Are Buddhists really atheists?

Atheists in the West claim that Buddhists are atheists, so they (the atheists in the West) feel better that they are not the only atheists in the world.

My purpose is to ask Buddhists whether they really deny that God exists.

From my part, I know from my reason and intelligence that God exists.

So, paging Buddhists, please come over and let us discuss whether you Buddhists really deny God exists.

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yrger · 80-89, M

@SW-User

You say:
I do meditate but this is for me purely therapeutic.

From me (on the meaning of therapeutic):

adjective: therapeutic

relating to the healing of disease.
"diagnostic and therapeutic facilities"

noun: therapeutics

1. the branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of disease and the action of remedial agents.
2. a treatment, therapy, or drug.
"current therapeutics for asthma"

(Oxford Languages)

Well, that's enlightening for me, that you meditate for healing of your health.

So, I tend to think that meditation is some kind of prayer, some kind of appeal to some higher power for your need in the present context, health restoration - wherefore your Buddhism is a religion.

yrger · 80-89, M
@TelegramSam

So, you don't know what is a religion and what is a philosophy, wherefore you don't know what is Buddhism to you.

And I was hoping to learn from you, in re how to enhance my life with Buddhism.

Anyway, tell me what Buddhistic acts or routines do you perform in your everyday life, aside from reading and thinking and thinking and thinking in re Buddhism?

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TelegramSam · 70-79New
@yrger Hello again, no, I have been unclear. I do know the difference but I am simply saying that the Buddhadharma does not fall into either of the two categories.

And as I implied previously, I do not divide my life into categories either - spiritual, secular, "buddhist" acts, other acts. I do meditate but this is for me purely therapeutic. In the Pure Land way that I loosely follow, the dojo (training ground) is life itself, and any act designed to "gain" enlightenment is seen as self-power (Japanese jiriki) and is seen as unbeneficial. The way is more one of thankfullness for all that has been given.

In fact, giving a bit of background - as you seem interested - the Pure Land way is very much related to the interplay of self-power/jiriki and Other Power (Japanese Tariki)

As the Pure Land myokonin (loosely = saint) Saichi has said:-

O Saichi! Will you tell us of Other Power?
Yes, but there is neither self-power nor Other Power.
What is, is the Graceful Acceptance only.

Which really brings me back to my "erudite" ramblings in my very first response to you. Where is the dividing line between theism and non-theism? The Dharma has a very non-dual background.

Anyway, it's time for bed. It has been a long day.

All the best.

SW-User

@yrger Good morning! Bolstered by a fairly good nights sleep, I read your latest response.

You simply seem intent upon stating that Buddhism is a religion. Fair enough. Up to you.

One way of describing the Dharma - according to its own texts - is that it is ehipassiko (Pali) which translated means "come and see (for oneself)"

I really think that this is as far as it goes in terms of our conversation.

Thank you.