Buddha says - There is no God ? Is it true?

Question

No one has seen God. God cannot be seen thru an instrument. If God is true then he must be visible/apparent. Are we living in a Godless void? Buddha says - there is no one to save you. You have to salvage yourself- no one else can do it for you. Just as a hungry man cannot be satisfied by someone else eating on his behalf, same way none can save anyone else. If God exists there must be order, harmony,peace in the world. God might have satisfied all. God could ensure perfection and happiness in every one's life . He could have ensured disease free & death free world. But NO. It appears THERE IS NO GOD. Buddha says -- There is no God but THERE IS DEVIL since there is pain , disease & death in the world. One creature is eating another one- which proves that the devil is in control. But Buddha says you need to fight it out. Some one may ask how various creatures came into being , someone(God) might have created them, but I ask why not ; cells might have learnt to live together.

Answer 1

hahahaha who told u the Buddha said there is no God? You are confused my dear.....

Buddha actually acknowledged the existence of gods and Brahmas(higher form of divine beings). What he said is no one save u but yourself, God can help u in worldly matter but u have to develop ur mind! That is what he said actually.

There IS God,many forms,many shape here and there. But they can help u only in worldly matter because they themselves are still in the samsara realm with greed,hatred and delusion.

The devil,Mara in Buddhism is actually all the mental defilements of living beings,mainly greed,hatred and delusion and this is what causing the problems in this world now. Not only in this world,even in the heavens! Only way to escape this is by purifying the mind into Nibbana.

Birth,aging,sickness and death are all part of the samsaric world. It is NOT caused by any devil. it's natural. To escape this samsara we must attain nibbana.

How various creatures came into being? We don't know YET! Yes,God might have created them, or evolution may be correct,we have a set of hypothesis but no proof yet. The following case is similar to this question :

At first,everyone thought that the Earth was flat with the sun and moon and entire universe revolving around it because they dun YET know the true shape. The Church reinforce this believe. Later when proof that the world was spherical is found, then the earth remain spherical until today!

And one of the scientist who tried to tell the whole world that the earth was Spherical was burned alive by the Church for blasphemy. He died for the sake of science(and truth) so I think all Scientologist(and Truth worshippers) should pray to him. Oh and he's alive now,in the sky,waiting to descend from a space ship to save all Scientist from the Church!

Galileo,another scientist, almost suffer the same fate but he is smart enough to withdraw his findings.
When asked why,he said,"If you present a precious jewel before a cow can the cow appreciate it?"

Buddha tell everyone not to belief his words before investigation. Investigate deeply and feel for yourself His wisdom before calling him a. At least his teachings was based on investigation and practice rather than blindly inviting some supreme being into your life or get doomed in hell eternally.

The story of the scientist who discovered the true shape of the world show the dangers of believing something without investigation. The chuch,for example,is so attached to the view that the world is flat such that when the scientist tried to tell them his findings, they killed him.Brutally. If they put in effort to investigate and share his findings, then the Truth will prevail!

Therefore, the Buddha always said, especially in the Kalama sutta,not to believe before u experience something first hand!
Read the Kalama sutta,google it.

So to those above who said the Buddha is a liar, what make u think that he is a liar? Is it because his doctrine is different from ur religion?oh come on....broaden ur mind, is saying "Just as a hungry man cannot be satisfied by someone else eating on his behalf, same way none can save anyone else" a lie now? I'm hungry now, please eat so that I can be full! : )

the Buddha never forced u to believe Him. Dun worry, u will not go to Avici Narakha for not believing Him. U just have a virtuous way of life and u will surely be in the Heavens!

But use ur intelligence. Be critical. Dun blindly belief anything.

Answer 2

Of course its not true. There is a God: One Almighty God (Allah).

Regarding Buddha: I read somewhere that he didn't mention God because he had grown up in polytheistic surroundings.
Also: Buddha was only a Philosopher.

Every creation has to have a creator, every work of art (which we are as living things), an artist, every kingdom (universe and beyond) a King, every plan a planner: this is Almighty God(Allah ). Take living beings, they are too complex and ordered for there to be no God behind these complex, beautiful and ordered works of art that are the creation.

