why don't buddhist believe in god

Nancy, Hi Nancy, Why do CRT TVs need a HSYNC pulse in signal. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. So when I think about God, when I speak to God -- I inevitably imagine some power outside of myself. Buddhists are of the opinion that human life is one of suffering and that a few things, like physical labor, meditation, and good behavior help to achieve enlightenment or nirvana. 5, 2023, learnreligions.com/why-atheists-dont-believe-in-gods-248065. No concrete evidence is necessary to believe in God or gods. @GreenMatt Thanks for the heads-up but I don't see any argument in it at all (except maybe an implied argument that Buddhist need a reason for believing there is no creator), I read it as just a question. Sheriff Grady Judd is briefing the media regarding the arrests of twelve people in a family-run drug trafficking operation in Winter Haven called Operation Family It was so interesting to watch and listen to their conversation between Japanese, English and Spanish. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. More likely, anything extra is just going to get in the way. Austin Cline, a former regional director for the Council for Secular Humanism, writes and lectures extensively about atheism and agnosticism. In addition to being Enlightened, the Buddha had those siddhis (psychic powers) that allowed him to perceive the true nature of the mind and the world. Thank you for sharing yourself with others Nam myoho renge kyo! Sometimes, I also share. @TheDBSGuy As an ordained Buddhist monk, it is not appropriate for me to discuss such personal matters. Lama Rangbar, Thank you very much Lama Rangbar I enjoyed reading your wise and eloquent comment you are spot on about peoples perceptions! Do Buddhists in general also believe there is no supreme being, or do they settle on that there is no intervening Best, David. The different worlds in the Buddhist cosmos are also conditioned and experience change. They deny the Trinity and teach by Luke Wayne | Jan 6, 2023 | Islam, World Religions. Rissho Ankoku is just as relevant today, as it was during that time when the Daishonin was being attacked by the Japanese military authorities for refusing to compromise his faith. there is no eternal soul, but at the same time, his existence does not completely vanish, and he continues again in another birth. As Jesus said, "I and the Father are one." And the answer is, no, but yes, and it depends. I have not seen that quote from Sensei,very illuminating indeed! It only takes a minute to sign up. I have talked to others who had similar experiences and feelings. WebIn other words, Buddhists believe that people linked by a chain of rebirths may be said to be "the same", by the same convention as when a 40-year-old person is said to be "the same" as an 20-years-old person he evolved from. Unlike early Buddhists, both the Ajivikas and There is no divine creator god or supreme being in the Buddhist teachings, so that Buddhism is often called a nontheistic religion. it is no accident Jesus message For example, if you take the personality and morality out of sin (leading to punishment) and out of virtue (leading to reward), youd get something close to the Buddhist notion of an impersonal Law of Cause and Effect. Gods' Contradictory Characteristics: Making God Impossible to Exist. For completeness, there isn't one Buddhism, there are many Buddhisms. WebNo, Buddhists dont believe in God. Over the years, I've spoken to many people within the oneness Pentecostal movement. When Sufis, Jains and Christian mystics point to God, I almost know for sure that they are pointing to the same thing as Nibbana anywayor at least they are both pointing in the same direction. Buddhism is sometimes called an "atheistic" religion, although some of us prefer "non-theistic"--meaning that believing in a God or gods really isn't the point. of forgiveness followed In some cultures, like Ancient Greece and Rome, the gods are nearly indistinguishable from human beings. A new Pew Research Center survey of more than 4,700 U.S. adults finds that one-third of Americans say they do not believe in the God of the Bible, but that they do believe there is some other higher power or spiritual force in the universe. Buddhism is not compatible with belief in a personal God that is distinct from His creation, has a sovereign will and plan for mankind, or whose grace can deliver one from guilt and suffering. As long as you keep looking up to some higher power, how can you be the master of your life? I am awake, was the By a process of fascinating evolution, Buddhism evolved from early Buddhism, which arguable didn't care or want take a stand on gods or their lack there of, to one that said Gods existed, but made a hairsplitting distinction that they were long lived, but mortal and didn't create the world. For instance, try standing in front of a speeding bus with nothing but "faith" to keep it from hitting you. I prompt an AI into generating something; who created it: me, the AI, or the AI's author? Ayan82/Photographer's Choice RF/Getty Images, The Idea of Religion Itself is Contradictory, Science Points to Life as Material, Not Supernatural. enlightenment is joining with Jen, that is a very inspiring attitude that you have developed through your daimoku, absolute proof that when faced with obstacles, the wise rejoice and the foolish retreat. All best, David, Hi David: I want to revere the Law that exists in my life; I want to change my life for the better. So, back to my original question, why dont Nichiren