Can a Buddhist believe in God?

[Jaskaran Singh]

Noble Jas,

I am sure you are talking about me. I pervade everywhere. I am all-pervading. I am the light that flows from the darkness as well as the darkness that envelops. I, and I only, am this pervading. So, Jas. Will you do your part and worship me and offer me the fire rituals that I deem appropriate? Will you offer me those milky oblations? Will you do your part and acknowledge my pervading?

LOL. Actually, I just provided the most common translation (usually used by advaitinaḥ as a Vaiṣṇava, I personally like to break it up differently and view it as being expressing in ājhāyām̐loṭlakāra; that is, "this all is controlled by the Lord" [īśa -the Lord; ávāsyàm -controlled by; idaṃ --this sárvam -all] rather than "by this lord, everything is pervaded" (īśā́ - by the lord; vāsyàm -- is pervaded; idaṃ --this; sárvam - everything). Nonetheless, either way you look at it, it's true that it doesn't specify which lord.

Edit: BTW, in our paramparā, we don't do the gharmáḥ offering until śrāvaṇāmāvāsyā. Plus, I don't worship people. Just sayin'
Double Edit: This is totally off topic, but you said you were Gujarāti, right? I'm wondering if you could tell me what they're saying in this bhajan. I can understand some of what they're saying, but not all of it; still, the tune is really addicting:

[youtube]WvQIEWQD0PA[/youtube]

 

[ladybug77]

This interests me...what is your belief in God was that 'God' was pure conscience thought? Isnt that where meditation gets you? To a state of pure conscience thought? Then likewise, Buddism would bring you closer to 'God'.

 

[Me Myself]

A buddhist in believe in God.

I dont know if Buddha can believe in god, but I promise that if I ever meet a buddha, I will ask hir such (after I kill hir )

 

[LuisDantas]

This interests me...what is your belief in God was that 'God' was pure conscience thought? Isnt that where meditation gets you? To a state of pure conscience thought? Then likewise, Buddism would bring you closer to 'God'.

Perhaps. It would be still at the very least arguable that actually using such a concept and naming it "God" is unskillful.

 

[LuisDantas]

But secularism is dismissive of spirituality.

In your conception, but not in reality.

 

[ladybug77]

Perhaps. It would be still at the very least arguable that actually using such a concept and naming it "God" is unskillful.

Indeed. Well....actually applying this concept of 'all conscience thought'...it wouldnt be named: 'God'. But there is no reference point to explain the concept, and no name suitable otherwise.So in calling the concept: 'God' its a beginning point. An identifying point...that is so broad and vague...that its not confusing, as much as it is open for oppurtunity for understanding. Thats why we are all here on this forum i believe...to open up to oppurtunities...to realize science wont ever prove it all...then that drives us batty for awhile. Lol. To realize we all have different beliefs, and ultimately find our own way. I believe 'God' is a concept.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

In your conception, but not in reality.

No, in my experience of Buddhism, atheism, secularism and spirituality, all of which are extensive.
Unless you have some research findings which contradict my observation?

 

[Rick O'Shez]

Do you see the difference?

Not really. I think you're projecting.

 

[Poeticus]

Nonetheless, either way you look at it, it's true that it doesn't specify which lord.

That's interesting. It's probably for the better that there isn't a specification on which lord.

Edit: BTW, in our paramparā, we don't do the gharmáḥ offering until śrāvaṇāmāvāsyā. Plus, I don't worship people. Just sayin'
Double Edit: This is totally off topic, but you said you were Gujarāti, right? I'm wondering if you could tell me what they're saying in this bhajan. I can understand some of what they're saying, but not all of it; still, the tune is really addicting:

[youtube]WvQIEWQD0PA[/youtube]

[/COLOR][/I][/B]

1. You should still worship me, brah.
2. “Lovely it feels to me to be at the feet of Shri Nathji. I left all past work to be at the feet of Shri Nathji. Lovely it feels to me to be at the feet of Shri Nathji. “
Something about Tulsi mala. “May my house be at the feet of Shri Nathji”. Then, repeat the first two. But, you'll like this tune also, by the ever-famous Hemant Chauhan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD6IzTMOEi0&feature=player_embedded#at=69
3. Witness the Buddhists and their infighting! Muahahaha! (evil laugh)

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

I think I've found an easy answer to the question, without having to delve into all the philosophy stuff behind any of it:

The question is: Can a Buddhist believe in God?

Answer: yes, but they don't have to.

 

[metis]

Maybe because it was an inherently spiritual society, where "secular" wouldn't really have a meaning?

Yes, so there was no "separation of church and state" with them. This was not at all unusual, btw, as we saw much the same throughout most of the world, including with religions like Judaism and Islam, whereas "religion" is much more than just a set of beliefs and going to services but also is a lifestyle.

