Question about the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by celest

Thanks Sunsoul & Keiran for your interpretations, Jonesboy was confusing me as i,m just a learner of Buddhism. I,m sure he doesn,t mean to as he seems confused himself We are all learning.

Hi celest,

Sorry for any confusion that I may have caused. I am just sharing what I have found to be true.

All the great teachers are telling us to look within that we are one.

(3) Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty."

That beings are working to help other beings to help make it easier and easier to advance along the path. That over time new and higher methods have been developed to assist. Traditions like Dzogchen in Buddhism and Kashmir Shaivism in Hindusim are two examples of very advanced traditions. Both say pretty much the same thing with some minor details as to the end state. Both are direct mind to mind transmission systems of practices. Aka tantra.

From the Avatamsaka Sutra

Great bodhisattvas have no attachment to Buddha and do not develop attachments;
they have no attachment to the teachings and do not develop attachments; they have
no attachment to lands and do not develop attachments; they have no attachments
to sentient beings and do not develop attachments. They do not see that there are
sentient beings, yet they carry on educational activity, civilizing and teaching ways
of liberation; they do not give up the practices of bodhisattvas with great compassion
and great commitment. Seeing buddhas and hearing their teachings, they act accordingly;
trusting the buddhas they plant roots of goodness, ceaselessly honoring and serving them.

They are able to shake infinite worlds in the ten directions by spiritual powers; their minds are
broad, being equal to the cosmos. They know various explanations of truth, they know how
many sentient beings there are, they know the differences among sentient beings, they know
the birth of suffering, they know the extinction of suffering; while knowing all acts are like reflected
images, they carry out the deeds of bodhisattvas. They sever the root of all subjection to birth.

They carry out practices of bodhisattvas for the sole purpose of saving sentient beings and yet
do not practice anything. Conforming to the essential nature of all buddhas, they develop a mind
like an immense mountain. They know all falsehood and delusion, and enter the door of omniscience.
Their knowledge and wisdom are broad and vast and unshakable, due to the attainment of true enlightenment.
This is the insight of practical knowledge of equally saving all sentient beings in the ocean of birth and death.

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by sunsoul

Jonesboy, you have a lot of ideas and you may as well start a new thread up or two discussing some of these issues perhaps.. Like with a focus on comparative religion - Buddhism and Yoga and whatever else you want to bring into it.

I think even you would agree that all the stuff you are bringing up has little relevance to the original topic of Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu...

I have the right to respond when people are saying I am confused Sunsoul.

I would also think that understanding what a Buddha is, is relevant to the discussion of a Buddha being an incarnation of Vishnu. Like almost the foundation piece maybe you think?

Isn't this thread talking about comparative religion? Buddhism and Hinduism. Did I go so out of line because I threw in a Jesus quote?

@jonesboy. Don,t worry about it, I have realized that Buddhist teachings from one school to another can be quite different. What puzzled me most was your saying about the creation of the world, I thought that Buddhist didn,t believe in a creator. Explain that please in plain enlish

Originally Posted by jonesboy

I would also think that understanding what a Buddha is, is relevant to the discussion of a Buddha being an incarnation of Vishnu. Like almost the foundation piece maybe you think?

Isn't this thread talking about comparative religion? Buddhism and Hinduism. Did I go so out of line because I threw in a Jesus quote?

Actually, I wasn't asking about The Buddha from a Buddhist point of view, as I've stated many times. I was asking about The Buddha from a Hindu point of view. The Buddha exists in Hinduism, Siddhartha Gautama was a Hindu, so it is reasonable to ask about him from the Hindu perspective when seeing him as an incarnation of Vishnu, and not from a Buddhist perspective. That may be where some of the confusion came from.

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by celest

@jonesboy. Don,t worry about it, I have realized that Buddhist teachings from one school to another can be quite different. What puzzled me most was your saying about the creation of the world, I thought that Buddhist didn,t believe in a creator. Explain that please in plain enlish

Hi celest,

Here is a really good thread that does a good job of explaining it all.

http://community.livingunbound.net/i...from-ayp-site/

Originally Posted by Kiran65

Actually, I wasn't asking about The Buddha from a Buddhist point of view, as I've stated many times. I was asking about The Buddha from a Hindu point of view. The Buddha exists in Hinduism, Siddhartha Gautama was a Hindu, so it is reasonable to ask about him from the Hindu perspective when seeing him as an incarnation of Vishnu, and not from a Buddhist perspective. That may be where some of the confusion came from.

Hi Kiran65,

Your right, my apologies.

Take care :)

Originally Posted by jonesboy

Hi celest,

Here is a really good thread that does a good job of explaining it all.

http://community.livingunbound.net/i...from-ayp-site/

Hi Kiran65,

Your right, my apologies.

Take care :)

Thank you

Originally Posted by jonesboy

Hi Kiran65,

Your right, my apologies.

Take care :)

Not at all, Jonesboy!!

I think it can be quite confusing, when trying to see it from one perspective or another. If you are a Buddhist (and I'm guessing you might be) I'm sure your first approach would be from a Buddhist point of view. If anyone asked about something I considered inherently Hindu, mine would definitely be from a Hindu point of view.

Sorry if there was any misunderstanding! I know you were just trying to be helpful!

Take care

Originally Posted by Kiran65

Not at all, Jonesboy!!

I think it can be quite confusing, when trying to see it from one perspective or another. If you are a Buddhist (and I'm guessing you might be) I'm sure your first approach would be from a Buddhist point of view. If anyone asked about something I considered inherently Hindu, mine would definitely be from a Hindu point of view.

Sorry if there was any misunderstanding! I know you were just trying to be helpful!

Take care

Confusing is not the word, my mind is upside down, inside out and back to front i,m loving every minute of it but I think I will just stick with the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path for now, thats enough for me

LOL, very understandable, Celest! I think those are great places to start. I love Mahayana Buddhism. I am Hindu, I'm sure you've seen that, and think it is amazing, of course. Tons to study there, too. I also LOVE Taoism, it is a philosophy, not a religion, and something I find very calming, really beautiful.

I had a professor of Eastern religion in college who had a quote I loved. He said "Hinduism is the religion of being, Buddhism is the religion of becoming, Taoism is the path in between". I have always remembered that.

Good luck with your journey!!

[Shivani Devi]

Namaste.

Personally, I don't believe that Buddha is an Avatar of Vishnu, as the inclusion seemed to be added as an 'afterthought' to make the surge in Buddhism in India at the time, 'embraced' within the Hindu religion, as if to say; 'Yeah, Buddhists are all Hindus too'...which I found to be more convenient than anything else. That's just my individual belief though.

Having said that, I marvel at how close Shaivism comes to Buddhism, especially since I saw the image of Mahakaala/Dharmapala in Vajrayana Buddhism and I was all like 'hey...that looks exactly like Kal Bhairava'.

So, 'Father Time' is a concept that's synonymous with Buddhism and Hinduism alike.

Aum Namah Shivaya