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I was reading that Buddhists dont believe in a god , that the buddha is enough , but i wonder if one can break the rule and still believe in a god, while doing all the Buddhists practices ?
2007-11-11 12:25:35 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Of course. God would be the universe and everything in it. You'd simply be part of God's body.
2007-11-11 12:29:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
As I understand it, Buddhism is not inconsistent with a belief in god. The Buddha is not considered a god (in most flavors), but rather an enlightened human.
But that being said, Buddhism is a practice of self-discipline (with the aim of becoming compassionate), and that might conflict with particular monotheistic tendencies (like a jealous god, or a narrow-minded "truth").
Some philosophers have commented that Buddhism is a "religion without a god," and even though that sounds like a paradox (to Western minds), it is by far the most appealing of the world's religions this atheist has ever come across. I'd rather have that paradox, then the crazy conventional ones offered by Christianity or Islam.
2007-11-11 12:32:52 · answer #2 · answered by kwxilvr 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Thich Nhat Hanh is a poet, Zen Master, and peacemaker. He served as chair of the Buddhist Delegation to the Paris Peace Talks during the Vietnam War, and was nominated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for the Nobel Peace Prize.
He is author of more than thirty-five books, including Being Peace, Peace is Every Step and Living Buddha, Living Christ, in which he explores the parallels and connections between Buddhism and Christianity.
2007-11-11 12:29:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can believe in God too. Some Buddhist even think of Jesus as a good man. I think that the only place you seen it say "Buddhist don't believe in God" is here and it was mostly likely by an atheist. I do think that a Buddhist has a different concept on who God is though.
2007-11-11 12:59:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course you can believe in God. As a Buddhist, I would suggest you spend some time investigating why you believe in God, and what that term actually means to you. You may uncover subtle hints of fear or clinging that tend towards a longing for the Absolute (however you define it). You may also find that Buddhism helps you to realize that God - whether it exists or not - is not necessary for you to realize peace and satisfaction in your life.
2007-11-13 08:12:24 · answer #5 · answered by Sophrosyne 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, Buddha is not a God in Buddhist religion, he is a prophet. I don't think there is a religion wich enforces the teachings of Buddha and the ruling of God, but maybe you could start one. I have a Jewish friend that is part of a Jewish religion that believes in Jesus, so anything is possible.
2007-11-11 12:31:46 · answer #6 · answered by Prambles C 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I know you are all wrong about one thing - Buddhists most certainly do believe in God, and they always have. The nature of God is something they believe differently with other mainstream religions, though, seeing that they may eventually lose their own identity and join with what is God. They pray, so if they don't believe in God, to whom are they praying? Only Bodhisattvas? No, those AND to God. As far as the Buddha, he may have started as Siddhartha Gautama, a Prince of the Sakya Clan in India, but it is believed by Buddhists that he became a part of God at death, and when they pray to his image they only hope to appeal to God through one who became part of God. This may be a bit different from the way others see God, but it's God nonetheless.
There are several schools of thought within the label Buddhism, though, and Zen Buddhism and Ch'an Buddhism (the Chinese original school which became Zen) is farthest from the most common thought on God. They believe in a formless and unsearchable God, which is the nature of everything.
Did you know this can be reconciled with Judeo-Christian belief? Yes, if the only thing which originally existed was God, and all things were created by God, out of what were they created? Why, himself of course. In that case, all things are a part of God, and the true nature of all is illusury and a part of God, immutably. See my point?
Even Christians could be enlightened to the fact that they live within God at all times, and can only hope to promote peace in their life as a human and ascend to a higher joining with God if they merit such. Striving to improve ourselves and get closer to God is exactly what all religions boil down to in the end.
The Buddha was considered by his twelve original disciples (apostles - yep, he had 'em too, and about two thousand years before Christ) to be a savior, because he helped people with his teachings to break free from the suffering caused by attachment and live in love, a higher vibratory state and much closer to Godliness. He offered by his example a way for all to attain Godhood and transcend the cycle of suffering in this life. His loving manner and the miracles he was said to have performed while here with us on earth are nothing short of inspirational for Buddhists. Further, he gave a sermon on a mount, which was so profound that his disciples recorded it and passed it along. Buddhism is so much like Christianity in its formation and spread that one could be astounded by it. Was the Buddha a pre-Jesus savior? Many thought so, and many still do.
Peace and love to you,
Krodin
2007-11-11 12:43:36 · answer #7 · answered by david_moore31 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some Buddhist believe in God, and some don't. God is optional in Buddhism, so you are free to choose.
Guess what else. In Buddhism you can choose not to have children. If you choose to have them, they don't have to be Buddhist if they don't want to.
2007-11-14 08:17:01 · answer #8 · answered by Marvin 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There's absolutely nothing to say you can't. I say you should believe in whatever you want to believe in, and Buddhism has a lot to offer in regards to philosophy and life lessons.
Maybe technically Buddhists wouldn't classify you as one of them or maybe they would, but the point is that you are following what you believe in and if that makes you happy then that's what you should be doing.
Cheers. =)
2007-11-11 12:29:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
I truly believe that the Buddha, himself, would embrace your, and mine, belief in God.
According to the Gnostics, Jesus spoke of enlightenment.
Obviously, Christianity is NOT about knowledge or enlightenment.
2007-11-11 12:35:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Buddhism is NOT a religion, there is no deity in Buddhism it is a philosophy for life and very good one at that. Buddha was a very smart person and so close to the foundation of mental health. It is very similar to REBT (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy) which i practice.
Since there is no deity you don't have to change your present god for a new one. Remember it is a philosophy not a religion.
2007-11-11 12:36:52 · answer #11 · answered by gdc 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