Evolution is nonsense: there is no evidence of intermediate fossils in the fossil record. Darwin himself basically said that if they didn't find these intermediate fossils then his theories would never hold true. His followers have overlooked that because of their own short-sightedness, sadly. Only Intelligent design from a creator that is God (Allah) can explain all this complexity and order around us. What causes the sun to rise and set each day at an appointed time? Where does love come from? All is from One Universal God (Allah) that existed always.

If I give you all the parts to make a computer, if you are clever you could put them together and say: 'I made this'. You accept your own creative work but yet something even more complex than a computer, such as a human, do you not say that surely this has a Creator? of course we do.

Read about Islam, there are scientific miracles in the Quran which were spoken of 1400 years ago but which scientists have only recently discovered:
http://www.miraclesofthequran.com/scientific_index.html

I am a scientist and this is how I came to accept Islam (all praises to God (Allah) who drew me there). These miracles prove the Quran is from Almighty God (Allah) and also prove that Almighty God (Allah) does exist.

There is no devil in control. The devil (Shaitan) does exist (for now) but he has no power. He can only corrupt men from his whisperings into the soul. That inner voice pushing you towards iniquity, it is just his. He has no control over you unless you listen to it over the voice of conscience (angel).

Divine grace is a beautiful thing in action because it means that if you are sincere in repentance for sins then God will forgive you (Quran).

"He is God; there is no god but He, He is the Knower of the unseen and the visible; He is the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate. He is God, there is no God but He. He is the King, the All-Holy, the All-Peace, the Guardian of Faith, the All-Preserver, the All-Mighty, the All-Compeller, the All-Sublime. Glory be to God, above that they associate! He is God the Creator, the Maker, the Shaper. To Him belong the Names Most Beautiful. All that is in the heavens and the earth magnifies Him; He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (Quran 59:22-24)

Answer 3

This is a bold statement, BITL.

I have been brought up a Buddhist & am studying Buddhism at MA level.

I have never come across statements to the effect "there is no G-d", in any Sutta or Sutra of the Mahaayaana or Theravaada; nor am I aware of anyone who has.

The nearest I've come across is a quote in the Anguttara Nikaaya. There the Buddha says that the belief that all is "preordained" by (a) God, is paralysing of action.

Note it's not mentioned about (His) existence, or not.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.061.than.html

These are subtle concepts, and need to be handled skillfully.

On one occasion, the Buddha described the Tathaagata as 'brahma bhuuta' (become Divine, or possibly 'the Highest').

This is to be found in the Agga~n~na Sutta, Diigha Nikaaya.

Deities are described as attending on, aiding, discoursing with & learning from Bhikkhus, including the Buddha Himself.

He was described as the "Satthaa Deva Manussaanam": the Teacher of Gods & Men.

I therefore think that to attribute the words of your question / rubric to the mouth of the Buddha is not quite right.

Although I would agree with the emphasis on self agency (atta kaara), and right effort (catu sammaa padaanaa).

Answer 4

I have read about Buddhism extensively, I never read anything about the Buddha actually saying there was no God. I recall, that when asked the questions about the origins of life on earth, he basically didn't answer them because it was not important in relieving suffering. Keep in mind, that when Buddha was around, the idea of Jesus wasn't even around yet. He lived in a time where various gods were responsible for everything. If you wanted rain, you ask this god, if you wanted fire, you asked another. I think he was just trying to make the point that you can control your own destiny, your emotions can be changed without the aid of a so-called "god".

Honestly, it was really hard for me to except that there is a God, that is why I was a Buddhist for a while. But, lately, certain things have pointed me back to believing that there is a very strong force out there. Buddha was on the right track as far as the Dharma, but I think God put him there on this earth.

Many blessings to you!!!!

Answer 5

I know someone who claims to be the incarnation of the budda matreya it's a big business . He makes bucks , which is supposedly going to support Tibet . Now when this person graduated from high school and got his diploma he said "now I've got everything I need ". When questioned he said that he intended to never work a day in his life . He did have to work a little but not much . He has a complex with nuns -multiple wives and multiple children and they all live together and they all serve him . He pushes money around on a computer , sells crystals , Dome houses ,etc. I can be tolerant of different lifestyles but then I found out he also calls himself Jesus . He's being investigated due to the fact that there isn't any real evidence that any money is actually going anyplace except to his bank account . I knew him when he was 14 . Believe me he is not Jesus -he is not a buddha of any type . He is just a guy who used his higher IQ to pursue his livelong dream of never having to work for a living . Now if you all want to send your money to help support his cause , his favorite motto used to be there's a sucker born every day .

