Theistic Belief/Believing in God/Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

[Santi253]

Even in the early tradition, it is said that he can live for an eon or until the end of the eon, if he is asked to do so

And what is this "early tradition" of which thou speak?

Maybe someone else can answer this question?

[cappuccino]

Anyone, Ānanda, in whom the four bases of power are developed … could — if he wanted — remain for an eon or the remainder of an eon. In the Tathāgata, Ānanda, the four bases of power are developed … He could — if he wanted — remain for an eon or the remainder of an eon."

But Ven. Ānanda — even when the Blessed One had given such a blatant sign, such a blatant hint — wasn't able to understand his meaning. He didn't request of him, "Lord, may the Blessed One remain for an eon .… It was as if his mind was possessed by Māra.

Āyusama-osajjana Sutta

[Santi253]

Anyone, Ānanda, in whom the four bases of power are developed … could — if he wanted — remain for an eon or the remainder of an eon. In the Tathāgata, Ānanda, the four bases of power are developed … He could — if he wanted — remain for an eon or the remainder of an eon."

Thank you.

[Caodemarte]

It depends on which Buddha is being talked about in Buddhist philosophy.

If you look at the Pali scriptures, for example, the Buddha is more than a mere mortal, both due to his meritorious past lives, and due to his attainment of Buddhahood in his final lifetime. When asked if he was a man or god, his answer was that he was awake. A Buddha isn't less than a god, but instead has a status above the gods.

I don't believe the Buddha is saying that he is above or below the gods in some godly hierarchy or ranking his status. His answer does not imply that in any way.

[cappuccino]

The Thirty-one Planes of Existence
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dham ... /loka.html

[Santi253]

I don't believe the Buddha is saying that he is above or below the gods in some godly hierarchy or ranking his status. His answer does not imply that in any way.

The most powerful of the gods, Brahma, descended from his heaven to implore the Buddha to teach, arguing that although many might not be able to understand, there were some with “little dust in their eyes” who would. This is an important moment because it makes clear that the Buddha knew something that the gods did not, and that the gods had been waiting for a new buddha to appear in the world to teach them the path to freedom from rebirth, even from rebirth in heaven. For this reason, one of the epithets of the Buddha is devatideva—“god above the gods.”

Although a human, the Buddha has a body unlike any other. It is adorned with the 32 marks of a superman (mahapurusalaksana), such as images of wheels on the palms of his hands and soles of his feet, a bump on the top of his head, forty teeth, and a circle of hair between his eyes that emits beams of light. Some of the marks are characteristics found in animals rather than humans: webbed fingers and toes like a duck’s, arms that extend below the knees like an ape’s, and a penis that retracts into body like a horse’s. His mind knows all of his past lives and the past lives of all beings in the universe. In fact, he is omniscient (although the various Buddhist schools have different ideas about exactly what this means).

Even in the early tradition, it is said that he can live for an eon or until the end of the eon, if he is asked to do so.
https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/god-or-human/

[Santi253]

Another teaching about the Buddha, which is shared by both Mahayana and Theravada, an attribute that non-Buddhists usually associate with a god, is that the Buddha loves all beings unconditionally.

The Buddha's unconditional love is part of what makes him more than an ordinary human being. Not even the gods, who are still tainted by selfishness and delusion, are able to love as perfectly as the Buddha does.

[Caodemarte]

I don't believe the Buddha is saying that he is above or below the gods in some godly hierarchy or ranking his status. His answer does not imply that in any way.

The most powerful of the gods, Brahma, descended from his heaven to implore the Buddha to teach, arguing that although many might not be able to understand, there were some with “little dust in their eyes” who would. This is an important moment because it makes clear that the Buddha knew something that the gods did not, and that the gods had been waiting for a new buddha to appear in the world to teach them the path to freedom from rebirth, even from rebirth in heaven. For this reason, one of the epithets of the Buddha is devatideva—“god above the gods.”

Although a human, the Buddha has a body unlike any other. It is adorned with the 32 marks of a superman (mahapurusalaksana), such as images of wheels on the palms of his hands and soles of his feet, a bump on the top of his head, forty teeth, and a circle of hair between his eyes that emits beams of light. Some of the marks are characteristics found in animals rather than humans: webbed fingers and toes like a duck’s, arms that extend below the knees like an ape’s, and a penis that retracts into body like a horse’s. His mind knows all of his past lives and the past lives of all beings in the universe. In fact, he is omniscient (although the various Buddhist schools have different ideas about exactly what this means).

Even in the early tradition, it is said that he can live for an eon or until the end of the eon, if he is asked to do so.
https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/god-or-human/

Yes, the whole point is that Buddha was awake and knew more than the "god" and so was not in their hierarchy. He is not a greater or lesser Indra. He is not in that category.

[Santi253]

Yes, the whole point is that Buddha was awake and knew more than the "god" and so was not in their hierarchy. He is not a greater or lesser Indra. He is not in that category.

He is, according to the Pali scriptures, the "teacher of gods and men" and "god above gods." Please forgive me if I'm wrong.

[Dharmic]

In the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka the Buddha is known as - Devātideva - God above the gods, Devadeva - God of the gods etc.. It should not be misunderstood that the Buddha is some god. The wisdom, compassion, attainments, skills, perfections, qualities, powers etc. of the Buddhas are far beyond any gods. Simply put the SammāsamBuddhas are unrivaled.

[Caodemarte]

In the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka the Buddha is known as - Devātideva - God above the gods, Devadeva - God of the gods etc.. It should not be misunderstood that the Buddha is some god. The wisdom, compassion, attainments, skills, perfections, qualities, powers etc. of the Buddhas are far beyond any gods. Simply put the SammāsamBuddhas are unrivaled.

Yes. This is a point that should not be misunderstood. Modern Hinduism attempts to absorb Buddha into the pantheon by making him just another higher or lower god or an emanation of Brahma. This distorts or misses the whole point of Buddhism.

[Santi253]

In the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka the Buddha is known as - Devātideva - God above the gods, Devadeva - God of the gods etc.. It should not be misunderstood that the Buddha is some god. The wisdom, compassion, attainments, skills, perfections, qualities, powers etc. of the Buddhas are far beyond any gods. Simply put the SammāsamBuddhas are unrivaled.

Yes, exactly. Thank you.

[Santi253]

I don't know if this counts as prayer, but one thing I like to do is ask the Buddha to show me how to live. And when I feel happy about the Buddha's teaching influence in my life, I tell him thank you.

[Santi253]

I want to love the Buddha more. I want to have more of a connection to him in my heart, and live more according to his example.

[Garrib]

I want to love the Buddha more. I want to have more of a connection to him in my heart, and live more according to his example.

That's a good thing to want - You can reflect on his good qualities often:

https://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?t=10920