Sand Dancer
Crazy Cat Lady
I really like Buddhism but I believe in God. Is there a way to meld the two?
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Can a Buddhist believe in God?
- Thread starter Sand Dancer
- Start date
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
You can retain your theism on a personal level if you wish. There are certainly theists engaged with Buddhism and oftentimes it's practiced in tandem with other religions without conflict.
After leaving Christianity, I believed in God for around two years before deciding to just focus solely on Buddhism without God. That's because I pursued the practice and needed a clear mindset for it.
Anyone can benefit, although after awhile you probably will realise a belief in God can prove distracting.
However for holistic benefits like maintaining wellness and such, there shouldn't be any problems should you find letting go of your beliefs unacceptable.
Any further it's advised to let go completely " all beliefs ye who enter the gate".
I remember that being said to me. I liked it. :0)
Take Care. :0)
After leaving Christianity, I believed in God for around two years before deciding to just focus solely on Buddhism without God. That's because I pursued the practice and needed a clear mindset for it.
Anyone can benefit, although after awhile you probably will realise a belief in God can prove distracting.
However for holistic benefits like maintaining wellness and such, there shouldn't be any problems should you find letting go of your beliefs unacceptable.
Any further it's advised to let go completely " all beliefs ye who enter the gate".
I remember that being said to me. I liked it. :0)
Take Care. :0)
Many people assure me that it is so.
It seems to me that it depends mostly on how you conceive God and its role.
It seems to me that it depends mostly on how you conceive God and its role.
Sand Dancer
Crazy Cat Lady
Are there any schools that are more amenable to Theism than others?
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Gjallarhorn
N'yog-Sothep
A supreme creator god? Doesn't work.
Any number of created benevolent god concepts? Sure.
http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/2107114-post1.html
Any number of created benevolent god concepts? Sure.
http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/2107114-post1.html
You might want to know Pure Land Buddhism. Or perhaps Vajrayana.
Sand Dancer
Crazy Cat Lady
Thanks!
Although there are many who would say "no", from what I understand the stance that Buddhism takes is neutral. That God is not really necessary.
However, there are plenty of Buddhist theists and as long as they are good, compassionate people, then does it really matter if they believe in God or not?
However, there are plenty of Buddhist theists and as long as they are good, compassionate people, then does it really matter if they believe in God or not?
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Overall it probably dosent matter to a degree , yet maintaining thiestic positions can distract enough to interfere enough with certain types of clarity the practice will bring about with a settled and calm mind.
apophenia
Well-Known Member
Not at all.
Vajrayana buddhism uses images of deities in various visualisation practices, but it is made explicit by the lamas that these deities represent aspects of mind.
Were you ever told by a lama that deities actually exist apart from the mind ?
I think I can guarantee that you were not ever told this by a Tibetan lama, unless he was playing a game or making a joke.
I was surprised recently when I found that hindus here on RF were deeply insulted when I suggested that belief in the objective existence of deities was superstition. But I have been in the company of many lamas, and I assure you that they do not believe in the existence of 'gods' in that sense.
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Deva758
Member
Apophenia: I don't recall saying that the lamas were teaching the existence of gods.
I said it was "compatible," not that it was taught. I also said Buddhism is about a different subject.
You read a lot into my post that wasn't there.
I have not read or heard anything in 7 years of studying Buddhism that says Gods absolutely do not exist.
I said it was "compatible," not that it was taught. I also said Buddhism is about a different subject.
You read a lot into my post that wasn't there.
I have not read or heard anything in 7 years of studying Buddhism that says Gods absolutely do not exist.
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payak
Active Member
I used to contemplate this for years as a monk.
I believe that god is not a being sitting somewhere watching over us.
God is an energy that flows through everything, everywhere, prefer to call god natures mind, however that mind id every where at once.
That is what governs nature, and karma, like a mindfull chi.
So we are all connected through it, it is within us and we are within it.
The universe is our home, the earth our school and each life a lesson created for our spiritual growth by this energy.
To please it and ourselves we must do right until we are not perfect but good enough to stop the rebirth cycle.
Heaven is just a place in nature like a valley or a forest and the mindful energy in everything will likely set out our lives and then it is up to us to live them in a positive manner.
I believe that god is not a being sitting somewhere watching over us.
God is an energy that flows through everything, everywhere, prefer to call god natures mind, however that mind id every where at once.
That is what governs nature, and karma, like a mindfull chi.
So we are all connected through it, it is within us and we are within it.
The universe is our home, the earth our school and each life a lesson created for our spiritual growth by this energy.
To please it and ourselves we must do right until we are not perfect but good enough to stop the rebirth cycle.
Heaven is just a place in nature like a valley or a forest and the mindful energy in everything will likely set out our lives and then it is up to us to live them in a positive manner.
I dig Luis' answer.
Actually, I think a lot of theists could benefit from not making a false idol of god(s).
That finiteness is where I think theism trips people up, and division starts.
The Jonang sect of Vajrayana maintain an eternal quality to the Buddha-nature...
Could just be semantics in some's opinion, and could be heresy to another.
Actually, I think a lot of theists could benefit from not making a false idol of god(s).
That finiteness is where I think theism trips people up, and division starts.
The Jonang sect of Vajrayana maintain an eternal quality to the Buddha-nature...
Could just be semantics in some's opinion, and could be heresy to another.
Sand Dancer
Crazy Cat Lady
Bad karma, guys. 
Gjallarhorn
N'yog-Sothep
Bad karma, guys.
Care to elaborate?
Sand Dancer
Crazy Cat Lady
Saying there's no God in Buddhism! Jus' kiddin'.
