chee1a1@jetson.uh.edu (02/08/91)
[Previous article:] >Subject: Questions on Buddhism and Hinduism >From: looi@sutro.SFSU.EDU (Wan W. Looi), San Francisco State University >Date: 30 Jan 91 00:58:29 GMT >I came across this article on soc.culture.asean and would like to know >more about Buddhism and its concept of omipotent/omniscient. Can someone >help, please? --- >> >>... >>Confucianism is a social philosophy -- there is really no theological content >>in it. It is NOT a religion. While Buddhism is generally classified as a >>religion, the concept of an omnipotent and omniscient GOD is absent from it. >Hmm... interesting. Could you (other) explain how Buddhist views Budha ? >Is he viewed as a prophet ? I'd like to know this. >Thanks in advance. [ The following is a Buddhist viewpoint] Yes, buddhist teachings are not based on an omnipotent and omniscient God at all, and Buddha is not viewed as a prophet. Why buddha is not treated as a prophet by buddhists? Buddhist teachings are not handed over by a God to humans. On the other hand, buddhist teachings has to be understood by oneself, through practice which leads to development of wisdom (hence there is no place for prophets and beliefs in God in buddhist teachings). There are various terms used by buddhists to call buddha. The term buddha itself has a meaning (fully enlightened one). Out of these terms, easily understood terms are the teacher (teaches the path to ending unsatisfactoriness) and physician (who prescribes "psychological medicine" for the illness of unsatisfactoriness). Buddhists worship and make offerings to the buddha because of the characteristics he has attained. Buddhists' worship of buddha is not done out of fear for him, but as an appreciation of his good qualities as well as with an intention of developing these qualities within oneself. In proper perspective this veneration is not done as a theist would worship God. Buddha did not expect his followers to spend all the time making offerings to him and worhipping him, instead he encouraged following the path of the teachings. Once he adviced a monk who was spending all his time admiring the buddha's physical body, "see the Buddha through the teachings". At the time of his final enlightenment he advised that the best offering that can be made to him is the following of the path (dhamma). Speaking on self reliance also buddha said "live by being a refuge to oneself seek no other external help, follow the teachings etc." Bandula