do buddhist believe in god?
355819
We first need to distinguish two types of "god". \nThe first type is God as creator of the universe etc. This kind of God does not exist in Buddhism. \nThe second type is a divine or supernatural being, and of these one could simply say there are two kinds of gods in Buddhism:\nNot all living beings live on planet earth, or would even be visible to us. One could say that these creatures live in different dimensions from us.  Some of these creatures experience because of their karma (past actions) almost exclusively happiness, and these are called Devas (Skt.) or gods. However, these gods are still within the cycles of uncontrolled rebirth and can be reborn in the 'lower realms' once their positive store of karma is exhausted.\nIf one defines a god as a supernatural being, one could say that a Buddha or an Arya being are "supernatural" in the sense that they are not bound to the same realms of cyclic existence as we are, and they are said to possess supernatural powers (siddhis). \n\nA Buddha is said to know everything, but not omnipotent (all-powerful). The logical reasoning behind this last is that if a Buddha would be omnipotent, He/She would instantly remove suffering from the universe, because compassion for all sentient beings (wishing to free alll from suffering) is the main motivation to become a Buddha.
471848
To start with, Christianity has a problem with any faith that does not conform to the doctrines set forth in their bible. Buddhism does not conform to their teachings in any way.\n\nFirst and foremost, the argument is that the bible does not recognizes Buddha as one of gods messengers. And if it is NOT in the bible, it is not the truth. \n\nChristians teach that there is one god and only one god.  => Buddhism teaches that there are many devas and none are worthy pf praise for they are just beings trapped in Samsara. (The cycle of life, death and rebirth.) \n\nChristians believe that Jesus was the son of god and thus, god himself. => Buddhists do not share this belief because gods are not omnipotent creators to be praised. \n\nChristians believe in a soul...a sprit that lives on after the death of the body => Buddhist do not. There is no self that lingers or move on or anything.  There is no 'self'. There is just the essence of the Chita. \n\nChristens believe in a heaven with their god  => Buddhist do not have a belief in heaven. \n\nChristians believe that Jesus died to free them of their sins.  => Buddhist do not believe in sin. There is karma, and only we can change the outcome our actions and thoughts will have on us, not some god.\n\nChristians believe that only the chosen will be liberated and go to heaven. => Buddhist believe that ALL beings can be liberated and attain enlightenment. \n\nChristians believe that the catalyst for their salvation is external to themselves, via god.  => Buddhist believe that the catalyst for enlightenment can ONLY be found within ourselves...our unborn Buddha Mind! \n\nThere are many other arguments, but these are the most prominent. \n\nI hope this helps.
214088
Does GOD believe in you?????
673991
Most Buddhists do not view Buddha as a god. He was a man who had reached enlightenment - thus not a god to pray to but just a man they should aspire to become like. \n\nThere is not a 'Bible' in Buddhism but most, if not all, would agree that the major teaching of Buddhism is the Four Noble Truths along with the Eight fold path.\n\nThe four noble truths are : \n\n1. Life is suffering\n2. Suffering is caused by desire (I have also heard attachment instead of desire)\n3. Suffering can be alleviated by avoiding desire (or seeking unattachment)\n4. Follow the eight fold path to achieve unattachment (or lack of desire)\n\nEight fold path : \n\nRight view/understanding\nRight intention/aim\nRight speech\nRight action\nRight livelihood\nRight effort\nRight mind fullness\nRight concentration \n\nThere is a sect of Buddhism I believe it's called Mahayana that is religious Buddhism instead of philosophical and they do view Buddha as a god and worship him as thus though this is not the view of the majority of those who consider themselves Buddhist. \n\n(this is what I wrote to answer another similiar question) \n\nI would say the major theme is living a 'right' life by following the eight fold path to achieve enlightenment.
