Last post about Buddha and God... will no longer post anything
about it here because it is off-topic already.
Buddha used to have 2 gurus prior on his ascetic path (which he
abandoned) and meditation practise that eventually led him to
Enlightenment. The first one attained 7th Jhana (The Base of
No-thingness), and Buddha learnt to enter the 7th Jhana in a very
short time. Then he left that teacher and found another teacher.
The teacher attained 8th Jhana (The Base of Neither Perception nor
Non-perception). Buddha learnt from that teacher, attained 8th
Jhana in a short time, and left that teacher too, because he did
not achieve his goal of finding the way to be liberated from
Samsara and attain Enlightenment. He then went to the ascetic path,
but eventually found self-mortification unable to lead him to
Enlightenment, but rather, he almost died during his practise
because of starvation.
Then he practised the 'Middle-Way', neither indulging in extreme
sensual pleasures, nor another extreme of ascetism and self
mortification, and attained Nirvana under the Bodhi Tree. He began
teaching dharma to the masses only after the request of the
Maha Brahma (all past Buddhas were requested to teach dharma
before they do so) to teach the dharma, did he do so. Buddha
intended to start teaching the dharma, path to liberation, to his
gurus first. But through Samadhi, he realised they have passed away
while he was embarking on the path towards Enlightenment. One of
the teacher resided in the 7th Jhana, The Base of No-thingness, the
other teacher resided in the 8th Jhana, The Base of Neither
Perception nor Non-perception. These heavens were the highest
heavens, they are formless in nature, and is higher than those
heavens belonging to the devas of the Sensual Plane and the Brahmas
of the Form Plane. There is no physical body, only consciousness.
But they have not achieved liberation and is still bound to be
reborned.
Because heaven is still subjected to impermanence, part of samsara,
it is not the ultimate aim of Buddhists.
More info:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/bps/wheels/wheel414.html
(Teacher of the Devas)
Contents
* I. Introduction
* II. The Buddha Teaches Deities
* III. Devas and Brahmas Honor the Buddha
* IV. The Role of Devas in the Buddha's Career
* V. Liberation for Humans, Devas, and Brahmas
* Notes
* Abbreviations
* Bibliography
I understand that the Sai Baba teachings teaches the eventual
unification of all religions. But IMHO, this is not realistic.
IMHO, it is much easier for example, Christianity and Islam to be
unified, rather than Buddhism and another religion that teach about
God. Because both Christianity and Islam religion teach about God,
and their ultimate aim after life is to be borned in heaven. You
must understand that during Buddha's times, there are 60 over
different kinds of teachings, Buddha refuted all of them (i.e
Brahmanism, Jainism, etc) and taught the only teachings that would
lead to liberation and enlightenment.
Any teachings that is against the 4 dharma seals, cannot be
considered as part of Buddhism:
4 SEALS: All produced phenomena
are impermanent, all contaminated products are in the nature of
SUFFERING, all phenomena are EMPTINESS, NIRVANA is
peace.
or the 3 dharma seals:
3 DHARMA SEALS: Impermanence,
non-self, nirvana
It is not plausible to think of Buddhism in the views of other
religions. Because the fundamental teachings of Buddhism definitely
has contradictories with other teachings. I.e Buddhism strictly
does not accept a personal, autonomous Creator God. Even Buddha
himself has stated his views regarding Creatorism, and Creatorism
is one of the false views that is negated, rejected by him (other
false views rejected include Predestination, Nihilism,
Eternalism).
He found the Universe is not the
product of Chance, or is caused by the will of a foolish ignorant
despotic phantom Creator, or due to absolute predestination, but
the result of unerring natural Immutable Law of Cause and
Effect.
- What Buddhism is Not
by Anagarika Dharmapala (1926)
and..
"To those who talked about the
first cause of this world, the Buddha responded by saying that it
is impossible to find a first cause since everything is changing,
interdependent and conditioned by other things. Something that acts
as the cause in the present may become the effect in the future.
Later that same effect may again become the cause. Such
phenomenon continues ad infinitum. It is called the universal law
of Anicca or impermanency.
Clearly, the theory of Creatorism is against the fundamental
Buddhist teachings of Impermanence, Non-self, Emptiness, and so
on.
There are lots of differences in different religions and spiritual
path. If not, then there would be no reason why there are so many
seperate streams of spirituality in the world.
I believe the best and realistic thing we can seek is not the
unification of all religions, but rather, learning to be tolerant,
show our loving kindness and great compassion towards everyone
irregardless of their beliefs. We can learn about each other's
beliefs and faith, but I feel there is no need to debate over their
teachings, because differences never ends.
Lastly, just for info, my own Buddhist practise does not require me
to go through various Jhanas before achieving liberation. My
practise is 'Sudden Transcendance', which IMHO, has similarities
with Zen's 'Sudden Realisation' and Dzogchen's 'Non-meditation'
path (when compared to other gradual paths). Forgive me if I said
anything wrong.