 

[LuisDantas]

Indeed. Well....actually applying this concept of 'all conscience thought'...it wouldnt be named: 'God'. But there is no reference point to explain the concept, and no name suitable otherwise.So in calling the concept: 'God' its a beginning point. An identifying point...that is so broad and vague...that its not confusing, as much as it is open for oppurtunity for understanding. Thats why we are all here on this forum i believe...to open up to oppurtunities...to realize science wont ever prove it all...then that drives us batty for awhile. Lol. To realize we all have different beliefs, and ultimately find our own way. I believe 'God' is a concept.

I think you miss the point. The word "God" is much too loaded to be advisable. Mainly because it lacks a clear meaning yet causes the illusion of one.

Edited to add: please check this post of mine from another thread in another DIR for some elaboration on this matter.

 

[LuisDantas]

No, in my experience of Buddhism, atheism, secularism and spirituality, all of which are extensive.
Unless you have some research findings which contradict my observation?

Is that a question?

 

[ladybug77]

I think you miss the point. The word "God" is much too loaded to be advisable. Mainly because it lacks a clear meaning yet causes the illusion of one.

Edited to add: please check this post of mine from another thread in another DIR for some elaboration on this matter.

Well...i get the point. The orginal question is can a buddist believe in God? And because it lacks a clear meaning...it would depend on what 'God' is to the individual.

 

[crossfire]

Yes, so there was no "separation of church and state" with them. This was not at all unusual, btw, as we saw much the same throughout most of the world, including with religions like Judaism and Islam, whereas "religion" is much more than just a set of beliefs and going to services but also is a lifestyle.

However, Buddha was quite secular in separating monastics and state. {See post #144 of this thread for suttas.}

 

[ratikala]

namaste :namaste

However, Buddha was quite secular in separating monastics and state. {See post #144 of this thread for suttas.}

a secularist ; seperates himself from religion and concentrates on non religios persuits , he engages in the material and worldly concerns .

if one seperates onself from worldly concerns to exclusively follow a monastic or religious path ones concerns are of spiritual rather than temporal nature he becomes a monasticist or a religionist .

secular dosent mean to seperate , it means worldly , or pertaining to the world , ....Buddha pertains to spiritual persuit of enlightenment not to worldliness .


to be '' quite secular '' would mean to be quite worldly . the Buddha was not worldly and did not have worldly concerns thus he spoke on the seperation of monastic life from worldly concerns .

 

[ratikala]

That's interesting. It's probably for the better that there isn't a specification on which lord.



1. You should still worship me, brah.
2. “Lovely it feels to me to be at the feet of Shri Nathji. I left all past work to be at the feet of Shri Nathji. Lovely it feels to me to be at the feet of Shri Nathji. “
Something about Tulsi mala. “May my house be at the feet of Shri Nathji”. Then, repeat the first two. But, you'll like this tune also, by the ever-famous Hemant Chauhan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD6IzTMOEi0&feature=player_embedded#at=69
3. Witness the Buddhists and their infighting! Muahahaha! (evil laugh)

jai jai dearest brother :namaste , these buddhists that argue against the divine nature of lord buddha do not realise his true nature unfortunately they fear surrender , and do not realise that he pervades the hearts of all , ......what more need I say ... ..... sharanam mamah

 

[ratikala]

namaste :namaste

Well...i get the point. The orginal question is can a buddist believe in God? And because it lacks a clear meaning...it would depend on what 'God' is to the individual.

prehaps if luis doesnt feel comfortable with the word god , .... we could use the term divinity ?

can a buddhist belive in divinity ?

 

[LuisDantas]

namaste :namaste



prehaps if luis doesnt feel comfortable with the word god , .... we could use the term divinity ?

can a buddhist belive in divinity ?

As a concept? Sure.

It is still a bit too loaded for me to actually advise using it, though. It is, after all, just a slight un-personification of the word "god".

I have found out that focusing on a sense of the sacred is far more advisable from a practice point. That such a sense is diffuse is kind of the point, or even entirely the point.

 

[KriyaUK]

This disheartened theist shall go away now.:sad4:

Do not be disheartened!

One thing about Buddhism is that is should be void of judgement. There is no such thing as a 'bad Buddhist' or a Buddhist who is 'doing it wrong', or who is foolish because they believe in god (small case or upper case!).

Those that judge a Buddhist, for any reason, it could be said are less Buddhist for doing so.

Believing in God (in whatever form) need not detract nor lessen your Buddhist practice one bit. You can be the perfect Buddhist, even achieve enlightenment or reach the Pure Lands, while believing in God.

I believe in an inifite first cause creator of the universe. I believe that the "I" that I am, is neither my body nor my mind, but an expression of God; the infitinite beloved. Yoga is a way of connecting and experiencing this, as a blissful awareness, not impeded by the thoughts of the mind.

Believing in a God within the context of Buddhism, is really no different to believing that a Ford is a better car than an a GM (or vice versa) within the context of Buddhism!

..... Interpret your reality as you experience it.

So you most certainly CAN believe in god as you see god, and be a happy and successful Buddhist.

:yes: