Does this jive with what many now believe about the spirit world? The great "unknown" and shadowy mystery world? The Buddhists also believe in the existence of spirits: good and evil ones. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, author of What Buddhists Believe informs us,
"There are visible and invisible beings or spirits in the same way as there is visible and invisible light" (Page 392).
What I find incongruent however, is their belief that they,
"...do not deny the existence of various gods or deities" (Page 390)...
...yet on the other hand they do not acknowledge the existence of God. They disallow for God, the Supreme Being, and of His having created all of creation, but they do accept the idea of 'gods' (note the 's') or deities.
Sri Dhammananda goes on to describe the deities. He records that they have certain powers that human beings lack yet the powers are limited. They live in happy abodes, he says, and live longer then human kind. However they can "run out of" good karma and that causes them to die. This is a dilemma for them because they are supposedly more sensuous than human beings making it more difficult for them to be reborn into a better condition.
In addition, they need to rely on human beings to help them. When a person does a good deed and shares the merit from said deed, with the deity, it grants the deity improved karma, giving better chances for a better rebirth situation.
In turn, the deities having been given a directive from Gautama Buddha to protect human beings who live a religious life, can then support these people through life. That's a win-win situation in which both parties are interdependent upon each other. In fact, this appears very much like the individual person and deity needing aid from an "external source" which Sri Dhammananda notes, several times throughout his book, such assistance is totally unnecessary.
I'm not trying to hit at what that author has said, I just call it to light for everyone to consider as you read further.
Humans benefit by being able to tell their troubles to the deities, and gain some consolation. Some people even believe the deities can be influenced to grant favors. So humans and deities, who apparently share a common destiny, depend upon each other.
It needs to be noted that these deities cannot render the actual salvation of Nirvana in any way. Each individual is on their own; no external forces can help (Pages 390-392). Yet in my reading I've discovered that these deities do help to remove certain obstacles out of the way of the person's path to Nirvana. More of that later....
There are so many nuances and variations of Buddhist beliefs, as there are within many other religions. The variations regarding deities depend on which sect or even sub-sect of Buddhism you look at making it a challenge to pinpoint any one of them to be labelled, "It's Like This!" teaching. The "Ah-ha!" moment.
If you surf the internet you'll uncover the Tibetan-type of Buddhism which tends towards Mahayana Buddhism which is the more mystical of beliefs and is even influenced by Hinduism's gods. The Japanese, or those from Taiwan also have input often from varying cultural perspectives. Assumably, if you roam your way to Bhutan, Thailand or even Sri Lanka, for instance, there will be different tweaks of belief as well.
From what I can deduce from the 'surfing', there are at least ten main deities of import which you too can search for yourself on line but I'll mention a couple here which may sound familiar: The Tibetan Dalai Lama is said to be connected to a deity of compassion (must be one of the 'good' demon deities); there is Amitabha (one often sees this one's image on car stickers), who is said to be the Buddha of Infinite Light; Guan Yin-Goddess of mercy which can presumably take on thirty-six forms, one of which includes manifesting as a mustached man; and then some called "Fierce Deities", that according to wikipedia, are wrathful or forceful, able to destroy obstacles to enlightenment for human beings. Some of these deities also have the ability to cause diseases and know five forms of violent death. While "surfing" I learned that these "deities" were also termed "demons". These are quite the admixture of beings.
In the end, these deities having run their course, are not any better off than human kind. They too are perishable and subject to rebirth; rebirth to, most likely, a lesser form or same status. These are 'gods' which cannot help themselves but are supposed to give support to living human beings. No wonder mankind cannot rely on them for salvation of Nirvana.
Besides deities, the Buddhists believe in the existence of spirits. These spirits can be good or evil; visible or invisible beings. One article, "Guide to Buddhism", claims there are: angry or jealous spirits; hungry spirits (hungry because of excessive greed when he/she was a human being); or purgatorial beings (those that have been sent to "purgatory". From what I can surmise, this is a type of "hell' such as described in previous blog entries referring to a 'model' of a ten-level hell as depicted in Singapore).
