Why are there so many Gods in Godless Buddhism?
Jon Landaw
Saturday, July 20: 10am-12:30pm
Buddhism is one of the very few world religions that is not centered on belief in a Supreme Deity, God the Creator. Yet the Vajrayana Buddhism that evolved in India, and was then transplanted in Tibet, is filled with an astounding number of male and female deities—sometimes referred to as “gods” and “goddesses”— and the distinctive practice of this esoteric form of Buddhism is called deity-yoga.
How can we understand this seeming contradiction? What role do these so-called “deities” play in the powerful transformative practices of Vajrayana Buddhism? And how can we, in this present secular and skeptical age, extract meaning from these practices that is relevant to our everyday lives?
All are welcome to join us as Jon Landaw—author of "Images of Enlightenment" and "Buddhism for Dummies"—explores these questions in a presentation suitable for both beginning and advanced students alike. There will be time during Jon’s presentation for both meditation and discussion, and questions are always very welcome.
How can we understand this seeming contradiction? What role do these so-called “deities” play in the powerful transformative practices of Vajrayana Buddhism? And how can we, in this present secular and skeptical age, extract meaning from these practices that is relevant to our everyday lives?
All are welcome to join us as Jon Landaw—author of "Images of Enlightenment" and "Buddhism for Dummies"—explores these questions in a presentation suitable for both beginning and advanced students alike. There will be time during Jon’s presentation for both meditation and discussion, and questions are always very welcome.
Jon Landaw has been a student of Tibetan Buddhism since the 1970s in India where he met his principal teachers—Lama Thubten Yeshe, Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche and Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey—and served as English editor for the Translation Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala. He and his family have been living in the Santa Cruz area since 1988.
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Your generous donations are essential for the continuation of programs like this. No one turned away due to lack of funds. Please contact us to make arrangements.