Various beliefs prevail in Buddhism or Buddha Religion regarding the path to liberation. Buddhism is the world’s 4th largest religion and it besets a number of traditions and practices based on the teachings of Lord Buddha. Let us understand the concept of God in Buddhism through this Article by getting an overview of the biography of Gautama Buddha and try to analyze whether the religious practices followed in Buddhism are appropriate in the attainment of salvation?

Who Founded Buddhism?

The Buddha, 2600 years ago, was an Indian philosopher, religious teacher, and the historical founder of Buddhism.

The Buddha was also known as Shakyamuni and was born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 B.C.) near the town of Kapilavastu (now in Nepal). His mother, ‘Maya’ died seven days after giving birth to him. His father, ‘Shuddhodana’ was the ruler of the city of Pataliputra; Śākyan clan, a tribe known as the Shakyas. He had all that life could offer: material possessions, a loving family, fame, reputation and power. He later ventured out in search of God.

How did Buddha’s father protect him in his early years?

Soon after the birth of Buddha (Siddhartha), a seer predicted that Siddhartha would become either a great king or a great spiritual leader. Wanting him to be a great political leader, his father protected him from any contact with the problems of suffering, death, and injustice.

It is said that Gautama’s father, in order to prevent him from worrying about unpleasant situations, built a special palace for him surrounded by distracting luxuries.

When Gautama turned 16 years old, he eventually married Yashodhara and had a son named Rahula. Although Siddhartha had everything he could want, he was still not happy.

• Also Read: Buddha Purnima (Vesak Day) 2021: Family Life Of Gautam Buddha by SA News Channel

“Siddhartha made a bold move and gave up his worldly commitments”

Siddhartha renounced his princely life to live as an ascetic, wandering & learning as he had a strong desire to attain God. He left his family, his palace and everything else at the age of 29 and became the founder of a sect of wanderer ascetics (Sramanas); the Buddha (means “the awakened one”).

 “The Buddha is not a God, nor a saviour who can save others.”

Gautama began a search for the answers to the formal questions of life that bothered him and achieved general awareness with the self-professed religious means for dealing with them. In the absence of the True Master, he practiced against the scriptures and continued to dwell on some religious questions but did not solve the basic human predicament. He is said to have experimented with many different teachings for seven years but found none of them acceptable. After six years of severe physical austerity, he realized that extreme self-denial was not the path to ultimate happiness. He became disillusioned with things with all wrong conceptions and defilements that brought temporary, worldly happiness.

What did Buddha Actually Say About Divine Beings?

The historical Buddha viewed gods as sentient beings trapped in the same cycle of Samsara and suffering as human beings. It is clear from many Buddhist suttas (sutras) that the Buddha did not deny the gods. He didn’t believe them (gods) to be of much use to mankind. He inferred that Gods, too were caught up in the world of pain and flux, including one who could be considered a Brahma, the Creator. Buddha’s view on the concept of God was neither to accept, nor reject the concept of a creator or creation.

Divinity in Buddhism ()

The desires which are suppressed in the earth as “austerity”, those desires are easily fulfilled in heaven as the seeker believes in a delusion that this is the salvation (the seeker) attained from the fruits of tenacity and sacrifice made on earth, which is permanent and immortal! The virtuous thirsty and yearning souls are ready to sacrifice everything for the mere sight of God. Witnessing a long or big beard, it was speculated that he is a very great saint and a special reason for Mahatma Gautama Buddha to impress every common man was his special type of costumes, which people would understand would be a great Mahatma. But none of the spiritual benefits came from the absence of scriptures in the manner of worship suggested by Buddha.

Read Full Article about “How many gods in Buddhism” on Jagatguru Saint Rampal Ji Official