Thursday, June 16, 2016

wrathful Buddha


The above demonic figure is what we'd call a "wrathful Buddha." Unlike in Abrahamic religions, in which an objectively separate and "radically Other" God might become angry and visit His choler upon the people, the thought in Buddhism is that, if you're seeing a wrathful Buddha, that's because of what's inside you—because of something you've done. The wrathful Buddha is simply a manifestation of a certain kind of karma (action), a reflection of your own internal state. You create your own hell. Act like an asshole, and the wrathful Buddha appears. You have only yourself to blame for whatever happens next. Want to return to the blissful Buddha? Then wake up and change yourself.


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