Talk:Creator in Buddhism

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Discussion, heated or otherwise, about the "God in Buddhism" page goes here...

Dalai lama´s answers about adi buddha

maybe this: http://hhdl.dharmakara.net/hhdlquotes22.html would add something of interest to the article?

Proposed Edit

I propose removing the sentence "In Buddhism, the sole aim of spiritual practice is the complete alleviation of stress in samsara,[6][7] which is called nirvana[]" in the introduction. The citations do not support the proposition that the relief of stress is the "sole aim of spiritual practice." The cited support is the Buddha's statement in the Alagaddupama Sutra "Both formerly and now, monks, I declare only stress and the cessation of stress. [14]". He says this in the context of a discourse on being. The footnote [14] states:

"Some have suggested, citing SN 12.15, that this passage means that there are only two things happening in reality: stress and the cessation of stress. However, in the context of SN 22.86, where this statement also occurs, it clearly means simply that the Buddha is selective in the topics he chooses to address. In that discourse, he is refusing to take a stand on questions regarding the ontological status of the Tathagata after death. Here he is refusing to take a stand on the related question of the status of the "existing being" (see note 13). In every case, the Buddha chooses to take a stand only on questions where the process of answering would be conducive to Awakening. On this point, see MN 63 and SN 56.31."

Hence it is clear that there is no scholarly consensus that the cited sutra supports the statement that relief of stress is the sole aim of spiritual practice

The statement that the alleviation of stress is the "sole aim of spiritual practice" and that this is nirvana is not universally true for all Buddhism. For example, the Lotus Sutra states in Chapter 2:

"The Buddha addressed Shariputra: 'The buddha-tathagatas teach only bodhisattvas. Whatever they do is always for one purpose, that is, to take the Buddha-knowledge and reveal it to all living beings. Shariputra! The Tathagata, by means of the One Buddha-vehicle,14 preaches to all living beings the Law; there is no other vehicle, neither a second nor a third. Shariputra! The laws of all the buddhas in the universe also are like this. Shariputra! The buddhas in times past, by infinite, numberless tactful ways and with various reasonings and parabolic expressions, expounded the laws for the sake of all living beings. All these laws are for the One Buddha-vehicle, [so that] all those living beings, who have heard the Law from the buddhas, might all finally obtain perfect knowledge.'"

http://www.rk-world.org/publications/lotussutra_B2.html

And later in Ch. 16:

"By tactful methods I reveal nirvana, Yet truly I am not [yet] extinct But forever here preaching the Law. I forever remain in this [world], Using all my spiritual powers So that all perverted creatures, Though I am near, yet fail to see me. All looking on me as extinct Everywhere worship my relics, All cherishing longing desires, And beget thirsting hearts of hope. [When] all creatures have believed and obeyed, In [character] upright, in mind gentle, Wholeheartedly wishing to see the Buddha, Not caring for their own lives, Then I with all the Samgha Appear together on the Divine Vulture Peak. And then I tell all creatures That I exist forever in this [world], By the power of tactful methods Revealing [myself] extinct and not extinct."

http://www.rk-world.org/publications/lotussutra_B16.html

Thus for at least some schools, while the alleviation of stress is consistent with the goal of spiritual practice, the Buddha's practice is "for one purpose, that is, to take the Buddha-knowledge and reveal it to all living beings," which is not the same as nirvana since "By tactful methods I reveal nirvana, Yet truly I am not [yet] extinct But forever here preaching the Law." As the Buddha's practice is to make all being like Him, then perforce that is a goal of Buddhist practice.

I do not propose at this stage adding this as it is one view, although I suggest a right one. Since the article is about God in Buddhism, I don't think any statement about "the sole aim of spiritual practice" is needed, and hence deletion of the sentence would not diminish the entry. Lotuslaw (talk) 15:50, 18 February 2015 (UTC)LotuslawLotuslaw (talk) 15:50, 18 February 2015 (UTC)

Here's a thought

I believe it was Prof. Houston Smith who suggests that there are three phases in the development of religion: the priestly, the philosophical and then the devotional. Prof Smith explains the first transition (which seems to have taken place around 800-500 BCE) as dissatisfaction of a growing intellectual stratum in ancient societies with the simplistic priestly model. But the second phase is the dissatisfaction of the common folks with the heady models of the universe proposed by the thinkers, and the re-appearance of deities who could be worshiped and plied for requests to save a sick daughter or a crop. This clearly took place in Hinduism with the Bhakti movement of 300 BCE and on.

It seems fairly obvious that the Mahayana movement, which appeared around the same time as the Bhakti movement began, aimed to "compete" (facing the marketplace realities of religions of the time) with this movement, and began the move to make Buddhism more appealing to the general population. They did so by declaring the Buddha to be divine and allowing the inclusion of folk lore (the spirits, devas etc) into Buddhist lore. The Mahayana even went as far as to call themselves the "Great Vehicle" suggesting they were looking for a broader appeal than the early narrow monastic tradition.

This (Mahayana) version of Buddhism, was to all intents and purposes a religion, pure and simple. Hinduism admits to these two different "paths". Why doesn't Buddhism? It feels as though these discussion pages are sometimes in denial of the realities of Buddhist worship in the temples that I have seen. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck...

--50.68.134.51 (talk) 02:11, 26 January 2016 (UTC)