DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post

**iNYZgxNC** · 06-16-2011, 04:48 AM

Yes, I do agree with you that there is no need to believe in a God. I feel we all have everything we need deep within ourselves and it’s the journey inward to discover and bring out those best qualities that we should focus on, and that is what Buddhism is all about for me and why I‘ve always been drawn towards it I suppose. It brings with it an incredible feeling of peace.

Thanks Aasha. Please be patient with my usual rants, here, with Gods and Religions...

I was through Bhikkhu Buddhadasa's "Keys to Natural Truth" where he has written a special chapter called "Two Kinds of Language" where he explains some mundane words that have a different meaning when they are about the Buddha Dhamma.

About "Religion" he tells that in Dhamma language it means:

In terms of Dhamma language, the religion is "the sublime or Excellent Way of Life" (brahmacariya), that is to say, life lived in accordance with Dhamma. It is this exalted way of living which is "glorious in its beginning, middle, and end." By Sublime Way of Life the Buddha meant the way of practice that can really extinguish dukkha (suffering). and also he states that Buddhism has a kind of impersonal God with which, as you can guess, I do not agree, but here is it:

Now we consider the word "God". In everyday language, "God" refers to a celestial being with various creative powers. This is the God of everyday language. The "God" of Dhamma language is rather different. It is a profound and hidden power, which is neither human being, nor celestial being, nor any other kind of being. It has no individuality or self, and it is impersonal. It is natural and intangible. It is what we call the Law of Nature, for this Law is responsible for creation and for the coming into existence of all things. Natural Law governs all things. Natural Law has power over all things. Hence in Dhamma language, the word "God" means, among other things, the Law of Nature, what Buddhists call Dhamma. In the Pali language, the Law of Nature was referred to simply as "Dhamma". Dhamma, just that one single word, implies all of the Law of Nature. So Dhamma is the Buddhist God. In his "Natural Cure for Spiritual Disease" he insists in his concept but he gives an example:

If you prefer to call it "God," you should understand that Buddhism has the law of nature as its God. The Law of Nature -- for example, the law of idappaccayata, which is the law of causality and conditionality -- is the Buddhist God. idappaccayata means:

With this as condition, this is; Because this arises, this arises. Without this as condition, this is not; Because this ceases, this ceases.5

This is the Supreme Thing in Buddhism; this Law of Nature is the Buddhist God. In Buddhism there isn't a personal God; its God -- the Law of Nature -- is an impersonal God. Because Buddhism, in fact, has a God, it is a religion. Anyway I do not see where is the need for calling Natural Law, God... or to say "Religion" to a Sublime or Excellent Way of Life. IMO, a Sublime Way of Life when it is lived as it is, it is a Sublime Way of Life and a Natural Law when it is understood it is a Natural Law. When I go through the Pali Dhamma, the Buddha never states about Gods and Religions when asking to develop wisdom, tranquility of mind, insight and a sublime way of life. However, other terms that are exposed, like "birth", can bring light into what is meant in Dhamma language.

I want to ask a couple of questions about what you've written if that's ok, but I’ll do it on the other thread a bit later on and stick to the rules. Sure Aasha, it is ok!

06-16-2011, 04:48 AM	#18
iNYZgxNC Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 466 Senior Member	Yes, I do agree with you that there is no need to believe in a God. I feel we all have everything we need deep within ourselves and it’s the journey inward to discover and bring out those best qualities that we should focus on, and that is what Buddhism is all about for me and why I‘ve always been drawn towards it I suppose. It brings with it an incredible feeling of peace. Thanks Aasha. Please be patient with my usual rants, here, with Gods and Religions... I was through Bhikkhu Buddhadasa's "Keys to Natural Truth" where he has written a special chapter called "Two Kinds of Language" where he explains some mundane words that have a different meaning when they are about the Buddha Dhamma. About "Religion" he tells that in Dhamma language it means: In terms of Dhamma language, the religion is "the sublime or Excellent Way of Life" (brahmacariya), that is to say, life lived in accordance with Dhamma. It is this exalted way of living which is "glorious in its beginning, middle, and end." By Sublime Way of Life the Buddha meant the way of practice that can really extinguish dukkha (suffering). and also he states that Buddhism has a kind of impersonal God with which, as you can guess, I do not agree, but here is it: Now we consider the word "God". In everyday language, "God" refers to a celestial being with various creative powers. This is the God of everyday language. The "God" of Dhamma language is rather different. It is a profound and hidden power, which is neither human being, nor celestial being, nor any other kind of being. It has no individuality or self, and it is impersonal. It is natural and intangible. It is what we call the Law of Nature, for this Law is responsible for creation and for the coming into existence of all things. Natural Law governs all things. Natural Law has power over all things. Hence in Dhamma language, the word "God" means, among other things, the Law of Nature, what Buddhists call Dhamma. In the Pali language, the Law of Nature was referred to simply as "Dhamma". Dhamma, just that one single word, implies all of the Law of Nature. So Dhamma is the Buddhist God. In his "Natural Cure for Spiritual Disease" he insists in his concept but he gives an example: If you prefer to call it "God," you should understand that Buddhism has the law of nature as its God. The Law of Nature -- for example, the law of idappaccayata, which is the law of causality and conditionality -- is the Buddhist God. idappaccayata means: With this as condition, this is; Because this arises, this arises. Without this as condition, this is not; Because this ceases, this ceases.5 This is the Supreme Thing in Buddhism; this Law of Nature is the Buddhist God. In Buddhism there isn't a personal God; its God -- the Law of Nature -- is an impersonal God. Because Buddhism, in fact, has a God, it is a religion. Anyway I do not see where is the need for calling Natural Law, God... or to say "Religion" to a Sublime or Excellent Way of Life. IMO, a Sublime Way of Life when it is lived as it is, it is a Sublime Way of Life and a Natural Law when it is understood it is a Natural Law. When I go through the Pali Dhamma, the Buddha never states about Gods and Religions when asking to develop wisdom, tranquility of mind, insight and a sublime way of life. However, other terms that are exposed, like "birth", can bring light into what is meant in Dhamma language. I want to ask a couple of questions about what you've written if that's ok, but I’ll do it on the other thread a bit later on and stick to the rules. Sure Aasha, it is ok!
	Quote