[Buddha-l] the existence of God in Buddhism

[Vicente Gonzalez]

Richard Hayes wrote:

RH> The issue of interest to Buddhists was whether the world of 
RH> phenomena had all issued from one source. Buddhists claimed that 
RH> the answer was No. This denial that all the world came from once 
RH> source led to Buddhists denying that all the word issued from 
RH> brahman, prakriti, purusha or ishvara (usually translated as God).
RH> Of course one can deny that there is a single creator of the whole
RH> world without denying that there are devas living in celestial 
RH> realms.

and there is not some elaborated Buddhist work to explain this?.

In example, in the Kevaddha Sutra the Brahma Kevvadha is named
"the Conqueror, the Unconquered, the All-seeing, All-Powerful, the
Lord, the Maker and Creator, the Ruler, Appointer and Ordered,
Father of All That Have Been and Shall Be".

In this Sutra, one monk ask him three times where the four elements
cease without reminder. Brahma answer him that his questions are
uncomfortable and not proper. Then he send that monk to see Buddha,
who teach him to ask the right questions: "Where elements no footing
find?, Where are name-and-form wholly destroyed?" etc..

So here there is not a negation of a god creator but only of the idea
that he can be cause and end of Reality. In fact, this same notion
exists in some Christian mystics, specially in contemplative
Quietists, who denied that God can be such type of first Creator
because there is not a place in any time in where he was not present. 


best regards,