These spirits are unable to help themselves and need living human beings to aid them. This ties in with the transference of merits from meritorious acts which will be discussed later on. The thought of "loving-kindness" bestowed upon the spirit, usually of a departed loved one (family or friend), allows the spirit a better chance of a better rebirth. You see, they too, are subject to both rebirth and death and won't necessarily remain a spirit the next time round. One relates to spirits by the transfer of merits (Page 392, 393) as already remarked upon.
Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda remarks on Page 393 of his book,
"...if a person is religious, virtuous and pure in mind, and is also intelligent and possesses strong will-power and understanding capacity, then such a person could be deemed to be much stronger than spirits. The evil spirits will keep away and the good spirits will protect him or her."
He also says that goodness acts as a protective shield or wall against evil. This is great motivation to continue to think and do what is right, good and wholesome.
In previous blog entries for Burning Quest, it has been mentioned a number of times that a human being, due to his/her state of mind at point of death, whether he/she had had a good or bad last thought or action, could morph into the rebirth of another human being or that of some creature of the "animal kingdom" (my meaning includes birds, sea creatures, insects as well as other land animals). Further investigation has taught me that there are other states into which the mental continuum could find itself.
Those alternate state forms could be a deity of one type or another, or of a spirit. The best form, of course, is the human being state.
Why so? It is because it is only from the human state that enlightenment can be attained; Nirvana reached. It is from this advantageous platform one can actually help oneself; so it is presumed.
You may have registered in your mind that both the deities and the spirits need help from human beings effecting meritorious acts and sharing the merits with them. This, in turn, helps the spirit or deva to hopefully better itself. The human being accrues merit from giving merits; all are happy. This happiness helps gain better position the next round keeping things spiraling in an upward circumstance that increases such chances of success for each being. The followers of Buddha have a lot to do to keep themselves busily bettering themselves on towards ceasing to be reborn.
The followers of Jesus Christ have a whole different ball game. We believe in one and only one true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. This is God who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. We believe in the existence of God, the One Supreme Being and that He is the Creator.
There are created beings, aside from human beings, called angels. One of those angels, Lucifer (name rendered from Hebrew, Isaiah 14:12, KJV), was once, I believe, the top angel in God's presence. Granted, the Ezekiel 28:11-19 description of Lucifer's magnificence and his downfall appear to also be describing the King of Tyre. However, Biblical scholars believe this is mostly reference to the evil one we mostly call Satan.
There are also references to a third of the angels being swept out of heaven by the dragon's tail when Satan was flung out of heaven. These "angels" we now call "demons" or what I like to call, "Satan's minions". You can read about these in Hebrews 12:22 and Revelation 12:3-9. Either way, they are still evil. John describes Satan as one who only comes to "steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10).
By contrast, John writes that Jesus said He had come that others "may have life, and have it to the full" (NIV); or "abundantly" (KJV). Jesus, the Son of God, the Holy, Perfect One, came to bring, full and abundant life. John further tells us in John 3:16, that that life is also "everlasting" and when an individual, human being, believes in Jesus and the suffering He took in our place which He suffered on the cross, making atonement for our souls through His death and then resurrection, that everlasting life is ours.
No need to strive and strive for eons in the slim hope of ever achieving no more suffering and no more rebirth. NOT that I believe in rebirth of the Buddhist type. Being born again, through faith in Jesus Christ, we are then born into God's family. None of us needed to die or to pay for our own sins. That is because Jesus did so for us. We could not ever, ever earn enough merits to ever overcome our greedy, lustful, unwholesome mind's thoughts, and end our suffering and rebirth. This is what is so good about being a follower of Jesus Christ.
The only obstacles to accepting Jesus Christ are those that Satan and his demon minions PUT in our road or those that our own fallen nature constructs. When a person humbly submits to God, telling Him, that "Yes, I am a sinner. Yes, I need You. Yes, I need Jesus to wash those sins (bad deeds and unwholesome thoughts) away. Yes, I accept Your offer of salvation", that then those obstacles fall away with our choice. The choice of Jesus.
This brings us to the meritorious act that benefits others. It was through Jesus and His death and resurrection, that enables all human beings to receive the gift of God: sins forgiven, sins washed away, everlasting life given. Jesus came only for human being's benefit. Not for the demons, not for the spirits, not for any of the animal kingdom: only for the salvation of those among His created beings: mankind.
