Does God Exist? (Answers from the Buddha)
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Does God exist? The Buddha's
Does God exist? The Buddha's Answer.
Indeed, the question "Does God exist?" is one of the oldest and most profound inquiries in the human mind. Throughout history, from ancient Greek philosophers to the thinkers of ancient Sumerian civilization, humans have ceaselessly pondered and sought answers to this mystery. But, is the question of God, or a supreme being, merely a product of human thought? We not only inquire about His existence but also about the nature and origins of faith. Even in the Upanishads of India, where spiritual and cosmic knowledge is deeply explored, the question of God is not always explicitly mentioned. This leads us to wonder whether the concept of God is a later invention. What constitutes the entity we call God—an omnipotent, omniscient, eternal, compassionate, just, and wholly good force?
One day someone asked the Buddha,
- Does God exist?
- The Buddha looked at the person and said, "Yes."
The person could not believe their ears, because it is commonly said that the Buddha did not believe in God. So why would he answer like that?
At that time, Ananda, one of Buddha's closest disciples, was present. He too was shocked. The Buddha had never asserted such a thing, without qualifiers or conditions. Throughout his life, he had strongly critiqued any notion of God.
There was an agreement between Buddha and Ananda. Ananda was the Buddha's cousin. Before becoming Buddha's disciple, Ananda had made a condition, "You must promise me a few things. Right now, I am your cousin. But when I become your disciple, I will have to obey you. But right now I can make requests, and you must comply."
The Buddha said, "I know you well. You will not ask for anything I cannot do. Please speak."
Ananda said: "It's nothing much. Just a few small requests. One is that every night, before going to sleep, if I ask you something, you must answer. You cannot say, 'I am too tired today from interacting and talking with so many people...' You will have to answer me. During the day I will not ask, and I will not disturb you. But I am not yet enlightened, occasionally I will have some questions."
The Buddha replied, "I accept."
Ananda continued, "You will not send me far away. I will always be by your side, and care for you until death. You will not order me, 'Go and spread my teachings,' as though you sent others. You will not send me anywhere."
The Buddha said, "Okay. That is not a problem."
Ananda added, "If I bring someone to meet you, then no matter what time, even at midnight, you must meet that person. These are the few special favors you must grant me."
The Buddha said, "I agree to all, for I know you well. You will not take advantage of these..."
So when Ananda was stunned by the Buddha claiming there is a God.
But he could not ask amidst a crowd. That afternoon someone else came and asked the Buddha the same question,
- Does God exist?
- He answered, "No. There is no God."
The situation became complicated. Ananda was utterly confused but endured.
That evening another person came to the Buddha,
- Can you tell me about God?
The Buddha looked at him, closed his eyes, and was completely silent. The other person also closed his eyes. Both were silent for half an hour. Before leaving, the person bowed down to kiss the Buddha's feet and said,
"Thank you for your teaching."
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