[Buddha-l] God is Emptiness?

[Blumenthal, James]

There was a big "If" at the beginning of the Dalai Lama's statement.  I have heard him also state in no uncertain terms that Buddhism and Judeao-Christian religions differ in important ways philosophically if God is understood as a some sort of uncaused cause or creator of the universe.
Jim Blumenthal

James Blumenthal, Associate Professor
Department of Philosophy
Oregon State University
102-A Hovland Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331



 
S.A. Feite schreef:
> Dalai Lama Quote of the Week
>
> Question: Western religions use the term "God", and Buddhism does not. 
> Could emptiness or nirvana be considered God? If the afflictive 
> obstruction that is the conception of inherent existence is 
> eliminated, does one realize that everything is God?
>
> Dalai Lama: If God is interpreted as an ultimate reality or truth, 
> then selflessness may be considered as God and even as a creator in 
> the sense that within the nature of emptiness things appear and 
> disappear. In this sense, emptiness is the basis of everything; 
> because of emptiness, things can change, and things can appear and 
> disappear.* Thus, voidness--emptiness, selflessness--is this kind of 
> basis.
>
> * For more on this see Dharma Quotes Archive, May 7 and May 26, 2007 
> quotes, and Dalai Lama Quotes Archive, April 28, 2007.
>