Buddhists believe in God? One might say, then, that most Buddhists acknowledge gods but are not instructed to believe in them in the sense of any sort of faith or religious devotion (though in practice this kind of religious devotion is common in many Buddhist countries). I can definitely relate to the seeking mind and once we have discovered Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, we must also keep seeking new ways to deepen our practice and propagate the Law. Their perceptions are as clear or as foggy as the fruits of their practice has availed them. (where all things die). So if you had asked him, does God exist? he would probably have said, Who? But for people brought up in Judaeo-Christian cultures over the last few decades, it is a valid question. This is a view that I have shared with every Buddhist teacher I have met. "Buddha does not claim to be a creator of lives or the Universe. CARM |P.O. The former is common across Tibet, China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and Mongolia while the latter is common across Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, and Laos. Bestest, David. My praise and worship has come up to another level since becoming Buddhist. WebUnlike some other beliefs, Buddhists do not believe that a certain god will appear in this world at some future date to destroy the wicked, unsaved people and to protect the good Hi there :) I am here to read different perspectives from people on life and spirituality. Update crontab rules without overwriting or duplicating. She totally ignored my views and faith of Nichiren Buddhism but I want to thank her for making me chant even more! Especially as there were no concepts of sin, of guilt, or of what I saw as stifling obedience to an external power. Even the Buddha himself (the person who thinks and moves and communicates) had passed away. Join our growing community of mindful writers, and contributors. I think I will print this and keep it with my papers I use when trying to bring people into the practice by giving them and understanding of it. Stack Exchange network consists of 182 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. [1] Eternalism is the idea that anything (that is conditioned) can exist eternally more or less in its original form e.g. Thank you This is linked to the Hindu concept of karma that explains how a persons bad or good actions in his previous life can impact future consequences. However, their stay in heaven is not eternaleventually they will use up their good karma and will undergo rebirth into another realm, as a human, animal or other beings. Nyanaponika Thera (recommended in the comments by @ruben2020) discusses this nicely in detail. Buddhists believe in realising the nature of the mind - the same as what the Buddha did. There are several reasons for this. PPS. What was the symbol used for 'one thousand' in Ancient Rome? and the possibility of God then begins. Can you pack these pentacubes to form a rectangular block with at least one odd side length other the side whose length must be a multiple of 5. So I can express such wisdom with even a fraction of the authority delivered here. Why? As the Buddhist scholar Robert Thurman put it, Buddhism is an inner science, an empirical discipline for fulfilling our minds potential. the physical universe, before it can forgive If you have any issues, please call the office at 385-246-1048 or email us at [emailprotected]. WebBuddhists do not believe in any kind of god or deity although they believe there are supernatural figures that help or hold back people from the path towards enlightenment. WebThere are several reasons for this. Every non-religious ideology, philosophy, and cultural tradition contains certain inconsistencies and contradictions. WebVisit: http://www.hindu-academy.com for more information. A million years ago we climbed out of the trees and we are still killing each other over minor differences. Even if one assume planting to exist by itself, it is not, because for Christians, there is a God who did the planting, thus the law of dependency still applies, and since the law of dependency applies, there is no independent Creator. all best, David. PS. sounds, nose & aromas, tongue & flavors, body & tactile sensations, In a word, no. Sheriff Grady Judd is briefing the media regarding the arrests of twelve people in a family-run drug trafficking operation in Winter Haven called Operation Family Affair. Secondly, outside of the idea of Nirvana itself, the Buddhist cannot conceive of anything, much less anyone, as permanent or unchanging.4Keith Yandell and Harold Netland, Buddhism: A Christian Exploration and Appraisal (IVP Academic, 2009) 183 Some have even contended that Buddha allowed for the possibility that Nirvana itself might not be permanent.5Stephen Asma, Buddha for Beginners (For Beginners LLC, 2008) 110 The idea that everything is constantly changing and that nothing is truly permanent from one moment to the next permeates throughout virtually all Buddhist literature. "Why Don't Atheists Believe in Gods?" I can't see why dualism means we inevitably must place our hope in God? When I was introduced to Buddhism, I felt that my prayers had been answered by learning about Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Numerous characteristics are attributed to their gods, some of which are impossible if you consider them rationally. This is its only aim and object. Nature itself reveals so much about itself and is a very strong example of what you sow is what you reap. Described in such a contradictory