Hmm...
But if there is fear, wisdom cannot grow.
The Buddha pointed out that no God or priest nor any other kind of
being has the power to interfere in the working out of someone
else's Kamma. Buddhism, therefore, teaches the individual to take
full responsibility for themselves. For example, if you want to be
wealthy then be trustworthy, diligent and frugal, or if you want to
live in a heaven realm then always be kind to others. There is no
God to ask favours from, or to put it another way, there is no
corruption possible in the workings of Kamma.
Do Buddhists believe that a Supreme Being created the universe?
Buddhists would first ask which universe do you mean? This present
universe, from the moment of the 'big bang' up to now, is but one
among countless millions in Buddhist cosmology. The Buddha gave an
estimate of the age of a single universe-cycle of around 37,000
million years, which is quite plausible when compared to modern
astrophysics. After one universe-cycle ends another begins, again
and again, according to impersonal law. A Creator God is redundant
in this scheme.
No being is a Supreme Saviour, according to the Buddha, because
whether God, human, animal or whatever, all are subject to the Law
of Kamma. Even the Buddha had no power to save. He could only point
out the Truth so that the wise could see it for themselves.
Everyone must take responsibility for their own future well being,
and it is dangerous to give that responsibility to another.
