I have a question for those familiar with the different schools of Buddhism. Are there deities in Theravada Buddhism? I realise there are in Mahayana and Vajrayana, but do those schools differ in what makes something a deity? Does that make sense? Thanks R
No, there are no dieties in Theravada Buddhism. There are the beings that live in different realms such as the Bhrama, Deva realms, and the Asura realms, etc. but they are not considered deities. They are referred to according to the realm they come from. Theravada recognizes a Bodhisattava, but not in the same reference as Mahayana holds them. They do not place the same importance on them as Mahayana. They recognize them as beings that are on the path to becoming a Buddha, and not an Arahat or Hearer. Arahat and Hearer are the same. Arahat is a Theravada term, Hearer is a Mahayana term for one who becomes enlightened by hearing the teachings of a Buddha. In our case, reading or receiving teaching. But in Theravada there are no deities. If there are, it is due to the misunderstanding of the person practicing, and most often the faults of the teachers transmitting culture rather than Buddhism. HTML:
There are not deities used as meditational reallities for development. For instance no Chakrasamvara, no Kalachakra, so not in that way. But there are deities encountered. Forest dwellers have gone beyond simple shamatha. Bu in each system the four pillars are upheld. Similar/not similar.
