► INFO ON PREVIOUS BUDDHAS

[sky]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

As I have written before, not all Buddhists believe in the 29 Buddhas and there are some Buddhist who do not even believe that the current Buddha existed. That is their choice and it is no hard feelings on my part.


As I have written before, A Buddha would appear and present the Dharma. After that Buddha died, eventually so would the teachings of the Dharma. When this happened, a new Buddha would appear and repeat the same cycle. This is part of the beauty of the 29 Buddhas. This belief system in the 29 Buddhas probably makes Buddhism the oldest belief system.


                    नमस्ते

' As I have written before, not all Buddhists believe in the 29 Buddhas and there are some Buddhist who do not even believe that the current Buddha existed '


All Buddhist do believe in the Teachings behind the Previous Buddha's Tale.
If they don't believe Gautama existed who's Teachings are they following ?

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by sky123

' As I have written before, not all Buddhists believe in the 29 Buddhas and there are some Buddhist who do not even believe that the current Buddha existed '


All Buddhist do believe in the Teachings behind the Previous Buddha's Tale.
If they don't believe Gautama existed who's Teachings are they following ?

There is no evidence to prove or not prove Gautama Buddha ever existed.

Having said that, some Buddhists claim he did not exist, that Gautama Buddha is also a fairy tale.

To these people, Buddhism is only a philosophy. If a Buddhist doctrine can not be proven true or false, then it is a fairy tale. Hence, a lot of the Buddhist doctrines, to them, become fairy tales.

[sky]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

There is no evidence to prove or not prove Gautama Buddha ever existed.

Having said that, some Buddhists claim he did not exist, that Gautama Buddha is also a fairy tale.

To these people, Buddhism is only a philosophy. If a Buddhist doctrine can not be proven true or false, then it is a fairy tale. Hence, a lot of the Buddhist doctrines, to them, become fairy tales.

So who's Teachings do these ' Buddhist ' follow. ?

Buddhist
/ˈbʊdɪst/
noun
an adherent of the religion based on the teachings of Buddha.
adjective
relating to the religion based on the teachings of Buddha.

So these ' Buddhist ' who don't believe Buddha Gautama existed cannot be called Buddhist.

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by sky123

So who's Teachings do these ' Buddhist ' follow. ?

Buddhist
/ˈbʊdɪst/
noun
an adherent of the religion based on the teachings of Buddha.
adjective
relating to the religion based on the teachings of Buddha.

So these ' Buddhist ' who don't believe Buddha Gautama existed cannot be called Buddhist.

Why not?

The same thing plays out in Christianity.

[sky]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

Why not?

The same thing plays out in Christianity.

Why not is obvious....

If they don't believe Buddha Gautama existed who's Teachings are they following, you decline to answer the question...

The Dictionary shows the answer...



Buddhist
/ˈbʊdɪst/
noun
an adherent of the religion based on the teachings of Buddha.
adjective
relating to the religion based on the teachings of Buddha.

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by sky123

Why not is obvious....

If they don't believe Buddha Gautama existed who's Teachings are they following, you decline to answer the question...

The Dictionary shows the answer...



Buddhist
/ˈbʊdɪst/
noun
an adherent of the religion based on the teachings of Buddha.
adjective
relating to the religion based on the teachings of Buddha.

If they look at it as a philosophy, then they are following the parts they can prove or whatever criteria they want to use.

[sky]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

If they look at it as a philosophy, then they are following the parts they can prove or whatever criteria they want to use.

The Philosophy of who ?

If you call yourself a Buddhist you are following the Teachings of Buddha Guatama but some don't believe He existed

So they are not Buddhist...




Buddhist
/ˈbʊdɪst/
noun
an adherent of the religion based on the teachings of Buddha.
adjective
relating to the religion based on the teachings of Buddha.

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by sky123

The Philosophy of who ?

If you call yourself a Buddhist you are following the Teachings of Buddha Guatama but some don't believe He existed

So they are not Buddhist...




Buddhist
/ˈbʊdɪst/
noun
an adherent of the religion based on the teachings of Buddha.
adjective
relating to the religion based on the teachings of Buddha.

An interesting article that might help you, writes about what some call as myths involving Gautama Buddha, can be found at Tricycle. https://tricycle.org/magazine/myth-historical-buddha/

[sky]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

An interesting article that might help you, writes about what some call as myths involving Gautama Buddha, can be found at Tricycle. https://tricycle.org/magazine/myth-historical-buddha/

So as I asked previously, who's Philosophy are these so called Buddhist who don't believe Buddha Gautama existed following ?

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by sky123

So as I asked previously, who's Philosophy are these so called Buddhist who don't believe Buddha Gautama existed following ?

Those who are agnostic, who are they following?

Those who are Gnostic, who are they following?

Those who are Christians, who do not believe Jesus existed, who are they following?

Those who are Buddhists, who do not believe Gautama Buddha existed, who are they following?


Then look at older religions:
Who do Jains follow?

Who do Hindus follow?

NOTE: Just because a dictionary defines what Buddhism is, does not mean all Buddhists are aligned with that definition.