manner, it's impossible for these gods to exist. WebThe Buddhist Concept of Heaven and Hell. arise. I will be taking this wisdom down and writing it my book of notes. He could communicate laws to his creation at some point, then change or update the laws later. Or he could be unhappy with his creation and punish them. Im pleased that my comment has been of some value I am being bombarded by negativity all the time and I am having to do even more daimoku each day because of this. Same is your interpretation of "Karma". This implies a certain amount of discretion and intelligence on the part of Karma, unlike gravity, which drops you on the nearest large object regardless to, well, anything. From the perspective of Buddhism, such a being displays all the marks of conditioning, hence cannot be eternal or absolute. Today, of course, one can find many western Buddhists who deny that these entities exist in any sense, and this view does not conflict with the practice of Buddhism since the Buddhist is not to appeal to such entities for guidance or help anyway. Eventually, in a deep state of Buddhist meditation, he achieved nirvana underneath the Bodhi Tree, also known as the Tree of Awakening. speak. The upside of the personal development movement and of interventions such as mindfulness (that have filled the vacuum left by God in recent years) is that we recognise our own brilliance. For e.g. She was gesturing as if climbing a ladder God was here, and Buddha was the next step up. In short, it is very difficult for a Buddhist to claim that there is a belief or doctrine that truly exists, because of the idea of impermanence. From late February to early March, I went to Israel. Using it and being used by it refers to the same activity. Hi there I am here to read different perspectives from people on life and spirituality. One of the things I saw of particular by Matt Slick | Mar 13, 2023 | Oneness Pentecostal, World Religions. As for your question; "existence is empty of a self or anything pertaining to a self". These ideas are highly controversial among the Buddhist schools that do not hold to them. Well, we are all seeing the manifest effect of all these causes right now and for that reason we must redouble our efforts. This all led to some overlyspiky debates with sincere Christians. of the Year 2016, belief in God brings an awareness of a greater power at work in the Universe, http://lotusflowersgi.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/do-nichiren-buddhist-believe-in-god.html, Jesus and Buddha; brothers from another mother | Earthpages.org. Buddhists do not believe in a personal, eternal creator God, though Buddhism allows for the existence of lesser, mortal gods. would say, 'Repudiating this All, I will describe another,' if One plants apple seed, one will reap apples and so forth. For many traditional Buddhists, if described directly at all, it is spoken of simply in terms of Nirvana. For the rest of Buddhism, a good argument could be made that Karma is as sort of god like the one that atheists are disbelieving. One can't plant apple seed and reap oranges - it is totally absurd and illogical. Nor is it possible to accommodate the concept of a divine Creation 9The Dalai Lama, The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teaching of Jesus (Wisdom Publications, 1996) 82 (referenced in Buddhism: A Christian Exploration and Appraisal by Keith Yandell and Harold Netland, 183-184). It simply is and that is all that can be said about it.16Ibid, 25 It is not personal, and it is not distinct or separate from you or anything else. There is nothing substantially the same from the collection of materials and perceptions you call yourself as a child and the differing set of materials and perceptions you call yourself as an adult other than a causal chain of events between them.17Stephen Asma, Buddha for Beginners (For Beginners LLC, 2008) 60 This is true not only of yourself but every other supposed person and thing. And just because they don't believe a "divine hand" lies behind all of life's actions doesn't mean they can't appreciate the intricate web of relationships that underlies life on Earth. Belief in the Mystic Law does not therefore require a belief in a Divine Being / loving parent I see the theistic framework as an over-simplified and partial interpretation of the profundity of the Law revealed by Buddha. Well, its because we believe in this Mystic Law of Cause and Effect instead. Buddhism's chief concern is with the surcease of suffering and there's nothing within the Buddha's eight-fold methodology for ending suffering that requires a supreme being. I use the word regime here quite deliberately as this is the factor that separates Buddhism, as practised by followers of Nichiren Daishonin, from other religions that have authoritarianism as their bedrock. Finally a refreshing and intelligent post on this topic on the internet. My parents had a lot of power over my life, but I can still be my own master - can't see that the two are necessarily connected. Wow. The idea is that there is not any distinct person that is you. Nothing exists that is separate from everything else or that persists over time. Why do Buddhists believe that the Buddha was enlightened, despite that he claimed it himself? and does not exist as a standalone absolute entity by itself. In order for the "die-hard materialist" to use the Sabbasutta they have to first redefine the mind and the mind's objects, dharmas, since they do not believe these things "exist" as the Buddha has said they do. Prayers are powerful