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shunyadragon · Jan 24, 2004, 09:51 am

</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (Man Against Time,)
Buddhism does not, as i'm sure you know, worship any god's, yet a lot of the teaching's talk of the God's.

It does not "worship" Gods- Prince Sidharta did indeed believe in the existence and hierarchy of gods, angels, and demons. One needs not worship them to acknowledge their presence. It does not worship them because Buddhism holds that man is superior to them, in that he is both Being (the transcendant, spiritual part) AND Non-being (the part seduced by Mara, the craving). Animals, for example, are only craving. Gods are only Being. Man is a union of the two, and thus can ascend higher and "know Brahma."

This is because there was a cultural belief in god's in India and its surrounding areas, and it picked up on them. So what could have been dropped, I would argue should have been dropped, still get referred to still.

This is a flawed and western, theological interpretation, the result of being christians for so long. Regular lookers are unable to seperate the idea of believing in Gods, and worshipping them. Buddha said that adherence to rituals and attachment to a god would only further link one to Samsara and Becoming. He did not say, "there are no gods," only, "Those who pay the gods heed with rites and prayers further bind themselves to this world of craving and appetitie. How sad!"<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'>

I guess it depends on the interpretation of the meaning of God or god, or Gods or gods. The supernatural beings in Buddhist writings were definitely small 'g', other supernatural beings in the hierarchy of existence. This misunderstanding in the west leads to describe Hinduism and Buddhism as Polytheistic, but in reality the pantheon of supernatural beings also exists in Christianity and the even have a God who rules the under world 'Hell'. As I said before 'God' is only a word, a three leter word.

I first studied Buddhism in Zen and they tend to weed out the Gods or gods from Buddhist theology.

Jan 24, 2004, 09:51 am	#32 (permalink) (top)
shunyadragon Hot Lava Location: Hillsborough, NC Posts: 940	</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (Man Against Time,) Buddhism does not, as i'm sure you know, worship any god's, yet a lot of the teaching's talk of the God's. It does not "worship" Gods- Prince Sidharta did indeed believe in the existence and hierarchy of gods, angels, and demons. One needs not worship them to acknowledge their presence. It does not worship them because Buddhism holds that man is superior to them, in that he is both Being (the transcendant, spiritual part) AND Non-being (the part seduced by Mara, the craving). Animals, for example, are only craving. Gods are only Being. Man is a union of the two, and thus can ascend higher and "know Brahma." This is because there was a cultural belief in god's in India and its surrounding areas, and it picked up on them. So what could have been dropped, I would argue should have been dropped, still get referred to still. This is a flawed and western, theological interpretation, the result of being christians for so long. Regular lookers are unable to seperate the idea of believing in Gods, and worshipping them. Buddha said that adherence to rituals and attachment to a god would only further link one to Samsara and Becoming. He did not say, "there are no gods," only, "Those who pay the gods heed with rites and prayers further bind themselves to this world of craving and appetitie. How sad!"<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'> I guess it depends on the interpretation of the meaning of God or god, or Gods or gods. The supernatural beings in Buddhist writings were definitely small 'g', other supernatural beings in the hierarchy of existence. This misunderstanding in the west leads to describe Hinduism and Buddhism as Polytheistic, but in reality the pantheon of supernatural beings also exists in Christianity and the even have a God who rules the under world 'Hell'. As I said before 'God' is only a word, a three leter word. I first studied Buddhism in Zen and they tend to weed out the Gods or gods from Buddhist theology. The empty cup contains the most Frank A Doonan Turn weapons into peace and friendship with gifts of jade-silk www.shunyadragon.com I do not know, therefore I think . . .