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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