and hence Buddhism helps us grow in the same spirit as nature does. WebThe Buddha believed implicitly in the existence of the Gods since they were a part of his cultural baggage, but he didnt believe them to be much use to mankind. If the creator needs no creator then why can't the universe need no creator as well? The universe/totality is the creator itself, isn't it obvious? The thing that really differs between god and myoho; the mystic law is that we are the controllers of it. That said, those first two sentences/paragraphs are making assumptions about Buddhists that I don't think apply to all who call themselves Buddhist. thank you for taking the time to share your very well informed comment, I must go and re-read the Rissho Ankoku, it has been too long! A dear friend just told me that since I wont accept Jesus Christ as my saviour that I will continue to suffer! its your hiding place. Thank you for following my blog. you were simply mistaken. In respect of our adventure towards world wide kosen-rufu, those who continue to try to ruin our efforts will eventually achieve nothing but misery and sorrow. Although I have been a Nichiren Buddhist for the 30 years, it i still hard for me to grasp the we are chanting to the Buddha within. Yet of course that was only half the story. It seems that we have something in common here, David, as I too was brought up (or perhaps I should say brought down) under a very strict regime of Roman Catholic orthodoxy. At first sight, the two philosophies seemed poles apart. You don't need an Abrahamic God for that. Ronald Cowen Can you tell me what kind of siddhis you have and have you also achieved all the jhana? Interesting to me, the typical arguments for the efficacy of Amidaism have a logical form, but make some large assumptions-- namely, The Amitabha vowed to save all beings before becoming a Buddha, the Amitabha has become a Buddha, therefore faith in Amitabha is efficacious. that one thoughts purpose This is the question Im asked. Most claim that their gods are loving. In TikZ, is there a (convenient) way to draw two arrow heads pointing inward with two vertical bars and whitespace between (see sketch)? See people who are suffering and try to remember or reflect your own life and experiences as well. Hats off to you for being brave and, I might add, for being so clear. Just because a group of people isn't religious doesn't mean they still can't live moral lives. Beliefs and Choices: Do You Choose Your Religion? In early Buddhist cosmology, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth included heavenly lives as gods and demi-gods above humanity as well as torturous ghostly births on earth, considered lower than the animals.13Keith Yandell and Harold Netland, Buddhism: A Christian Exploration and Appraisal (IVP Academic, 2009) 21. There is no answer to who did create the creator? What is the term for a thing instantiated by saying it? So, like I said in this answer, "Could we go as far as to say that Buddhist path culminates in the first-hand knowledge of God? As the sutra states: At all times I think to myself, How can I cause living beings to gain entry into the unsurpassed way and quickly acquire the body of a Buddha?. Of course, one can find individuals in the modern West who try to harmonize just about any two contradictory beliefs, but one cannot be meaningfully and consistently Buddhist and believe in anything like a theistic God. Wonderful way to explain it. First of all, Buddhism teaches that nothing can be by itself alone, everything must inter-be with everything else.1Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of the Buddhas Teaching (Broadway Books, 1998) 6 Indeed, on Buddhism, to obtain the end of suffering, one must come to realize this indivisible union of all things, that there is no personal self and there are no external objects.2Rodney Smith, Stepping Out of Self Deception (Shambhala Publications, 2010) 6 The Buddhist, therefore, cannot conceive of God as an actual, personal being that is truly unique and distinct from this interconnected oneness that encompasses all things.3Ibid, 4. Buddhism is sometimes called an "atheistic" religion, although some of us prefer "non-theistic"--meaning that believing in a God or gods really isn't the point. While some might try to equate Nirvana with God, this is a profound misunderstanding. Now assume that there is a Supreme Creator God. What you describe in terms of something 1,000 times better happening does in fact happen to Buddhists all the time. What did the Buddha mean by "no truth can be spoken?". Why Islam and not Hinduism? "Why Don't Atheists Believe in Gods?" Conditioning means something that is affected or influenced or conditioned by other things. Why don't some buddhists believe in karma and rebirth? The Mystic Law is also often compared to the law of gravity, in that it is invisible and impersonal and yet it shapes your whole life (including what happens to you, based on karma from previous lifetimes). And if it hadnt been for you, I would never have bought this wonderful book from the shop at Taplow Court ! David. But it's If that's so obvious then maybe you can tell us how anything in existence can create itself? However, it is my understanding that the Buddha took no position as to the existence/non-existence of a God who created everything we see, on the grounds that there is no way of knowing - at least within this life - for certain whether such a being exists. How is it possible, atheists ask, to name one religion as the True Religion and one god as the True God