Buddhism 101

Supernatural as in "outside of the natural" isn't a thing in a Buddhism. Remember our huge ass cosmic viewpoint of doom thing? All of it has a natural explanation. The only things that can count as supernatural is Nibbana and whatever is in Nibbana because they are outside of reality and the natural.

That said...

Gods and ghosts can indeed intervene and end up affecting your kamma. Your kamma and the fruits of it being affected by ALL beings means ALL beings. Some gods are even capable of taking on your kamma. They don't do this through evil cheating magic of supernaturalness, but by knowing some loophole in the system and how to work it.

That's all Enlightenment is actually on that note. Knowing how the kamma system works and beating it through that knowledge.

Wait, wouldn't "supernatural doesn't exist" apply to a whole lot of other religions as well, then?

In some versions of how Buddha started down the path of enlightenment. (Our young, privileged, warrior prince saw and old man, a sick man, and a dead man) the gods played the rule of the various men because the Prince's parents always made sure his travel routes where devoid of people.

The the story doesn't implicitly state karma is at work, given that even the gods are not free of karma's will and the Buddha had done much good in his previous lives, it could be argued that supernatural beings can bring about karma.

Generally, however, most Buddhist seems to believe the laws of nature will suffice.

Edit: Ninja'd by the master herself.

edited 22nd Sep '11 12:49:48 PM by Justice4243

That Human: It could indeed. Though some have their gods that exist outside of reality but can also somehow affect reality and...stuff...

My answer is typically "Is it here?" "Yes." "Then it exists so STFU," with God getting a "I HAVE NO IDEA".

Really I just dislike the word supernatural.

edited 22nd Sep '11 12:50:10 PM by Aondeug

I think with Islam, and possibly other monotheistic religions with a completely omnipotent God, it's like, "God has all the power in the Universe, so everything's possible". So, yeah, I guess "no such thing as supernatural" does apply. Not too sure about the whole "can God make a rock so heavy he can't lift it?" stuff, though.

edited 22nd Sep '11 12:54:25 PM by ThatHuman

Technically, they would support reinterpretations of other religions in naturalistic lights. Creator based religions are based on when their founders remembered a past life as a Brahma and viewing Mahabrahma as a creator God.

You have a problem with loaded terms people use as a tautological equivalent to "bad" so they can subtly attack others views?

I can't imagine why.

edited 22nd Sep '11 12:54:12 PM by Justice4243

If I ever see another a "God can make a rock that he can't lift" discussion I will eat everyone in the OTC alive...

ALIVE.

^This is why I love you.

edited 22nd Sep '11 12:54:49 PM by Aondeug

How long does enlightenment take?

Some sutras said a beginner would take 3–22 countless eons (mahāsaṃkhyeya kalpas) to become a buddha.[17][18][19] Pure Land Buddhism suggests buddhists go to the pure lands to practice. Tiantai, Huayan, Zen and Vajrayāna schools say they teach ways to attain buddhahood within one karmic cycle.[20][21]

Various traditions within Buddhism believe in specific bodhisattvas. Some bodhisattvas appear across traditions, but due to language barriers may be seen as separate entities. For example, Tibetan Buddhists believe in various forms of Chenrezig, who is Avalokiteśvara in Sanskrit, Guanyin (Kwan-yin or Kuan-yin) in China and Korea, Quan Am in Vietnam, and Kannon (formerly spelled and pronounced: Kwannon) in Japan. Followers of Tibetan Buddhism consider the Dalai Lamas and the Karmapas to be an emanation of Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

Kṣitigarbha is another popular bodhisattva in Japan and China. He is known for aiding those who are lost. His greatest compassionate vow is:

If I do not go to the hell to help the suffering beings there, who else will go? ... if the hells are not empty I will not become a Buddha. Only when all living beings have been saved, will I attain Bodhi.

The place of a bodhisattva's earthly deeds, such as the achievement of enlightenment or the acts of dharma, is known as a bodhimanda, and may be a site of pilgrimage. Many temples and monasteries are famous as bodhimandas; for instance, the island of Putuoshan, located off the coast of Ningbo, is venerated by Chinese Buddhists as the bodhimanda of Avalokiteśvara. Perhaps the most famous bodhimanda of all is the bodhi tree under which Śākyamuṇi achieved buddhahood. [edit]

The Dalia Lama is very important for Buddhism right?

The Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader for Tibetan Buddhists. He is very, very important to them. Buddhists of other nations and schools may or may not respect him and hold him in high regard. Many do consider him a Bodhisatta.

Ok, so are their other spiritual leaders for other countries and what happens when these people stop reincarnating?

Not necessarily for all sect. Though, important for Tibetan Buddhism. I wouldn't be too surprised if other sects accepted him as a Bodhisattva incarnate.

WHY DO I POST HERE!

...

Yes. The countries have leaders and structures to their orders of monks. Like Thailand and its Council of Bhikkhu. My Achaan Sok Chai is a relatively important man in the Council being head of its bases in America. I've also met the head honcho of the Council during a ceremony.

HE IS ASIAN.

As for what happens when they take their Parinibbana...We just find other teachers to look to or take on their former roles as teachers.

^HAHAHAHAHA

edited 22nd Sep '11 1:11:15 PM by Aondeug

Ok thanks, was curious about what happens.

Any other questions?

Yes

Whats a Bodhisatta and how does one become one?

A Bodhisatta is a being who is just about to reach Enlightenment. They take a series of personalized vows and dedicate their reaching of Enlightenment for the betterment of life for all sentient living beings.

Some reach it as soon as possible and do what they can in that one life. Others, typically the highest regarded ones, continuously hold off their Parinibbana so that they can help other beings achieve theirs first.

So basically they willingly continue to suffer and die just for us.

I myself would like to be one in one of my lives. A shepherd type in particular. Like Guanyin.

edited 22nd Sep '11 1:31:05 PM by Aondeug

Bodhisattva reading if you like.

Guanyin and Miroku are two very famous and important Bodhisattvas that come to mind.

They’re sort of comparable to Catholic Saints. Obviously there are some key differences, but it’s not a horrible comparison.

There are different types of Bodhisatta's?

Yes. The shepherd type are ones like Guanyin who keep coming back until they save EVERYONE EVER.

edited 22nd Sep '11 1:31:14 PM by Aondeug

They also can be patrons of things, much like Saints. Hence the comparison.

What other kinds are there and what do they do?

There are kings and boatmen. The king type want to achieve it as fast as possible. The boatmen want to achieve it with a few others.

Also Bodhisatta seek to help other living beings by teaching the Dhamma and talking to people and being awesome.