism is a lifestyle, not a religion, buddha never claimed to be all powerful, people just made his statues really big.
2016-05-17 08:12:47 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In General term.... no ......Buddhist does not believe in a higher being, but view all sentinel beings including humans, insect, animals as unawakened buddha.
In Buddha's view, all beings are equal. Buddha and Humans and even Insect have the same buddha's nature, hence they are all equal. The only difference is if Buddha has awaken his buddha's nature, while other being has not. But base on buddhism, all beings will one day be a buddha.
2007-04-23 14:19:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have an uncle that's a Buddist and he said the most profound and peaceful thing I've ever heard come from a religous point of view. He said that Buddists believe that there are many paths and that the key is finding the one that's right for you and that as long as you're on a path that is positive, productive and not self-destructive you're on the right path. They believe that it's the Higher Power that directs you once you've found your path.
2007-04-23 14:17:03 · answer #5 · answered by Kris879 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, buddhists believe in a higher power. Buddhism is about a higher power.
2007-04-23 14:16:13 · answer #6 · answered by jazzband08 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Buddhist believe that you must be enlighten to escape the struggle of death and rebirth...
Gautama Sidhartha was so enlighten that he became part of FO, which is an energy beyond Earth and beyond Heaven...
It is almost like the idea of "God"...but FO has no desire to make judgement upon anyone. FO does not love or hate, it has no emotion at all...Yet, the Buddha can guide you to reach enlightenment.
2007-04-23 14:17:52 · answer #7 · answered by Julian X 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buddhists follow the teachings of a person. The only name under heaven by which anyone will be saved is Jesus Christ.
You need to understand that people who do not repent of their sins and believe in Jesus as their savior will not go to heaven. Each of us has sin, and the only provision God made for forgiveness of sin is faith in His son.
2007-04-23 14:23:45 · answer #8 · answered by Esther 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
statues are man-made. it can be made to represent or look like whatever the maker wants...
my fren whole family (catholic) went to china for holidays, when they come back their display cabinet is full of statuettes of "Kwan-Yin", (godess of mercy)...
Kwan-yin is usually potray holding/cradling a vessel with sprigs of willow... so we (her frens) were like huh? tot ur whole family is catholic, how come some many Kwan-Yin statuettes... she asked us to look closer....
on closer look, they (the statuettes) are NOT Kwan-Yin, but mary cradling baby jesus!!!
buddhism in my opinion is not a religion (because it does not believe in a superior creator, god), but a good teaching for ALL mankind... so Buddha is a GREAT Teacher...
a true buddist will a good person, every good person will enter into the kingdom of God, the Almighty and All Merciful.
is it a coincident or fact that there are heavenly beings?
look at chinese folklores and legends...
look at the greek myths...
and these 2 nations are east-west apart and speaks totally different language.... how come both believes in heaven beings (very hman like.. with father, mother, children, etc... with different powers)
2007-04-23 14:37:16 · answer #9 · answered by efurong 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