Page "God in Buddhism" Paragraph 50

Huston Smith describes early Buddhism as psychological rather than metaphysical.

Unlike theistic religions, which are founded on notions of God and related creation myths, Buddhism begins with the human condition as enumerated in the Four Noble Truths.

Thus while most other religions attempt to pass a blanket judgement on the goodness of a pre-fallen world ( e. g. ' He then looked at the world and saw that it was good.

' Book of Genesis, Old Testament, Christian Bible ) and therefore derive the greatness of its Creator, Early Buddhism denies that the question is even worth asking to begin with.

Instead it places emphasis on the human condition of clinging and the insubstantial nature of the world.

This approach is often even in contrast with many of the Mahayana forms of Buddhism.

No being, whether a god or an enlightened being ( including the historical Buddha ), is ascribed powers of creation, granting salvation and judgement.

According to the Pali Canon, omnipotence cannot be ascribed to any being.

Further, in Theravada Buddhism, there are no lands or heavens where a being is guaranteed nirvana ; instead he can attain nirvana within a very short time, though nothing conclusive could be said about the effort required for that.

In this sense, therefore, there is no equivalent of the Mahayana " Pure Land " or magical abode of Buddhas where one is guaranteed to be enlightened, in Early Buddhist tradition.