224142
I am Buddhist but I understand that christianity believes the Bible to be the word of God. In Buddhism we have  writtings which are said to be the word\nof the Buddha - these are called the Sutras. This literature\nis vast - you couldnt fit it in your pocket. For example one of the largest Sutras which was the basis of many of the Chinese and Japanese Buddhist schools is called the Flower Ornament Sutra - this Sutra alone is bigger than the Bible.\n\nBuddhism also has many later texts which are commentaries on these Sutras, there are also the Tantras and other inspired texts written by other teachers.\n\nSo why is there so much written in Buddhism? Well Buddhism\nis a very complete science of the mind and how to awaken for\nevery different type of being with all their differences and their complexities.\n\nSo what should we carry around with us? Well the first thing\nin Buddhism is really to learn meditation - so going to\na qualified meditation teacher and learning meditation is the first step. You then have that with you at all times.\n\nGood luck\nBodhicitta
84706
I dont think people neccessarily need "God"... people just need "something" to believe in. When you think about it, people believe in God because they need a purpose in their life. They need to believe that there is a reason to live...something to look forward to, something to believe in. For some people, its God, for others its buddah, or the Sun.. and for me... its karma. I believe I exist because things happen for a reason... and good things will come to those who do good things. To me, all of those things are the same... its just how people conceptualize them and what they do with it. :)
891640
I am going to tell you the truth, nothing but the truth.  Buddhism is a man made religion or man make God.  You can never reach the God through  Buddha.  Religion could be categorized into two, namely man-made and God's religion.  Your conscience would be able to tell you what is wrong or right.  God created us not Buddha, he is just a human like you and me.  If a person can be declared as a God after death, you and I and the rest of the people in the world will Gods and Goddesses.
303490
So Buddhism and Christianity by definition are different religions, and one should be careful when trying to "mix" them. For example, Buddhism does not believe in a "creator-God" who controls the world and similarly, Christianity does not believe in karma or rebirth. \nOn the other hand, it may not be a bad idea to look at what we can learn from each other: the beautiful Christian practice of helping others in need is just as useful to Buddhists, as Buddhist meditation techniques can help Christians.\n\nmeditation (there's nothing 'spiritual' or 'buddhism' about it):\nThe practice of meditation basically complements the inherent nature of your mind. The negative patterns that we talked about--aggression and anger--are not inherent characteristics of the mind. So when you practice meditation and begin to relate to the inherent state of the mind, these enlightened qualities can surface, and the intensity and frequency of the habitual patterns are subdued. Then you can discover such potential qualities as compassion and loving-kindness.\n\nprayer in buddhism:\nBuddhists don’t pray to a Creator God, but they do have devotional meditation practices which could be compared to praying. Radiating loving-kindness to all living beings is a practice which is believed to benefit those beings.\n\nin buddhism: chanting mantra (prayer) & meditation compliment each other.\n\nin christianity: prayer is a communication with god. meditation is a stress relieving method (like yoga). they don't compliment each other by most christian denominations.\n\nin buddhism:\nUnlike other religions, it does not even attempt to answer questions like 'What is the purpose of life, the universe and everything?' . Buddhism regards such questions as at best unanswerable and probably intrinsically meaningless. The only purpose of life is what we personally give to our own lives. Buddha suggested that the most meaningful use of life was to seek liberation from ignorance, suffering and the cycle of samsaric rebirth, both for one's self and others. But this 'meaning' does not reside 'in the sky' or in any way outside of the individual, and it cannot be imposed, but must be freely chosen.\nMost other religions go further than Buddhism, and if asked 'What is the purpose of life, the universe and everything?' will usually come up with an answer along the lines of 'To fulfil the will of God.' \nThis invites the further question of 'What is the will of God', which usually brings forth an answer to the effect that 'God's will is to create life, the universe and everything'.
263601
Yes I do. But I don't believe in religion, because religion generally preaches intolerance and attributes human traits to god, which I think is inaccurate. I do believe that a loving and beautiful entity created us, and that it is "god" or whatever you feel more comfortable calling it. But I believe many things, using a mixture of logic and instinct. My instincts tell me there is a presence that loves us all. But that is just my simple understanding. Any suffering that we feel is our own creation, so the argument that "why would god cause pain" is an inaccurate argument. God, I believe, has infinite patience, and that is why we cause eachother pain without being stricken from the earth. And that is why I think that the atheist logic is flawed as well. Both sides use either the bible or "logic" to either bring down or deny god for their own agendas. Both sides use emotions, mostly anger; anger at god or anger at those who deny god. Please understand that I am not trying to bash anyone, this is just people that I have known personally, not everybody. Suffering is an emotion, which is a blessing and a curse, to quote a cliche.  With true enlightenment can come love and happiness, and for me that enlightenment is my bond with my creator. I feel happier than I have in years, and it gets better every day that I allow it inside. Every time I try to understand another human being and their pain and joy I think that things are more clear to me. I used to be agnostic, because of my anger at god, but one day, I just realized that my pain didn't have to own me. God is not something you can logically prove, or logically disprove, it is just something you believe one way or the other.
