I have a question for Buddhists (priests, ritual, salvation, tradition)

[ChristineES]

I hope you don't find it offensive. I am just wondering if Buddhists have a diety or not.
Although I am a Christian, I found that some of Buddha's ideals are very good ones, and that I could believe in some of them and still remain a Christian. (I learned a little about Buddha in a Philosophy class I took a while back. )

[Aupmanyav]

I am a Hindu and not a Buddhist. But I respect the philosophies of other indic religions, Jainism and Buddhism. You can find a good description of Buddhist regulations about food at http://buddhism.about.com/cs/ethics/a/Food.htm. Jainism, which came up a few years earlier than Buddhism was very strong on vegetarianism and made non-violence its central theme (Mahavira who established Jainism was much more radical in all his views). In Hinduism, vegetarianism is a must for those who are on a spiritual quest. Hinduism came up by mingling of two streams, the Vedic Aryans and the other indegenous philosophies. Vedic Aryans were non-vegetarians. Hinduism does not restrict Kshatriyas and Shudras (warriors and workers) if they take non-vegetarian food. Whether Brahmins or Vaishyas (priests and traders) would take non-vegetarian food depends on the particular tradition of their group (caste), some do, some do not, generally they don't.

[finnor]

i dont think he meant diet, i could be wrong but im assuming he meant diety, like a being to look up to. obviously there are the people who have reached enlightenment, and im no expert on buddhism, but in my opinion it seems contradictory to constantly look up to those who have reached enlightenment and still be a buddhist. The path is ours to follow, and the teachings of those who have been enlightened are great, but mimicing them tooth and nail contradicts the inner searching we all need. if im wrong or someone disagrees thats fine, like i said, im no expert, thats just my opinion at this moment.

[James the Persian]

Buddhism is essentially agnostic about deity - it is of no consequence to Buddhism whether one exosts or not. In other words you could believe in a deity and still be Buddhist. However, speaking as an ex-Buddhist Orthodox Christian, I don't see how you can really combine the two - unless all you mean by 'believe in' is, 'believe that He exists'. In those terms, however, I might as well call myself a satanist (as I believe he exists) even though I do not follow him. Belief in salvation through Christ is completely inimicable to Buddhist ideas of karma.

I still se an awful lot of good in Buddhism, and if I weren't Orthodox I'd almost certainly still be one, but despite Buddhism's attitude to deity, I simply cannot see how the two can usefully be combined. The soteriologies (if such a thing can be said to even exist for Buddhism - it's imprecise at best) are just too utterly different.

James

[ChristineES]

I am sorry, I did mean deity. Thanks for the answers.

[Aupmanyav]

Initially there were no deities in Jainism or Buddhism, there were realized (who understood the mystery of life) people and teachers. Naturally they were revered. Later, they transformed into sort of deities for some people. It is in Hinduism that you have Gods and Godesses, though even here it is not necessary to subscribe to any. Strict Advaitists (non-dualists, and I am one) would not have deities, though they would not object to others worshiping deities. What goes for me may not go for all others. Hinduism understands this, and has freedom of personal belief.

[Engyo]

Hello, Christine -

Buddhism is generally thought of as a non-theistic religion. There are beings called gods, but they are as unenlightened as humans are, and they are not the focus of Buddhist practice.

[Aupmanyav]

Even in Mahayana, Buddha is not really a God.

[koan]

A deity, is only another plane of existance.

[Vfr]

Originally Posted by ChristineES

I hope you don't find it offensive. I am just wondering if Buddhists have a diety or not.
Although I am a Christian, I found that some of Buddha's ideals are very good ones, and that I could believe in some of them and still remain a Christian. (I learned a little about Buddha in a Philosophy class I took a while back. )

Pure land Buddhists deify Buddha. Other Buddhists vary. Some deify, some do not.

Buddha was a man and not as God.



Take care,


V (Male)

Agnostic Freethinker
Practical Philosopher