Buddha

Compilations

• https://bahai-library.com/compilation_buddha_krishna_zoroaster (all content integrated in this page and subpages)

Title

Regarding "Awakened One", see sleep

Birth

Appearance during Adamic cycle

"Buddha appeared in the Adamic cycle"

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi - 13 July 1938, in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects, no. 14)

Lack of ability to make conclusions about virgin birth for Buddha

"We cannot be sure of the authenticity of the scriptures of Buddha and Krishna, so we certainly cannot draw any conclusions about virgin births mentioned in them. There is no reference to this subject in our teachings, so the Guardian cannot pronounce an opinion.

(November 25, 1950, to an individual believer, taken from a compilation of extracts from letters written on behalf of the Guardian on these and related subjects, enclosed with a letter to an individual believer on November 30, 1980 from the Universal House of Justice, Lights of Guidance, no. 1696)

"The Teachings do not tell us of any miraculous birth besides that of Jesus."

(From a letter dated February 27, 1938 written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1638)

Status as Manifestation of God

Buddha was a Manifestation like Christ

"The Buddha was a Manifestation of God, like Christ, but His followers do not possess His authentic writings."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand, December 26, 1941: Letters from the Guardian to Australia and New Zealand, 1923-1957, p. 41, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1684; also in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects, no. 19)

"A star has the same radiance if it shines from the East or from the West. Be free from prejudice, so will you love the Sun of Truth from whatsoever point in the horizon it may arise! You will realize that if the Divine light of truth shone in Jesus Christ it also shone in Moses and in Buddha. The earnest seeker will arrive at this truth...."

("Paris Talks: Addresses given by `Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912", p. 137; also in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects, no. 8)

Buddha was a divinely-appointed and fully independent Manifestation of God

"Regarding Lao-Tse: The Bahá'ís do not consider him a prophet, or even a secondary prophet or messenger, unlike Buddha or Zoroaster, both of whom were divinely-appointed and fully independent Manifestations of God.

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, November 10, 1939, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1694; also in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects, no. 15)

Buddha one of the few Asiatic (non-semitic) prophets mentioned in our scriptures as not lost to history as with other prophets

"Regarding your questions: The only reason there is not more mention of the Asiatic prophets is because their names seem to be lost in the mists of ancient history. Buddha is mentioned and Zoroaster in our scriptures--both non-Jewish prophets or non-semitic prophets. We are taught there always have been Manifestations of God, but we do not have any record of their names."

(October 4, 1950, to an individual believer, compilation of extracts from letters written on behalf of the Guardian on these and related subjects, enclosed with a letter to an individual believer on November 30, 1980 from the Universal House of Justice, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1696; also in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects, no. 22))

Praise of character/influence

Buddhas was an illustrious personage/"king" of a bygone age (though now is the time for mention of Bahá'u'lláh)

"Thou hast written regarding Buddha and Confucius. Buddha was an illustrious personage. Confucius became the cause of civilization, advancement and prosperity for the people of China. Now it is not the time when we discuss concerning the stations and positions of those who are passed away. We must concentrate our attention upon the present. What hath transpired in a former time is past. Now is the time when we restrict our discussion to the Most Great Luminary of Peace and Salvation in this Age, to talk of the Blessed Perfection [Bahá'u'lláh] and to voice His exhortations, behests and teachings. Buddha and Confucius were kings in bygone ages who have disappeared. Their sovereignty in this world is ended and their cycle is completed. Now the Throne of the Kingdom of ABHA is established and the Blessed Perfection is sitting upon the Throne of Grandeur. We must raise this Call, promulgate the Word of God and live in accord with the teachings and advices of the Beauty of ABHA."

("Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas", vol. 2 (Chicago: Bahá'í Publishing Society, 1915), pp. 469-70; also in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects, no. 2)

Buddhas was the cause of illumination of the world of humanity

"Blessed souls whether Moses, Jesus, Zoroaster, Krishna, Buddha, Confucius, or Muhammad were the cause of the illumination of the world of humanity. How can we deny such irrefutable proof? How can we be blind to such light?""

('Abdu'l-Bahá from a Tablet - translated from the Persian; in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects, no. 1)

Buddha taught the oneness of God, but men changed the teachings

Buddha established a new religion and established the Oneness of God (though His original principles disappeared and ignorant customs/ceremonials arose including worship of statues/images/gods)

"Buddha also established a new religion, and Confucius renewed morals and ancient virtues, but their institutions have been entirely destroyed. The beliefs and rites of the Buddhists and Confucianists have not continued in accordance with their fundamental teachings. The founder of Buddhism was a wonderful soul. He established the Oneness of God, but later the original principles of His doctrines gradually disappeared, and ignorant customs and ceremonials arose and increased until they finally ended in the worship of statues and images...So it is with religions; through the passing of time they change from their original foundation, the truth of the Religion of God entirely departs, and the spirit of it does not stay; heresies appear, and it becomes a body without a soul. That is why it is renewed. The meaning is that the Buddhists and Confucianists now worship images and statues. They are entirely heedless of the Oneness of God and believe in imaginary gods like the ancient Greeks. But in the beginning it was not so; there were different principles and other ordinances."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, "Some Answered Questions", (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1984), pp. 165-166; also in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects, no. 4)

The real teaching of the Buddha is the same as Christ, but little of the Reality is left with many worshiping idols

"...The real teaching of Buddha is the same as the teaching of Jesus Christ. The teachings of all the Prophets are the same in character. Now men have changed the teaching. If you look at the present practice of the Buddhist religion, you will see that there is little of the Reality left. Many worship idols although their teaching forbids it.

"Buddha had disciples and he wished to send them out into the world to teach, so he asked them questions to see if they were prepared as he would have them be. "When you go to the East and to the West," said the Buddha, "and the people shut their doors to you and refuse to speak to you, what will you do?" — The disciples answered and said; "We shall be very thankful that they do us no harm." — "Then if they do you harm and mock, what will you do?" — 'We shall be very thankful that they do not give us worse treatment." — "If they throw you into prison?" — 'We shall still be grateful that they do not kill us." — "What if they were to kill you?" the Master asked for the last time. "Still," answered the disciples, "we will be thankful, for they cause us to be martyrs. What more glorious fate is there than this, to die for the glory of God?" And the Buddha said: "Well done!" The teaching of Buddha was like a young and beautiful child, and now it has become as an old and decrepit man. Like the aged man it cannot see, it cannot hear, it cannot remember anything"

(Attributed to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, 'Abdu'l-Bahá in London: Addresses, and Notes of Conversations", Commemorative ed. (London: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1987), pp. 63-64; also in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects, no. 6)

See also

• Buddhism
• Far East Prophets