He is known as the teachers of gods and men. But he he
is not a teacher of gods and only men. From what I
know(correct me if I'm wrong), Toaism and Buddhism teaches that
humans can also become immortals. Thus, from what i assume, is the
reason why many want to receive enlightment/ whatever. But there
are so many people who actually read so many texts and try to
understand so much on what Buddha taught and also do so much, but
none has become immortal.(This refers to toaism).
Buddha actually went to heavens and taught the celestial beings,
and celestial beings actually came down and received teachings from
Buddha. So it is not true that the Buddha is not actually a teacher
of god and men. Secondly, Buddhism does not teach Immortality, that
is Taoism. Uncountable Buddhists attained enlightenment and
liberation from all sufferings, from samsara, the world of
suffering, the cycle of rebirth, even up till today, and so this is
not some lofty and impossible goal.
Buddha did receive enlightment, but did he posess powers to
control demons? Many people actually used his name to drive away
demons or evil spirits.
Buddha have mastered all kinds supernatural powers. Some
practitioners today also have supernatural powers. But that is
besides the point in Buddhism.
Photos always portray buddha in the clouds. But was Buddha
immortal? NO.
There are three bodies of Buddha: Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya,
Nirmanakaya. Nirmanakaya manifestations are temporary, i.e. the
physical manifestation of Buddha with the 32 major marks and 80
minor marks, but the Dharmakaya and Sambhogakaya is eternal and
continues endlessly (not as a permanent static identity, but an
endless continuum of wisdom). However it is not an immortal
identity because as explained in the previous post, there is no
such thing as a permanent eternal identity, even right now
as we are living. There is no eternal soul. Nevertheless,
the continuum of wisdom of the enlightened beings roll on, never at
any moment being a graspable essence.
As the Buddha taught:
Buddha's body is always apparent,
Filling the entire cosmos,
Always intoning far-reaching sound
Shaking all lands in all quarters.
Buddha manifests bodily everywhere,
Entering into all worlds,
Revealing occult spiritual power
According to the inclinations of beings.
Buddha appears before all beings
In accordance with their minds;
What the sentient beings see
Is the Buddha's mystic power.
His radiance has no bounds
And his teaching too is infinite;
Buddha children enter and observe
According to their knowledge.
The Buddha's body has no birth
Yet can appear to be born.
The nature of reality is like space:
Therein do the Buddhas dwell.
No abiding, yet no departing:
Everywhere the Buddha's seen;
His light reaches everywhere,
His fame is heard afar.
No substance, no abode,
And no origin that can be found;
No signs, no form:
What appears is like reflections.
- Avatamsaka Sutra p. 164-165
He was actually just a normal human being who received
enlightment, unlike the proclaimed Jesus Christ who
actually performed miracles and helped the disabled.
Like I said, Buddha has all kinds of supernatural powers and
have displayed them again and again, but he does not emphasize on
them because that is besides the point in Buddhism: the total end
of suffering through enlightenment. The quality of life can be
improved through science and medicine, but that is not his main
concern. Buddhist masters even today have also performed healing.
My Buddhist master and his successor has also healed many terminal
illness patients.
Buddhism also does not claim that the world had a creator.
You're right, as I explained in this post: http://www.sgforums.com/forums/1728/topics/330273#post_8393743
Just a short summary:
The stories of a Buddha going to teach a
brahma take place on the plane of Maha Brahma, the third of the
fine-material planes (No. 14). Many people worship Maha Brahma as
the supreme and eternal creator God, but for the Buddha he is
merely a powerful deity still caught within the cycle of repeated
existence. In point of fact, "Maha Brahma" is a role or office
filled by different individuals at different periods.
The Buddha has directly seen the origins of Maha
Brahma and understands what it requires to be reborn in his world.
In the Brahmajala Sutta (DN 1) the Buddha describes how a supposed
Creator God came to believe himself omnipotent and how others came
to rely on his sovereignty.
Thus, that religion is none other than the works of men who had
very ambitious plans on being immortal.
Again, false understanding of the goal of Buddhism, as explained
on top. Immortality is not on our agenda. Enlightenment, end of
suffering, is.