Followers of Jesus Christ are often enamored with angels almost to the point of worshiping them. Yes, they must be truly awesome and terrifying creatures. Yes, creatures. We should not make "gods" out of them. They can not give us salvation for our souls. However, they do serve human beings in the sense, I suppose of giving protection to those who will eventually receive Jesus Christ as Savior. Look at Hebrew 1:14 (NIV)...
"Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"
So angels have been commanded to guard in "all our ways" (Psalm 91:1).
The angel we are most familiar with is the angel Gabriel sent to give Mary the mother of Jesus the message of her service to God through bearing and giving birth to, the Son of God, Jesus. (Luke 1:26-38). Gabriel seems to be a messenger angel.
Then there is the angel Michael that helped another angel to get an answer to Daniel's prayer through to him (Daniel 10:10-21). Michael being seen, perhaps as a "warrior" angel.
Human beings are asked to show hospitality to strangers because one never knows when one will be actually entertaining an angel (Hebrews 13:2). Way back in the Old Testament we learn that Abraham entertained angels and even spoke at some length with them. They had come to deliver a message (Genesis 18:1-15). Even Abraham's nephew Lot invited angels in to his home for their protection but in the end the angels help protect Lot and his family. These angels dragged Lot out of the city of Sodom. That would have been terrifying I feel. (Genesis 19:3, 6, 11, 16).
So angels have their responsibilities towards human beings, and human beings have their responsibilities towards angels.
Angels are sent out to serve. Jesus during His arrest in the Garden admonished Peter,
"Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels" (Matthew 26:53)?
Jesus was to bear the full punishment of our sin guilt; thus He did not call upon His Father for help. He would not have any mitigation.
I believe that there have been many instances since those Bible times that angels can and do help. There is the story of the angels of Mons during World War 1, helping the soldiers. Many say that was fiction but others believed it to be fact. For more on the topic of angels click on this link: On the Doorstep, but Don't Get to Enter - Part 31.
I have heard stories of people I know who have had what they believed must have been angelic help. I personally have been helped to do something that I don't believe I could ever have managed myself. One (at least) helped me steer my car one very slippery, wintry evening on my way to a friend's house. The on-coming vehicle had lost control and was heading in a clear head-on collision course with my vehicle. I did not know how I would escape but suddenly a great calmness of heart came upon me and the steering was guided to avoidance of impact. In fact, the three cars behind me also escaped and the wayward car managed to stop at the guardrail without plowing through it. It almost felt orchestrated it was so well done.
I continued safely to my destination but was shaking despite the earlier calmness cuz by then the mind kicked in wondering what had just happened. Time sorted it out to believe that one of God's "ministering angels" had taken the wheel.
Do I now worship and venerate angels? No. I praise God for all He has done to preserve and protect and help me. If He uses angels or human beings or even my own ingenuity to help me/myself, that is His prerogative to choose. One must praise, thank and be grateful to Him.
These are helps through life, yet they do not save us nor prepare us for the interim after earth life nor for eternity. We must all prepare to meet our God through acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior.
So far, in the articles I've read, and from the What Buddhists Believe book, I don't recall any mention of there being a devil or of Satan, who is the devil. It's likely safe to say that Buddhists do no believe in the existence of Satan. So there is no God and no Satan. No Creator and no Destroyer...except, of course, only a person's self can make or break theirself.
There are demons but Buddhists believe they are either good or bad demons. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe that from the Bible's teaching that there are demons and they are only evil. Furthermore they are under Satan's control.
There is also the Buddhist belief of good and bad spirits. I think this possibly is reference to departed loved ones' spirits, inclusive also of anyone's spirit who has departed earth. I do not want to speculate further than that as this is an aspect of which I'm not fully sure.
Followers of Jesus Christ know that a person has a spirit, soul and a body. When the body has died, the spirit and soul go to be "with Christ" (Philippians 1:23). However, those who do not follow Christ go to Hades (Luke 16:22-23).
