Am I still confused about Buddha?

Question

I asked a ? earlier about Buddihsm. I am still confused.
DO BUDDHISTS BELIEVE IN A HIGHER BEING OR NOT?
YES OR NO. No offence intended, but everyone has a right to understand. Even if they don't agree.

Answer 1

Not inherently, no. Some Buddhists believe in gods, ghosts, spirits, yes. That is not required by Buddhist practice to my understanding. I *am* a novice, though. I have seen texts that speak of demons - I always thought they were there to teach us something (and they can teach us without being real, right?).

Answer 2

Early Buddhists (Theravadins), Mahayana Buddhists and Vajrayana Buddhists believe in goddesses and gods, but these aren't like the God of western monotheism or the Greco-Roman gods. Devas are "radiant beings" that are also subject to samsara (aging, sickness, death). Once a deva's good karma runs out, he or she is reborn in a lower realm (as a human, an animal, a hungry ghost, or in a hell). The Buddha said that he had searched throughout samsara and that a creator god was nowhere to be found. Also, in Early Buddhism, one cannot attain the goal (awakening, nibbana) unless one works toward it. It is through one's diligence and practice that awakening is gained, not by another's actions.

Answer 3

It's sort of like a zen koan - the answer is both yes and no.

Some versions go so far as to say, "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him." That is, no gods, no masters, just a search for enlightenment. Some versions have a more direct worship of the Buddha as a god or godlike being.

I think this is the Buddhist version of the Christian question, "How many persons is God?". The answer depends on your theology.

Answer 4

Buddhism is ambiguous about the existance of a sentient superdiety. Although there are gods and mythological beings in Buddhism, the religion places more emphasis on how to live life, and less emphasis on scripture and dogma. You can be a Buddhist regardless of whether you believe in God.

Answer 5

In Buddhism the belief in higher beings such as Deva is not rejected, instead people are taught that such beings can not grant freedom from suffering (that can only be achieved through the realisation of the truth). In Buddhism there are 31 realms of existence 15 divine and 15 "hell like" realms, a good noble life can lead to rebirth in the heaven like realms as a Deva or God etc. but all of these realms are still subject to suffering, impermanence and non-self. They are all continuation and only through freeing oneself from attachments can one realise nibbana (cessation or non becoming, freedom from the cycle of suffering).

Answer 6

In Tibetan Buddhism [which I'm lean toward more], I guess the higher being would be the Dalai Lama.

Answer 7

yes, there is a higher being, the Gods who regulate fate, reincarnation and justice. Buddha watches over people, help them thought hardship, and guide them to enlightenment.