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**i32I7qyH** · 11-28-2011, 01:04 PM

Thank you guys for responding to my posts. I am sorry that my message today is not very long. I have benefited from all the posts that I read today. I will continue to learn more about Buddhism. I did discover something today that troubled me a lot. I read online that in Mahayana Buddhism they believe that one of the three persons of the Buddha is divine.

I don't believe and will not believe in anything divine. I don't know if that gets in the way of me pursuing Buddhism. Thanks again for your kind words and your posts. It means me that I got such thoughtful responses. Once again I apolgize for the short message and my lack of direct responses.

Hi david;

Buddhism has no place for the divine. No buddha ever existed that was not a human being prior to becoming a Buddha (maybe there are other life forms that have become Buddhas but I've not read of them). Buddhas achieve their status through practice. Divinity has nothing to do with it. Unfortunately those who worship Buddhas as if they're divine might create the wrong impression. There are plenty of people who misunderstand the fundamental tenets of Buddhism, perhaps as many as who misunderstand the teachings of Jesus.

The Mahayana says that Buddhas achieve various powers, all of which are geared towards helping beings (by knowing their minds, even from a distance, by being able to quickly reach them, and by knowing how to best help them according to their abilities). These abilities and powers are very different from the concept of omnipotence, which means having power to physically change the universe, to control it, to destroy it. Buddhas have none of those powers. They have the ability to teach and to know the minds of those who may benefit from their teaching. BTW, they lack the ability to confer enlightenment or happiness on anyone. They teach, and it's always up to the student to see if the teachings make any sense and, if they do, to practice them properly to achieve the desired result....it's like a doctor who prescribes a course of medicine and therapy; you have to follow all the instructions correctly.

There are differences between Mahayana and Theravada understanding of the abilities of a Buddha; it's true that Mahayana understanding endows the Buddha with greater powers and with the ability to remain a Buddha for vast periods of time....pretty much indefinitely, until all sentient beings are liberated, at least. Yet, still, Buddhas are not divine because their origin is humble....they were once one of us.

Take care

tj

11-28-2011, 01:04 PM	#36
i32I7qyH Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 418 Senior Member	Thank you guys for responding to my posts. I am sorry that my message today is not very long. I have benefited from all the posts that I read today. I will continue to learn more about Buddhism. I did discover something today that troubled me a lot. I read online that in Mahayana Buddhism they believe that one of the three persons of the Buddha is divine. I don't believe and will not believe in anything divine. I don't know if that gets in the way of me pursuing Buddhism. Thanks again for your kind words and your posts. It means me that I got such thoughtful responses. Once again I apolgize for the short message and my lack of direct responses. Hi david; Buddhism has no place for the divine. No buddha ever existed that was not a human being prior to becoming a Buddha (maybe there are other life forms that have become Buddhas but I've not read of them). Buddhas achieve their status through practice. Divinity has nothing to do with it. Unfortunately those who worship Buddhas as if they're divine might create the wrong impression. There are plenty of people who misunderstand the fundamental tenets of Buddhism, perhaps as many as who misunderstand the teachings of Jesus. The Mahayana says that Buddhas achieve various powers, all of which are geared towards helping beings (by knowing their minds, even from a distance, by being able to quickly reach them, and by knowing how to best help them according to their abilities). These abilities and powers are very different from the concept of omnipotence, which means having power to physically change the universe, to control it, to destroy it. Buddhas have none of those powers. They have the ability to teach and to know the minds of those who may benefit from their teaching. BTW, they lack the ability to confer enlightenment or happiness on anyone. They teach, and it's always up to the student to see if the teachings make any sense and, if they do, to practice them properly to achieve the desired result....it's like a doctor who prescribes a course of medicine and therapy; you have to follow all the instructions correctly. There are differences between Mahayana and Theravada understanding of the abilities of a Buddha; it's true that Mahayana understanding endows the Buddha with greater powers and with the ability to remain a Buddha for vast periods of time....pretty much indefinitely, until all sentient beings are liberated, at least. Yet, still, Buddhas are not divine because their origin is humble....they were once one of us. Take care tj
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