1089042
I doubt a Buddhist has ever killed someone for not believing in Buddhism.  In fact, throughout its history, Buddhism has been continuely threatened by the fact that its members refuse to go out and convert others.
493861
Some do, yes, but probably not in a traditional way. I am a UU, and I have christians who believe in the divinity of Jesus in my congregation as well as those who do not (like me). I believe in a primitive Christianity in the sense that I believe that Jesus was a very good, holy person, a great prophet & philosopher. I think anyone would be well to emulate Jesus in their personal life. I don't believe he was God, though, and do not believe that there is only one way to God. \n\nAs I understand it, the "traditional" christians in the UU do think Jesus was God incarnate, but also believe, as I do, that there is not only one path to God. There are many religions, and all of them have merit. I do not think that God would be so close minded as to create all the world, then allow only one narrow path to find him. I also do not believe that God would prohibit, say, the Dalai Lama from his presence, just because he did not follow one doctrine or another, as he is a good, holy person.\n\nSo, yes, there are still christian UU's, but probably not too many, and not very traditional, in the strict sense.
937621
Not really.\n\nMost religions use an external belief in a 'God' or 'Jesus' to develop love and morality in their minds.\n\nBuddhists believe it is up to the individual to develop these traits. That's why Buddhism is sometimes called 'mind training' or a philosophy and not a religion.
1026231
God does not believe in a Supreme Being (relative to himself) or religion, by definition, God is an atheist.\n\nHumans invent Gods in their own images, so you might say he is within everyone.
806681
Buddhists don't believe that life is suffering, thats a common misunderstanding.. If one studies the texts, they will find that it says things like attachment, anger, and Indulgence in life cause suffering... Buddhists know that "Buddha" will save them from suffering, but not the actual human being, but what he represents...  \n\n         As many of you know, the physical form of the Buddha represents the highest spiritual mastery in which one can relate to his or her mind.. In this sense Buddha potential is what can save you... But the only one that can save you from suffering in life is yourself, by analyzing why you suffer, what suffers, and what course of action will be best to ease suffering.. \n\n         I know that compassion and wisdom are the main focal point when learning about Buddhist practices... Its like this, Jesus doesn't save people, his example saves people... Its when we start to follow these examples (adjusted to our situation and surroundings) that we begin to be saved... pretty much though, Losing selfishness will lose your expectations and problems, and give you freedom of mind and body, thus losing suffering which will ultimately save you... hope this helps.. cheers!
912556
Hindus believe in a variety of things, such that it is hard to classify Hindu beliefs.  But in general, Hindus believe that there is one God, but that this One God has made Himself/Herself known in many ways, through various forms and names.\nGod is believed to be in all things, although not the same as material objects.  He is IN all, but he is not ALL.  (so it's not really pantheism).\n\nSince God is in all, this is why many Hindus believe that God can be worshiped by means of murtis, or images.  God is present within the image, though not the same as the image itself.\n\nHindus believe in reincarnation, and that salvation from the cycle of rebirths (samsara) is possible.  There are many paths to salvation in Hinduism.  There is the path of knowledge, where one learns the scriptures and the philosophy as a means to breaking free from the constraints of human existence.  There is the path of devotion, which is just living a life of devotion to God, where one considers God as his close companion and friend.\nThere is a path of work, where one offers all his actions to God.  He does what is right, works hard, and is not himself attached to the results.  In other words, he does not work just to gain money or prestige, but only for the sake of following God.\nThere are also methods such as meditation, and yoga and other spiritual practices.
292511
My religion is self-righteousness.  I don't mean this in a holier-than-thou way, but that I follow my conscience.  I, for example, really appreciate the way Sikhs wear scarves inside their temples.  It signifies a respect for diety that I admire.  They also hold open kitchens, where anybody is allowed to eat regardless of religion or race.  Zen buddhists believe that words have absolutely no meaning, and as a huge part of practice, they meditate.  Christians believe in Jesus Christ as the second in the trinity (Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit being the other two).\n\nMyself, I practice Christianity.  But also, I know that there is truth to other religions, and I embrace the traditions that do not conflict with my base beliefs.
1153403
yes , there is , read from the BIBLE, or the Q'RAN or the teachings of BUDDA.. they will all guide you to a happier way.\n wherther you believe in GOD or not the teachings in those books are "the rules of living" and are as valid as the laws of physics..... i know there are doubters,,,, but they are wrong....