Buddhism
(Buddhism's teachings are noble and high-minded)[edit]
"Among your peoples, the majority of whom have been influenced by noble and high-minded teachings of Buddhism, are many who possess a profound sense of spirituality, which is reflected in the practices of their daily lives and in the quality of their relationships with one another, with nature, and with their social institutions."
- (Universal House of Justice, Ridvan, 1996, "To the Followers of Bahá'u'lláh in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam", par. 2)
Buddhism as one of nine existing religions[edit]
"The number nine, which in itself is the number of perfection, is considered by the Bahá'ís as sacred because it is symbolic of the perfection of the Bahá'í Revelation, which constitutes the ninth in the line of existing religions, the latest and fullest Revelation which mankind has ever known. The eighth is the Religion of the Báb, and the remaining seven are: Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islám and the religion of the Sabaeans. These religions are not the only true religions that have appeared in the world, but are the only ones which are still existing. There have always been divine prophets and messengers, to many of whom the Qur'án refers. But the only ones existing are those mentioned above."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 28 July 1936, in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects, no. 13)
"The nine religions to which you have referred include both the Bábí and the Bahá'í Dispensations, Bahá'u'lláh being the ninth Prophet in the series. The other Prophets included are Zoroaster, Krishna, Moses, the Christ, Muhammad, Buddha, the Prophet of the Sabaeans Whose name is unrecorded, the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh...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)
Buddha's original principles included the oneness of God, but the followers changed the teachings[edit]
Buddha's original principles such as on Oneness of God disappeared and ignorant customs/ceremonials arose including worship of statues/images/gods[edit]
"Buddha also established a new religion and Confucius renewed the ancient conduct and morals, but the original precepts have been entirely changed and their followers no longer adhere to the original pattern of belief and worship. The founder of Buddhism was a precious Being Who established the oneness of God, but later His original precepts were gradually forgotten and displaced by primitive customs and rituals, until in the end it led to the worship of statues and images....
"So it is with the divine religions: With the passage of time, their original precepts are altered, their underlying truth entirely vanishes, their spirit departs, doctrinal innovations spring up, and they become a body without a soul. That is why they are renewed.
"Our meaning is that the followers of Buddha and Confucius now worship images and statues and have become entirely unaware of the oneness of God, believing instead in imaginary gods, as did the ancient Greeks. But such were not their original precepts; indeed, their original precepts and conduct were entirely different."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, Chapter 43, par. 8; older translation in (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[edit]
"...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)
Prophecies[edit]
Prophecies in Buddhistic books are in spiritual metaphors, but the leaders of religion misinterpret as material[edit]
"There are prophecies concerning this Manifestation in the Buddhistic books, but they are in symbols and metaphors, and some spiritual conditions are mentioned therein, but the leaders of religion do not understand. They think these prophecies are material things; yet those signs are foreshadowing spiritual occurrences."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas, vol. 3 (Chicago: Bahá'í Publishing Society, 1916), p. 565; also in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects, no. 3)
Bahá'u'lláh was the fifth Buddha, the Maitreye Buddha, or Buddha of universal fellowship[edit]
"...to the Buddhists [Bahá'u'lláh was] the fifth Buddha...
"He alone is meant by the prophecy attributed to Gautama Buddha Himself, that "a Buddha named Maitreye, the Buddha of universal fellowship" should, in the fullness of time, arise and reveal "His boundless glory."...
- (Shoghi Effendi, "God Passes By", rev. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1987), pp. 94-95; also in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects, no. 9-10)
Only a few references to Buddha and Bahá'u'lláh's fulfillment of Buddhistic prophecies[edit]
"There is no mention in the Bahá'í writings of any connection between the Near Eastern and Far Eastern Prophets. There are a very few references made to Buddha, which you have evidently seen. In "God Passes By" you will find that Bahá'u'lláh is the return of the Fifth Buddha, etc., and this is all the information the Guardian has, on this subject of Bahá'u'lláh's fulfilling Buddhistic prophecies, at present."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 24 June 1947; in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects, no. 21)
Figures[edit]
- Buddha
- Twenty-eight prior Buddhas - See Prophets
- Samyaksambuddha - See Prophets#Manifestations_elsewhere_in_the_universe
- Maitreya - See section on Bahá'u'lláh fulfilling prophecies
