What role do the gods play in Buddhism?

Answer 1

Buddhist don't believe in a God

Answer 2

Freewill is the crux, and the raison d'etre of Buddhism. The Buddha spoke of 'atta kaaraa' (self agency), and 'aarambha dhaatu' (the faculty of initiatory effort) - in the present moment. He distanced his doctrine of ACTION (kamma - physical, verbal & mental), from fatalistic ones of preordination by (a) God, or previous actions alone. He spoke out also against the theory of randomness (ahetu-apaccaya-vaada). He seemed to say 'if one holds views x, y, and z; these will be the results; if one holds views a, b, c; these will be the results. He was thus a believer that 'actions have consequences', and that how we conduct those actions, is upto us. He also said, that in the final analysis, a person should be his own master. He presented ways & means whereby that state could be achieved. He tried to be a good friend (kalyaanamitra) to all beings, to assist in that process. The ultimate realisation of his teaching is known as 'Sammaa Vimuttii' (Perfect Freedom: Liberation: Release from all that's imperfect, stressful, unsatisfactory). Thus the Teaching, the Dharma is said to have the 'Vimutti Rasa' (The Taste of Freedom), from its beginning to its end, and thus be excellent in every regard.

Answer 3

Buddhism encourages people to worship and pray to the gods of their ancestors. In Asia Buddhism is frequently practiced right along side traditional ethnic religions. In Japan it is quite common to (for example) pray to one of the kami for success in business and to practice Buddhist meditation for inner peace. Tibetan Buddhism has a vast pantheon of deities, many of whom are quite popular as protectors against evil and guardians of Buddhist doctrine. The ancient Greeks that settled in India after Alexander the Great practiced Buddhism and some even became Arhats, but still worshiped Zeus, Athena, and the other Greek gods.

Answer 4

Buddhism does however accept the existence of a heaven, one of the six realms of existence, in which dwell many lesser gods. As these are neither omnipotent or omniscient or even particularly good or wise, they may be able to help humans obtain material benefits but they cannot help in the quest for Nirvana. Only in the Tantrayana tradition are gods seen as being spiritually superior to humans.

Answer 5

The Buddha was actually referred to as Teacher of gods and men.
There are beings in different realms of existence. Those in higher realms are loosely term as "Devas" or "angels" or "gods". They have some "superior" powers over worldly affairs and may assist or hinder the affairs of humans. Apart from that, they are just another form of life, subject to birth and death. Buddhists usually radiate good thoughts to them and request that these devas protect them against harm and calamity. Apart from this, these gods do not play any part in Buddhism.

Answer 6

The gods(devas) and Brahmas can only help in worldly matters,but to salvation one have to work on his/her own! i.e. god cannot help a person gain enlightenment.

No creator god in Buddhism. However there is one Brahma(a higher class of divine being) who is deluded and hold the wrong view that He created the world. The Buddha changed his view by showing him his previous existence from the highest Nevasannanasannayatana heaven to the present lower Maha Brahma realm,due to depletion of merit. He thus change his view.

No god or divine beings help u towards salvation,u help urself

Answer 7

In Buddhism, there is no God's role. All about Dharma, and no role made by no one.
In Buddhism we call "Cattari Arya Saccani".

Answer 8

For cultural reasons (which directly contradict Buddhist teachings anyway), some believe in gods as beings that are more powerful than men, though still not like the traditional sense of gods. These beings are not enlightened and are still part of the process of reincarnation.

But, as I said, this is contradictory to fundamental ideas of questioning and letting go. It's not like the answer to this question even matters when your goal is enlightenment.

Answer 9

The concept of a personal God does not fit into the Buddhist system of religion. Today there are many sects of Buddhism. Many differ in their concept of the divine and of Buddha. In general, Buddhists are pantheistic in their view of God. Many view God as an impersonal force which is made up of all living things and holds the universe together.

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/

Answer 11

A Perspective.....Buddhist practitioners know that the gods as it were are only representations of what one aspires to. For instance a representation of a fierce deity is not that your aspiring to that state but that you may need to employ a fierce and determined stance in your own practice.To cut through your own laziness and so on.