Expert: Joe McSorley - 10/14/2009

Question
Hi, I know there a many different schools of Buddhism bu thtey tend not to accept a creator God but some do accept Devas. While other religions have God to grant meaning IE the Jews believe God is good the creation is good and therefore there is meaning to be good to God's creation (people animals and earth), the Christians beleive Christ tells us to forgive our enemies, love our neighbors and accept God's grace, this also give meaning.  But without the believe in God, what is the meaning of existence for a practicing Buddhist?  THere is the desire to end suffering, to have compassion, but is there a higher meaning without God?

Answer
Hello Marc,
 The meaning of existence for a practicing Buddhist is to be an expression of the entire universe though the temporary form while being rooted in the eternal.  It is the bliss of completeness and oneness of all that is here and now.  I do not understand how a belief in a God suddenly imparts a higher meaning.  The God that is expressed in the Old Testament is one of violence and anger; he is very human in this regard. God creates the world and says it is good but latter declares certain creatures ‘abominations’ that should be avoided. What happened to them being good?  In Leviticus the laws of God that are there go against the secular laws of today’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and countries that obeyed them would be denied trade status because they are so cruel.  We are taught that it is wonderful to love and serve him for eternity, much like any ruler would tell his subjects; the glory is in serving him.  Why is there meaning for us to worship this God?  What is God’s meaning without human’s worship? Why does God need humans?
   The idea that we are created by God to worship God seems more than a bit bizarre to me.  If a human creates robots to worship him for creating them we think they are insane but if you call him God then it’s a good thing.  When most people are confronted with these questions they generally say something like “ I don’t mean that idea of God but a more universal and loving God, not the old man with the white hair and beard”.   Well then you have to understand how a loving God allows the suffering of innocents; why children starve and suffer.  When you face this problem then more ideas sprout forth like karma and reincarnation.  Each answer brings more problems and a more complex system of who this loving God is.
  In the Eastern paradigm the problem is self-identity.  We wrongly believe ourselves to be the body and the ego.  It is this ignorance of our true nature that creates all of our problems and the need to create a God to answer them.  If you know your true identity you will not seek outward but know the answer from your root.
  Take care,
         Joe