Expert: Bodhicitta - 3/6/2006

Question
I'm a christian currently but i found that I don't believe of have that much faith in christ's teachings. And I would consider converting into Buddhism. May I have these questions answered so that I understand some Buddhist principles before converting?

1. Who is more powerful, mighty, intelligent, and compassionate? The Buddha or god?

2. Who is the creator of all in Buddhism?

3. Is there such place in Buddhism where people's good souls will go to after death?

Answer
Hello Chew,

<<I'm a christian currently but i found that I don't believe of have that much faith in christ's teachings. And I would consider converting into Buddhism. May I have these questions answered so that I understand some Buddhist principles before converting? >>

I can try Chew. Buddha means literally "Awakening" it is an Indian  sanskrit word. The Buddhist teachings are use  meditation to find out truth through direct experience.

The direct transcendental experience of the truth of our minds and hearts is the deepest wisdom, compassion and truth that can exist.

According to Buddhism you musn't ever have blind faith. The historic Buddha said - "do not believe anything I say find our for yourself". So Buddhism invites you to try the methods of meditation and see what truth you can find for yourself. It is a journey or a quest.

The background to Buddhism is the underlying belief
in India that we live in a dream or world of illusion.
We are so full of our own egocentric ideas, full of hate, greed and ignorance that we never really see what is right in front of us nor who we really are.The quest of Buddhism
is to find our who we are.

According to Buddhism all beings have hearts and minds that are wise and compassionate. Everybody is already Buddha and awakened. But we dont see it. Meditation allows
people to awaken and understand their own nature.

There is no external God who it is necessary to workship.


I will try and address your questions...if you keep in mind what I have said so far...
<<
1. Who is more powerful, mighty, intelligent, and compassionate? The Buddha or god?
>>
According to Buddhism any being who is truly awake, in other words a Buddha, is truly compassionate and wise any other being is confused in some way.

There are many Gods and other beings in Indian cosmology , including the God who is supreme in our world or universe. These beings are all lesser to a Buddha and confused in some way even if they do appear powerful in worldy terms.

<<
2. Who is the creator of all in Buddhism?
>>
In Buddhism everything is created by our own transcendental hearts and minds. We create the  universe in
every moment and look around and think it is real. Just the same as we might have a vivid dream and think it was real.
<<
3. Is there such place in Buddhism where people's good souls will go to after death?
>>
Buddhists do  believe in continuity beyond death. In fact death is no different than waking from one dream and entering another.It is no big deal.You can find this out for yourself through meditation.

Hope this helps. If you are seriously interested in Buddhism you should find a Buddhist teacher and start to meditate.

But feel free to send questions
Bodhicittia