when there have been so many throughout human history? A God that created the universe is irrelevant in Buddhism anyway. Instead Buddhism seemed to promise freedom, individuality and self-expression. WebAnswer (1 of 3): Buddha taught that WE are the cause of our unhappiness, and that we are the only ones who can change ourselves. We chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo to put ourselves in rhythm with it. For humanity must first see it was All beings within the 31 realms of Samsara are subject to dying and being reborn elsewhere. Learn Religions. As described in this answer, the Acela Sutta states that the Buddha teaches neither eternalism nor annihilationism, but the middle way in terms of philosophy. WebSo if Buddhists don't believe in gods, what do you believe in? No, the Buddha said. Every position has had its defenders, all as ardent as those in other traditions. Theistic questions and answers don't contribute to that end, so they aren't treated as very important. Due to a lack of security, man created God in his own image, seeking comfort in good times, courage when in danger, and consolation when things went wrong. WebNo, we do not. Were there not, there would be no deliverance from the formed, the made, the compounded 14Houston Smith and Philip Novak Buddhism: A Concise Introduction (HarperCollins Publishers, 2003) 54. Grappling and disarming - when and why (or why not)? To me it feels like a stretch to claim that even the pinnacle of humanity's wisdom and logic is comprehensive enough to easily grasp the ultimate questions. Despite traveling and meditating for years, he remained largely unsatisfied and finally settled on something we today call the Middle Path. Thank you Ronnie for this interesting perspective on grace and karma. On the other hand, He must be a being who can observe the world, who thinks, who does things like creation and who communicates with other beings. There is the interconnected essence of the universe which one cannot properly put into words. The end of suffering, the ceasing of the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, pure and proper being. Listen & pay close attention. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. So there is no discussion of higher powers. Whereas Buddhist chanting was about deciding and determining to be happy, all by yourself. Well done indeed. that made the universe Thank you Madhuri and I like that analogy you draw between Buddhism and nature, very powerful! And useful for Nichiren Buddhists who sometimes, when new to the practice, chant to the Gohonzon as if it were God. Materialists don't believe in rebirth and Karma. Theravada Buddhism, on the other hand, emphasizes Buddhist meditation and a monastic lifestyle as a way to enlightenment. Blind belief is discouraged in favor of learning from a state of awareness. That's the nature of human thought. And in the long term, I believe that Nam Myoho Renge Kyo (or similar teachings that affirm the dignity of Life) will be the tool that takes humanity to its next level of spiritual evolution, to the enlightened consciousness that our planet yearns for now. And yet I would also argue that the concept of God has been an essential stepping stone in humanitys spiritual evolution. The wise man makes his own heaven while the foolish man creates his own hell here and hereafter. Hi David, From a purely Buddhist standpoint, as a practitioner of Nichiren Daishonins Buddhism over the last 30 years, it has been made clear to me, from studying the Gosho Zenshu (Writings of the Daishonin), chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo in front of the Gohonzon, and strengthening my belief that there exists no teaching that surpasses the Lotus Sutra, that it is a grave error to assert that any God is above the True Law and that it is the slander of this Universal Law by mankind, tainted by arrogance, greed and stupidity that has brought calamity and disaster to the world we inhabit the evidence for this being provided on a daily basis by newspapers, films, the entertainment industry, the international political arena and more besides. Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes the role model seen in Bodhisattvas, beings that have attained enlightenment but keep returning to earth to teach fellow humans. @ruben2020: very thorough and an interesting read, it helped a lot! great question :-). So if someone claims that 'God' is something other than a sensation or an idea(that simply arises and ceases), if questioned on what exactly might be the grounds for his statement, would be unable to explain, and furthermore, would be put to grief. Thank you for your interest in supporting CARM. And from this come the various personalities attributed by different writers to God loving, wrathful, creative, judgemental and so on. This idea explained how neither extreme wealth nor extreme asceticism was the path to enlightenment but rather a life of moderation. It takes two hands to clap. Thank you, David. etc. In fact it explains how life works and it reveals that our lives are essentially one with the world out there. Humans use words to communicate their perceptions. https://www.learnreligions.com/why-atheists-dont-believe-in-gods-248065 (accessed July 1, 2023). Hi Andi If God exists or God doesn't exist then either way it has no effect on the Buddha's path to end our suffering. I love your point about respect and friendship, our wounded planet needs more of both.

What Is Inpatient Hospice Care, Highway 42 Oregon Elevation, Fairfield Township Property Tax, Articles W