Buddhism questions

[David19]

Recently i've been reading a bit about Buddhism and would like to learn a bit more about it, especially the cosmology of Buddhism, like where deities, spirits and other supernatural beings fit in, and also the kind of supernatural beings that are in Buddhist cosmology.

Also does anyone know of any good books on Buddhism and are there any books or sites with information on the chakra's (i know there's a lot of sites and books out there about them, but a lot of them seem really new agey, plus a few people have said that visulizing the chakra's isn't real, so i'd like to see how Buddhist's open them or work with them).

And just one final question, i know Buddhism is a seperate religion, but can it be combined with other religions (like i heard of some Catholic's combining it and i think there are some Jews who do it).

Thanks for any help you can give me.

[Toby Stimpson]

You ask a loaded question...hmmm...well:

As for the cosmology...it's different depending upon the major school and which sect of that school you look at. I know the Mahayana is loaded with demigods, supernaturals and spirits...so depending upon which country you go they would be different. Generally Mahayana (The Great school) of the northern countries of India, Tibet, China, Mongoloia, Japan, and Korea...the Buddha is seen as a high Bodhisattva (enlightened being) who sit at the top of the Buddhist universe. Beneath them on another level live the Demi Gods, whos mere existant is so filled with ego inducing pleasures tjhat they cannot spiritually lift themselves out of their ego filled states. Beneath them live supernaturals and Humans on earth...and depending upon the place beneath Earth is the underworld where Demons dwell. All of these are metaphors though...and depending upon the country are vastly different. I know mostly the Japanese and the Tibetan cosmologies...but Korean and Chinese are also quite interesting...Buddhism adopted a lot of the native eligious views and so each country is different. Therevada Buddhism, which is found in south east asia, Sri lanka, southern India, and other such places is almost entirely atheistic and, although accept local gods and spirits...do not see them as being grweat in the grand scheme of things.

As for books... all i can suggest is perhaps looking at the listing on www.buddhanet.com

As for your last question. it can be combined, yes...I combine it soemnwhat with my Hindu beliefs...but there will be a line that you can just not cross without isrespecting both faiths. I mean the messages it has are universal and can be combined in many ways...but more deep teachings such as "karma can only be resolved through one's own actiuons instead of by worship oif a God" are not as easily combinable with more God centered religions.

I hope soem of this helps...

Tobias

[David19]

Thank's, that really helped.

Just a quick question, that i forgot, if you're Buddhist, can you believe in supernatural beings (such as gods, demi-gods, demons, spirits, etc) without them being metaphor's?, it's just i've been reading about Taoism and other eastern religions, and really find the beliefs about supernatural beings to match mine (kind of, anyway) like, i'm not sure if this is right, but isn't a Buddhist (or Taoist?) belief that demons aren't all evil, gods aren't all good and humans are both (or i think it was put something like Heaven, earth and hell or all mixed, i think).

Anyway, thanks again.

[Toby Stimpson]

Well you can believe in them...I mean to some degree they are there but in other ways they are not. I mean Buddhism is exactly like hinduism in which there is no one definite answer really. I am somewhat Buddhist and believe in supernatural beings. :)

Namaste

Tobias