Answer 6

First of all you said no one can see God. Well, I can not see you brain so actually and according to your own point of view it does not exist , I can not see your thoughts so they do not exist , I can't see your soul so it doesn't exist . If you had a real sincere look at the sky you will definitely know that there is one single creator, one single god. And for being saved by your own, this is true some how because god brought you to the world and showed you both sides evil and good side and BLESSED you with the choice to have the path you want. And about the peace and order thing I believe that every thing around is created in balance even the atom, there is positive and negative you see???
And this leads me to another point, you mentioned that there is unfairness in the world and I will tell why, because there is the day of resurrection when the just God will ask us all about every thing we DID, every thing, then and just then we will have the eternity happiness or misery will all live a short life definitely there is a longest one. And for the existence of devil yes there is; but keep in mind that there is angels too; balance you see?. not having the ability to order things around never means that they are not orderd. you are smart and that's a bless from God so please do not wate your gift and you entire life in this path look at other ways to find God I believe it's a matter of time
Listen , didn't you have these moments of weakness when you feel that there is some one who is the most powerful haven't you ever felt that you were led by some hidden power ?
When some one makes you a favor what do say? Thank you doesn't our GOD deserve to be thanked for all these blessing?
I can feel that you are confused about many things but why don't consider it as a challenge for us from a wiser we can't discover every thing because we are human beings we think, ask build the earth and worship god, and do you know something; since the beginning of humanity man is fetching for his god fetching for answers even you; you included some thoughts of Buddha you are trying to have let's say a more powerful reference that's what we all trying to do.
I ask ms. Or sir to check how the prophets knew God , they fetched for him that's what they did and look deeply inside your self and am sure you will find the answer . I wish U tell us what happens with and GOD BLESS YOU

Answer 7

You don't quite have a full understanding of the Buddha's teaching. Buddha did not say that there is a devil at any time.
Buddhists are agnostic, not necessarily atheistic. It is not important to know if God exists or not, it is important to do good deeds, be compassionate & understand the four noble truths. God as most others understand - a director of life, a big babysitter in the sky, most likely does not exist, but God as Buddha Nature, or inherent goodness certainly does exist. The Buddha taught us that to question what happens after death is not of importance, but to be good here & now is of much more importance, as that is what will direct us to the next lifetime.

Answer 8

I don't know enough about Buddhism to say whether or not Buddha says there is a god or not but I doubt Buddhism is big on gods or devils.
Having said that the belief in an invisible god has no more credence than the existence of children’s invisible friends.
The whole notion of a god or even a devil is just plain silly.
It's all a bogeyman scam used by people who need enslaved beings to leech from like the parasites they are.

Richard Dawkins: A universe with a god would be a completely different kind of universe from one without, and it would be a scientific difference. God could clinch the matter in his favour at any moment by staging a spectacular demonstration of his powers, one that would satisfy the exacting standards of science.

Answer 9

I have a wonderful Tibetan Lama who feels that if you haven't been taught about a certain text then the mind becomes confused. The biggest message that the Buddha wanted to get across about enlightened beings who have passed out of cyclical existence is that they are not there to help you, just light the path. We all have individual responsibility to take right action. Just be careful that you're not adding your own spin to the texts, it's not a good habit to get into. They are what they are. Many blessings. (And the Buddha was NOT a liar as someone suggested above)

Answer 10

The Buddha, like modern sociologists and psychologists, believed that religious ideas and especially the god idea have their origin in fear. The Buddha says:

"Gripped by fear men go to the sacred mountains,
sacred groves, sacred trees and shrines".

To this day, you will notice that people become more religious at times of crises, you will hear them say that the belief in a god or gods gives them the strength they need to deal with life. You will hear them explain that they believe in a particular god because they prayed in time of need and their prayer was answered. All this seems to support the Buddha’s teaching that the god-idea is a response to fear and frustration. The Buddha taught us to try to understand our fears, to lessen our desires and to calmly and courageously accept the things we cannot change. He replaced fear, not with irrational belief but with rational understanding.

Based on his own experience, the Buddha saw that each human being had the capacity to purify the mind, develop infinite love and compassion and perfect understanding. He shifted attention from the heavens to the heart and encouraged us to find solutions to our problems through self-understanding.

http://www.buddhanet.net/