👨🏽‍🎓BUDDHA: AVATAR(INCARNATION) OF VISHNU👨🏽‍🎓

BigJohn · #1 04-09-2021, 05:30 AM

Look at the 10 incarnations of Vishnu, and it seems that Siddhārtha Gautama, or a version of his name, appears in all of the various lists as an avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu.

In predominate Buddhist countries, it seems most Buddhists believe in and pray to God. This 'tradition' may have come about from Hinduism in which some other Hindu words/traditions have been adapted by Buddhists.

What are your viewpoints on this?

#2 04-09-2021, 06:05 AM

My viewpoint would be that it doesn't matter.
After awakening, The Buddha said he was a man who did something man can do when following the path.
He also gave notes on how we should honor him if we wished to do so.
Let's do what he said instead of fabricating all kinds of other belief systems around him, which may or may not be true

There's plenty of other avatars and rites we can perform to honor Vishnu.

The Cobbler's Apprentice · #3 04-09-2021, 06:34 AM

At its heart, the Dharma is ehipassiko ,or, "come and see (for oneself) So, like Eelco, in that sense it does not matter.

sky · #4 04-09-2021, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Cobbler's Apprentice

At its heart, the Dharma is ehipassiko ,or, "come and see (for oneself) So, like Eelco, in that sense it does not matter.

Nothing like the laboratory of one's experiences, outside of this there's just words....

ajay00 · #5 04-09-2021, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJohn

Look at the 10 incarnations of Vishnu, and it seems that Siddhārtha Gautama, or a version of his name, appears in all of the various lists as an avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu.
In predominate Buddhist countries, it seems most Buddhists believe in and pray to God. This 'tradition' may have come about from Hinduism in which some other Hindu words/traditions have been adapted by Buddhists.

Buddha never claimed to be an Avatar or God. He only claimed to be awake or enlightened, and having unveiled the Buddha nature within himself, which is present in all sentient beings.

The Vaishnavite sect of Hinduism claimed Buddha to be an Avatar or incarnation of Vishnu, and this belief spread to all Hindus in general. This is all there is to it.

BigJohn · #6 05-09-2021, 12:39 AM

I think you mis-read what I wrote. I never said Buddha claimed to be an Avatar of God. But you did bring out an excellent point on the belief that Siddhārtha Gautama was one of the 10 Avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu. There is also a school that believes Vishnu had 22 incarnations.

It would be interesting to see why some thought Siddhārtha Gautama was an Avatar of Vishnu.

BigJohn · #7 05-09-2021, 12:44 AM

But then, if you look at Buddhism, several of their words, such as Dharma, came from Hinduism and or other religions such as Jainism.

The Cobbler's Apprentice · #8 05-09-2021, 06:27 AM

The origins of Pure Land Buddhism are lost in the fog.

If Reality is the pre-eminent revelation then subsequent origins may be "interesting" but are only a diversion.

#9 05-09-2021, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJohn

In predominate Buddhist countries, it seems most Buddhists believe in and pray to God. This 'tradition' may have come about from Hinduism

Hindu's pray to a lot of different deities or gods. Is it the same in these Buddhist's you are talking about? Probably depends in which school of Buddhism as well as some may pray to gods more than others.

#10 05-09-2021, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Cobbler's Apprentice

The origins of Pure Land Buddhism are lost in the fog.

I googled Buddhist's who worship God's and this came up.

"Pure Land schools arose because of the belief that humans were becoming incapable of Dharma, emphasizing that humans needed help from another power; that power being Amitābha Buddha"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pure_Land_Buddhism

Weird how so many God's are depicted as Males.

I googled female God's in Buddhism lol. Google knows all!

"Tārā (a female) is a meditation deity revered by practitioners of the Tibetan branch of Vajrayana Buddhism.