Theistic Belief/Believing in God/Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

[Santi253]

In Mahayana Buddhism, there's an understanding that one can pray to buddhas and bodhisattvas to act out of their boundless compassion.

Perhaps most notable is Avalokitesvara in the Lotus Sutra, which promises salvation from worldly calamities and disasters for those who call on her name.

At a deeper level, the sutra promises that one will be freed from the three poisons of ignorance/delusion, greed/lust, and anger/hate, by calling on the name of Avalokitesvara.

Belief in the ability of buddhas and bodhisattvas to answer prayer stems from the bodhisattva ideal, that the purpose of seeking buddhahood is to relieve the suffering of others.

[chownah]

In Mahayana Buddhism, there's an understanding that one can pray to buddhas and bodhisattvas to act out of their boundless compassion.

Perhaps most notable is Avalokitesvara in the Lotus Sutra, which promises salvation from worldly calamities and disasters for those who call on her name.

At a deeper level, the sutra promises that one will be freed from the three poisons of ignorance/delusion, greed/lust, and anger/hate, by calling on the name of Avalokitesvara.

Belief in the ability of buddhas and bodhisattvas to answer prayer stems from the bodhisattva ideal, that the purpose of seeking buddhahood is to relieve the suffering of others.

Maybe belief in the ability of buddhas and bodhisattvas to answer prayer stems from the Lotus Sutra where Avalokitesvara promises salvation from worldly calamities and disasters for those who call on her name.

chownah

[Santi253]

Maybe belief in the ability of buddhas and bodhisattvas to answer prayer stems from the Lotus Sutra where Avalokitesvara promises salvation from worldly calamities and disasters for those who call on her name.

Avalokitesvara is one of many celestial buddhas and bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism.

Mahayana Buddhism traditionally teaches about the existence of countless planets inhabited by intelligent life, with countless Buddhas from countless eons before the Big Bang.

The idea that we’re alone in the universe is foreign to a traditional Mahayana perspective.

[cappuccino]

A very long time comes and goes, before the arising of a Buddha.

Almost it never happens.

[chownah]

In Mahayana Buddhism, there's an understanding that one can pray to buddhas and bodhisattvas to act out of their boundless compassion.

Perhaps most notable is Avalokitesvara in the Lotus Sutra, which promises salvation from worldly calamities and disasters for those who call on her name.

At a deeper level, the sutra promises that one will be freed from the three poisons of ignorance/delusion, greed/lust, and anger/hate, by calling on the name of Avalokitesvara.

Belief in the ability of buddhas and bodhisattvas to answer prayer stems from the bodhisattva ideal, that the purpose of seeking buddhahood is to relieve the suffering of others.

Maybe belief in the ability of buddhas and bodhisattvas to answer prayer stems from the Lotus Sutra where Avalokitesvara promises salvation from worldly calamities and disasters for those who call on her name.

What I am saying is that the belief does not come from some ideal....it comes from people reading stories in the lotus sutra....and probably other places. People don't need to think "gee, I think it is because of the bodhisatva ideals that I think that they will answer my prayers"....all they have to do is to read the stories in the lotas sutra and believe them.
chownah

[cappuccino]

all they have to do is to read the stories in the sutra and believe

Remember, faith is one of the five faculties that progress depends on.

[binocular]

What I am saying is that the belief does not come from some ideal....it comes from people reading stories in the lotus sutra....and probably other places. People don't need to think "gee, I think it is because of the bodhisatva ideals that I think that they will answer my prayers"....all they have to do is to read the stories in the lotas sutra and believe them.

And yet not everyone who reads those stories believes them. Why not?

[cappuccino]

And yet not everyone who reads those stories believes them. Why not?

They're not desperate, they don't realize they're in a desperate situation.

[binocular]

They're not desperate, they don't realize they're in a desperate situation.

Desperation is in no way causally related to wisdom.
Just because one is desperate doesn't mean one will make wise decisions.
In fact, desperate people often resort to some very stupid measures that bring a lot of suffering.

[cappuccino]

I meant faith is hope.

Hope is for desperate situations,
like Buddha said we're in.

[binocular]

Hope is for desperate situations, like Buddha said we're in.

And where did the Buddha say that we should pray to bodhisattvas?

[cappuccino]

And where did the Buddha say that we should pray to bodhisattvas?

Humanity prays, in general.

[Santi253]

A very long time comes and goes, before the arising of a Buddha.

Almost it never happens.

If there are many world systems with intelligent life, and if the universe has existed from the incalculable past, then there have been many, if not countless, buddhas.

[Santi253]

People don't need to think "gee, I think it is because of the bodhisatva ideals that I think that they will answer my prayers"....all they have to do is to read the stories in the lotas sutra and believe them.

The altruistic intent of buddhahood in Mahayana Buddhism is why celestial buddhas and bodhisattvas are believed to hear and answer prayer in the first place.

[cappuccino]

If there are many world systems with intelligent life, and if the universe has existed from the incalculable past, then there have been many, if not countless, buddhas.

Since forever and this is the closest
you ever came to nirvana.