I quote next from another On the Doorstep, But Don't Get to Enter blog entry, - Part 13,
A person is made up of a spirit, soul and body. Upon death, the spirit/soul leave the body and go to be "with Christ" if the person happens to have been a follower of Jesus Christ, or to Hades, if the person had not. At the time prior to Christ's death and resurrection, you will recall from earlier on in this series that there were two 'departments' in Hades: one for those of faith and one for those without. We have seen the interaction between the Rich Man & Lazarus (Luke 16: 19-31), the one being "in torment" & Lazarus being at ease in "Abraham's bosom". The Rich Man recognized Lazarus and also Abraham's form.
From yet another On the Doorstep, But Don't Get to Enter - Part 7 we learn a bit more about Hades...do click on the link for further insight.
Spirits of our departed loved ones are not flying about. They are in either of two places; their eternities already fixed. There is nothing that can be done from this side of living; that is earth side to give betterment to any of them. This is why it is so crucial to get your eternal destiny secured in the here and now.
Despite what other religions may believe good/evil spirits are, I would venture to dogmatically say, that good spirits are angels who have NOT fallen or gotten swiped out of heaven by departing Lucifer. The evil or bad spirits would be those swiped angels better known as demons. By "fallen" I mean they were in cahoots with Satan and are now his minions seeking to deceive, "kill, steal and destroy".
Satan is always the deceiver and walks about as a "roaring lion" seeking whom he may destroy, or masquerades as an angel of light. We are warned to be alert of this by the apostle Peter in 1 Peter 5:8 and the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:14, respectively.
The deceitfulness of Satan makes him quite capable of using his minions to deceive the living into believing they see their own or other's departed loved ones.
We know from studying the Gospel books of Jesus Christ (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John) that Jesus cast out evil spirits in His Name. Some folks accused Jesus of being the devil himself or Beelzebub one of seven princes among demons. Jesus countered that by asking why, if He was the devil why He would want to break down his own house (Matthew 12:22-37).
There is the realization that there is hierarchy among angels so likely there is among demons as well. Lucifer Satan was once a top angel, actually likely a seraphim. There were seraphims, cherubim, archangels and angels. If you'd like to know more, wikipedia has a rundown on them and the trustworthy, late Billy Graham wrote a book about angels called Angels: God's Secret Agents.
Even though these are wondrous beings who give us help, much of which we likely don't even realize, let me reiterate, they are not to be worshiped. There is only one true God and it is Him we worship and adore and offer praise and thanks. This the angels also do.
Demons aren't to be appeased in any way shape or form. We are told to,
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7 NIV).
When anyone accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, He sends that person His Holy Spirit to indwell them. Each believer then, besides angel help, has the help, comfort, and guidance to live ones' life in accordance with God's Word, the Bible. We are aided to become ever more Christ-like: meekness, compassion, patience among many other fruit of the Spirit will characterize the individual in ever increasing degrees. He also assists us to make right choices; to think and act in a manner pleasing to God. If it is pleasing to God, one would assume it would be pleasing to human kind too. His power working in and through us will help us to submit ever more to Him.
Submit to and worship God alone. When we are submitted to Him, we have the power to resist the devil and any of his demons he throws at us. Jesus cast out demons. In the Name of Jesus, the followers of Jesus can follow His example. Demons believe in the one God and even tremble at His Name (James 2:19). Fellow followers of Christ, let us engage in submission to God, prayer and even fasting (Matthew 17:21). Our strength and help comes from our Heavenly Father, God and His Son Jesus Christ and the empowerment of His indwelling Holy Spirit. Seek Him.
Father, God, may your living hope powerfully and dynamically be upon those who read this blog. May they no longer be slaves to Satan, demons, or any other thing or religion. May they have salvation through Your Son Jesus Christ alone and be imputed Your righteousness, righteousness that they seek; the freedom from beliefs in never ending cycles of rebirth. Your Son, Father, has already done all the suffering for them. Has already taken the consequences for their wrong thoughts and actions. It is Jesus blood that will give them life; new life, that being born into Your family. May their "story" be one of a relationship with You which goes on and on, forever. In Jesus' precious Name, I ask.
~ERC February 2019~
Bibliography:
Demons and the Demonic in Buddhism
Lucifer
Buddhist Deities-Wikipedia
Other sources can't seem to be gotten at again?!
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