Do some Buddhists really worship Buddha as God | Page 3 | Loving Kindness: A Buddhism Guild | Guild Forums

Tenzin Chodron
Crew

Offline

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:44 am

Harvested Sorrow

I think it's due to the most popular religions ('the big three') being based around worship. People assume that all other religions are like theirs and based on worship of a god of some sort.

That's sensible, and because of the prevalence of Chinese culture in contemporary Western civilization, most people's exposure to images of the Buddha are of the Bodhisattva Hotei who, while he wasn't Śakyamuni, he was still very popular.

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:40 pm

Harvested Sorrow

I think it's due to the most popular religions ('the big three') being based around worship. People assume that all other religions are like theirs and based on worship of a god of some sort.

Yeah >< Religion is typically associated with worship..

Peace Love And Skate

Offline

Harvested Sorrow

Offline

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:41 pm

Ligier the Green Sun

Harvested Sorrow

I think it's due to the most popular religions ('the big three') being based around worship. People assume that all other religions are like theirs and based on worship of a god of some sort.

That's sensible, and because of the prevalence of Chinese culture in contemporary Western civilization, most people's exposure to images of the Buddha are of the Bodhisattva Hotei who, while he wasn't Śakyamuni, he was still very popular.

That too. People all go into a Chinese restaurant, see the smiling fat guy on an altar and think that must be Buddha.... gonk

There are even those shirts about it....which would be hilarious if they weren't painfully stupid. >_>

"I have the body of a God...unfortunately it's a Buddha."

Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:10 pm

Many people view Buddhism differently, although it is said that the Buddha himself has told his disciples NOT to worship him as a deity, there are still popular Buddhist schools such as the Pure Land Buddhism that does believe in such worship.

However, I don't believe in Buddha as a God, he is simply a living being that has reached the state of enlightenment. One of the readings I've read in my university course on Buddhism states that we are all capable of being a Buddha. (of course, that is not as easy as it sounds, as one has to denounce all cravings and understand the reality as it really is, but I won't go on rambling about how to become a Buddha)

melonsoda

Offline

Unlucky_Furball

Offline

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 11:46 pm

the principle of what buddah teaches is more to follow and to pay respect to buddah is important

Welcome to Gaia! ::

Gaia Guilds

Loving Kindness: A Buddhism Guild

Quick Reply

More Information