In some religions, sin is the origin of human suffering. In Buddhism there is no sin; the root cause of human suffering is avidyā“ ignorance”. In the entrance area of some Buddhist monasteries, sometimes the images of four scary-looking deities are displayed, the four protectors whose purpose is to scare away the ignorance of those who enter.
Buddhism does not require faith or belief. If faith can be understood as believing something which is unsupported by evidence, and ignorance is overcome by understanding, then faith is not enough to overcome ignorance and therefore suffering. And belief, as understood by other religions, is not necessary in Buddhism:
“ The question of belief arises when there is no seeing- seeing in every sense of the word. The moment you see, the question of belief disappears. If I tell you that I have a gem hidden in the folded palm of my hand, the question of belief arises because you do not see it yourself. But if I unclench my fist and show you the gem, then you see it for yourself, and the question of belief does not arise. So the phrase in ancient Buddhist texts reads ' Realizing, as one sees a gem in the palm '”
In its most basic form, Buddhism does not include the concept of a god. The existence of god is neither confirmed, nor denied; it is a non-theistic system. The Buddha is seen as an extraordinary man, not a deity. Some Buddhist schools have incorporated supernatural entities into their traditions, but even in these cases, the role of human choice and responsibility remains supreme, far above the deeds of the supernatural.
For further reading about Buddhism check the following web page: http:// www. ancient. eu / buddhism /
Even if you are not a Buddhist you CAN go to a Buddhist temple and be welcomed warmly by the monks and the laypeople there. There are a few restrictions on who may pray at a Buddhist temple, but they are generally quite accommodating. Firstly, there is no religious restrictions prohibiting Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, or those of other faiths from going to a Buddhist temple. No one will be asking you to declare what faith you follow before entering. Everyone is welcome. Secondly, no one will try to convert you to Buddhism if you go. Yes, the monks will lead in Buddhist prayers and will offer blessings, and you will be expected to pay respects to- or at least act respectfully around- the main Buddha statue enshrined at the temple. but Buddhists are not evangelical so you will not have to feel like you need to defend your religious beliefs. Your personal faith is as safe as it can be when you are at a temple.
Learn more about Buddhism in Vietnam and the history of how Buddhism came to Vietnam by going to the following: https:// travelindochinaguidehelpdesk. wordpress. com / 2011 / 12 / 02 / buddishm-in-vietnam /
Anyone who spends more than a few hours in Vietnam will notice the many white statues of a divine woman usually holding an upside down vase. It’ s not some feminine looking Buddha or an“ Asian Virgin Mary”— it’ s Quan Am( aka Kuan Yin, Kuan Shih Yin, Guanyin or Kannon), the bodhisattva of compassion. In Buddhist pagodas, on the altars in homes, and along hairraising stretches of mountainside highway throughout Vietnam, devotees look to Quan Am for guidance, fertility and protection.
Quan Am, the bodhisattva of compassion, in Vietnam
Quan Âm, Quán Thế Âm or Quán Thế Âm Bồ Tát. She is commonly known as the " Goddess of Mercy " in English.
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