"The Buddhas through the power of expedient means
make distinctions and preach three vehicles,
but there is only the single Buddha vehicle--
the other two nirvanas are preached to provide a resting place.
Now I expound the truth for you-
what you have attained is not extinction.
For the sake of the comprehensive wisdom of the Buddha
you must expend great effort and diligence.
If you gain enlightenment in the Law of the Buddha
with its comprehensive wisdom and ten powers
and are endowed with the thirty-two features,
then this will be true extinction.
The Buddhas in their capacity as leaders
preach nirvana to provide a rest.
But when they know you have become rested,
they lead you onward to the Buddha wisdom."
(The Lotus Sutra 142)
"but there is only the single Buddha vehicle"
I understand that this one vehicle to be God.
Originally posted by mr.smiley
No,Buddha stricly taught that their are many Gods,but none are supreame.Did it come from Tibetan Buddhism,because they are crazy like that.
Buddhism is unique amongst the belief systems of the world because it does not have any place for god or gods in its soteriology.
Indeed, the very notion of a god or gods conflicts with some principles which are fundamental to the Buddhist view of the world and the role of humans in it.
The concept of a god or gods does not appear in the teachings of Buddha.
Certain sects of Buddhism however, speak of the existence of category of cosmological beings called "devas" which is sometimes translated as "gods." The term "deva" literally means "shining or radiant being," which describes their physical appearance, rather than any supernatural powers, as the translation "gods" seems to imply.
Originally posted by cking
there are too many Buddhist sect to count anyway.
As opposed to the over 1,500 denominations, para-church organizations, and other groups in the U.S. who consider themselves to be Christian.
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
I'm sorry but I don't agree with you. The word God is never use, but did you read what I wrote above. There are other places the also speak of the Buddha that was enlightened in the remote past.
"The Buddhas through the power of expedient means make distinctions and preach three vehicles, but there is only the single Buddha vehicle - the other two nirvanas are preached to provide a resting place."
This is a reference to the three main Buddhist traditions:
[list=1][*]Shravakayana - "the lesser vehicle"
[*]Mahayana - "the greater vehicle"
[*]Vajrayana - "the diamond vehicle"[/list]
Originally posted by Adam_PoE
"The Buddhas through the power of expedient means make distinctions and preach three vehicles, but there is only the single Buddha vehicle - the other two nirvanas are preached to provide a resting place."This is a reference to the three main Buddhist traditions:
[list=1][*]Shravakayana - "the lesser vehicle"
[*]Mahayana - "the greater vehicle"
[*]Vajrayana - "the diamond vehicle"[/list]
Hi Adam_PoE
I hope you are having a good day.
I admit that my knowledge of historical Buddhism is limited, and I only know about Nichiren Buddhism. But, today in the US there are many Nichiren Buddhists who think like I do. Also I tried to find a better quote but ran out of time. Maybe the belief that Buddha’s reference to “the Buddha that was enlightened in the remote past” is referring to God, is do to the fact that many of the people in the US who are now Nichiren Buddhists, were once Christians.
Originally posted by Adam_PoE
"The Buddhas through the power of expedient means make distinctions and preach three vehicles, but there is only the single Buddha vehicle - the other two nirvanas are preached to provide a resting place."This is a reference to the three main Buddhist traditions:
[list=1][*]Shravakayana - "the lesser vehicle"
[*]Mahayana - "the greater vehicle"
[*]Vajrayana - "the diamond vehicle"[/list]
You left out Theravada Buddhism. This is as orthodox as Buddhism gets. They're beilefs and teachings are closer to Buddha than perhaps all the other sects.
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Hi Adam_PoEI hope you are having a good day.
I admit that my knowledge of historical Buddhism is limited, and I only know about Nichiren Buddhism. But, today in the US there are many Nichiren Buddhists who think like I do. Also I tried to find a better quote but ran out of time. Maybe the belief that Buddha’s reference to “the Buddha that was enlightened in the remote past” is referring to God, is do to the fact that many of the people in the US who are now Nichiren Buddhists, were once Christians.
"The Buddha that was enlightened in the remote past” is a reference to Siddhattha Gotama, who founded Buddhism between 490-410 BCE.
Nicheren Daishonin did not establish Nicheren Buddhism until 1253 CE.
In this website, a self proclaimed prophet named Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad who is also the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam refutes Nicolas Notovitch by writing that Jesus came to India not during his missing years, but after it and that he didn't learn from the Buddhists but the followers of Buddha themselves who seem to have reproduced the entire picture of the Gospels in their books from Jesus teaching them.
Also in this article:
According to Hazrat Ahmad Jesus also visited Tibet during his travels in India in search of the lost tribes of Israel. He preached his messages to Buddhistic monks, some of whom were converted Jews. The followers of Buddha were deeply impressed by his teachings and took him to be the manifestation of Buddha and their Promised Teacher. With faith in him as their Master, they mixed his teachings with their own records and ascribed it all to the Buddha. Ample evidence in support of this is furnished from ancient Buddhistic records.
Take a look and read throught it:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/1340/jesus_in_india.htm
Originally posted by Adam_PoE
"The Buddha that was enlightened in the remote past” is a reference to Siddhattha Gotama, who founded Buddhism between 490-410 BCE.Nicheren Daishonin did not establish Nicheren Buddhism until 1253 CE.
I believe the remote past was long before 490-410 BCE, try 15 billion years ago at the time of the big bang.
Chorus
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
To hold and stand me by
I'm searchin' for the spirit of the great heart
Under African sky
I'm searchin' for the spirit of the great heart
I see the fire in your eyes
I'm searchin' for the spirit of the great heart
That beats my name inside
sometimes I feel that you really know me
Sometimes there's so much you can show me
Jimmy Buffet
ARENT' WE SEARCHING FOR THE SAME THING......
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
I believe the remote past was long before 490-410 BCE, try 15 billion years ago at the time of the big bang.
Would you consider 262 BCE to be the remote past? That is approximately 1,743 years. This is the same amount of time that transpired between the time Siddhattha Gotama founded Buddhism, and the Nicheren sect of Buddhism was established.
Originally posted by Adam_PoE
Would you consider 262 BCE to be the remote past? That is approximately 1,743 years. This is the same amount of time that transpired between the time Siddhattha Gotama founded Buddhism, and the Nicheren sect of Buddhism was established.
Let me look it up. It will have to be tomorrow, ok?