Who is your God? (Buddhism, doctrine, worship, Lord, religion)

[zenzero]

Friend Atman,
Talking about God.
Do we understand what the word means?
Some worship some forms and call it some god or the other but why are forms used for worship?
The misconception about form worshipping has taken deep roots in the minds and psyche of the people.
One must understand that everything including us ; whatever we see or do not see - the totality is god. So if ou worship a PIN that is also representative of god. The PIN too is part of god. Even you are god? In reality god has no form and in hindusim Mundukyoupanisad speaks about the FORMLESS /NOTHINGNESS as Budhha propogated or Lao Tzu's TAO.
What is worship?
Most think that by going to a temple singing bhajans etc. is worship.
Worship is all about surrendering the EGO and only when the *I* drops that we merge with that universal energy or god. Worship is a form to indirectly reach the no-mind. Zen attempts the root of the process by trying to directly reach no-mind by other forms like worship, bhajans, Yoga, Tai-chi, wtc. are WAYS /PATHS to reach the same place/ goal.
Love & rgds

Atman, so worship anything at any time but with the understanding of what you are trying to achive.
Love & rgds

[ramesh]

There's only One God, who takes on various forms to complete certain tasks, once these are over these forms (avatars) return unto Him. There is no difference between avatar and the avataari (cause of the avatar), they are the One and same. However there will be no avatar without the avataari.

In saying this, I see Ram bhagwan, Krishna Bhagwan, Shiv Bhagwan and all the other countless manifestations as forms of the One Supreme God, whom I believe to be the Lord who resides in Akshardham, Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

[Hema]

God is both formless and formed according to Hinduism.

OM POORNAMADAH POORNAMIDAM
POORNAAT POORNAMUDACHYATE
POORNASYA POORNAMAADAAYA
POORNAMEVAAVASHISHYATE
OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTIH

THAT (BRAHMAN) IS WHOLE
THIS (CREATION) IS ALSO WHOLE
FROM THAT WHOLE (I.E. BRAHMAN ONLY)
THIS WHOLE HAS COME OUT (CREATION)
BUT EVEN THOUGH THIS WHOLE HAS COME
OUT OF THAT WHOLE
YET THAT WHOLE REMAINS WHOLE ONLY

Therefore, creation (which is formed) is equal to Brahman who is also formless.

[TurkeyOnRye]

I am an atheist, so I am essentially my own god, in a sense.

Originally Posted by Somkid

Well, I'm not Hindu (maybe a little) but I have Gaṇeśa on my dashboard next to Kwan Yin, Sakyamuni Buddha, Hotie (Fat Buddha) and a little Thai Buddha that covers his eyes so he doesn't see all the bad stuff I do.

I have a great statue of the Buddha who sits on the floor in the living room.

[Aupmanyav]

Glad to meet you, I too am an atheist. There is no God in the world. And everything from Alexander to a stone in the river is Brahman. There is nothing else. 'Eko Brahma, Dwiteeyo Nasti'. (Please note Brahman is not a God, it is the substrate which constitutes the universe)

[zenzero]

Friend AUpmanyav,

(Please note Brahman is not a God, it is the substrate which constitutes the universe)

Can you kindly explain this point further?
Love & rgds

[zenzero]

Friend AUpmanyav,

(Please note Brahman is not a God, it is the substrate which constitutes the universe)

Can you kindly explain this point further?
Love & rgds

[Hema]

Originally Posted by TurkeyOnRye

I am an atheist, so I am essentially my own god, in a sense.

Well Hinduism says that we are God ourselves because we are not the physical body, we are the Spirit...which is God's Spirit.

[Aupmanyav]

Nice to return back to the forum and spar with you, Hema. I would put it the other way. We are the physical body and everything in the universe, i.e., Brahman is physical; and there is no God or Spirit, that is what we imagine.

Zenzero, the attributes we give to God go like this: He creates us, we pray to Him, He is kind, He judges, He rewards us for good deeds and punishes for wrong deeds, He helps us when we have any problem, etc. Brahman does not do any such thing. It neither creates us or destroys us, that is our illusion. Brahman is un-involved, our prayers do not affect It. It does not juge. It does not help when we have problems, we have to look after ourselves.

Of course, the idea of God is a big psychological help for all people and the idea of His anger is a big fear to stop us in doing something which is against the interests of the society. I would not say that the idea is without value. But then, is not the Truth. That is how it goes with me. Of course, different people will take it in different ways, and I have no objection to it. Samsara is what Brahman looks like to us. Hindu books say, 'Sarve Khalvidam Brahma' (All things here are Brahman).

[zenzero]

Friend Aupmanyav,Since there arose a doubt in your words, BUt now you have confirmed it THAT the Brahman that you talk about is your own personal view and not what has been generally attributed to Brahman who is the creator.There is no problem with what ever you wish to take Brahman as, so far you find it beneficial.Regards the Physical form can only say that one sees what what one is. A physical body will see another body a spirit will see other spirits etc. Both are True and both are false depending on what one is trying to see.God as I have discussed before is a concept which is different for each individual and so are the differences amongst people; or else there would not have been so many posts and discussions here at RF.Love & rgds