A Buddhist creed

[ananda]

I was just thinking that it would be useful to have a concise formula to recite in order to convey our beliefs to others and something we could use to affirm our faith in the Triple Gem. Something to summarize the many teachings and lists in Buddhism in a simplistic way.
Perhaps something starting along the lines of :
'We the disciples of Gotama Buddha believe..."

If you want to write a creed and post it here please do so I would find it useful and I'm sure others would appreciate it as well.

[Karma Dondrup Tashi]

...

[edearl]

I was just thinking that it would be useful to have a concise formula to recite in order to convey our beliefs to others and something we could use to affirm our faith in the Triple Gem. Something to summarize the many teachings and lists in Buddhism in a simplistic way.
Perhaps something starting along the lines of :
'We the the disciples of Gotama Buddha believe..."

If you want to write a creed and post it here please do so I would find it useful and I'm sure others would appreciate it as well.

Prince Siddhattha Gotama abdicated his throne to become the beggar Buddha, who was a philosopher and teacher. He taught people to live a moral, non-violent life and to diminish and dismiss their suffering.

[Epistemes]

I was just thinking that it would be useful to have a concise formula to recite in order to convey our beliefs to others and something we could use to affirm our faith in the Triple Gem. Something to summarize the many teachings and lists in Buddhism in a simplistic way.
Perhaps something starting along the lines of :
'We the disciples of Gotama Buddha believe..."

Seems problematic. Creeds are by nature inherently self-limiting which contradicts the very essence of Dharma.

[Dechen Norbu]

I go for refuge in the Buddha,
I go for refuge in the Dharma,
I go for refuge in the Sangha.

There. It's the whole of the path summarized right there, especially if you realize the different layers of meaning behind Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

[Dechen Norbu]

I forgot to mention... the thing is, you need to realize what you recite, like gaining insight about it. So it's not exactly a creed, as just forcing yourself to believe this (or anything else, for that matter) won't do much for you.

[kirtu]

I was just thinking that it would be useful to have a concise formula to recite in order to convey our beliefs to others and something we could use to affirm our faith in the Triple Gem. Something to summarize the many teachings and lists in Buddhism in a simplistic way.
Perhaps something starting along the lines of :
'We the disciples of Gotama Buddha believe..."

If you want to write a creed and post it here please do so I would find it useful and I'm sure others would appreciate it as well.

Didn't Goddard basically do something like this in his Buddhist Bible? Also there are the Twelve Deeds of the Buddha that pretty much functions in this way.

Kirt

[plwk]

I dunno Ananda...me thinks the closest anything has come close to a Buddhist version of an 'Nicene/Apostles Creed' style would be the Basic Points Unifying the Theravāda and the Mahāyāna

That too not all would want to agree nor give a damn...

[tantular]

No need to write a new one, we already have two beautiful Buddhist creeds:

ye dharmā hetuprabhavā hetuṃ teṣāṃ tathāgato hyavadat, teṣāṃ ca yo nirodha evaṃ vādī mahāśrāmaṇaḥ.

"The Tathagata has told the cause of those dharmas which arise from causes, and also their cessation. Such a teacher was the Great Striver."

sarvapāpasyākaraṇaṃ kuśalasyopasampadaḥ|
svacittaparyavadanaṃ etad buddhasya śāsanam||

"Not doing any evil, perfecting virtue
Purifying one's own mind: this is the teaching of the Buddha."

[Huifeng]

No need for us to make up some creed, the Dharma itself is very clear.
A couple of very important points have already been made:

I go for refuge in the Buddha,
I go for refuge in the Dharma,
I go for refuge in the Sangha.

and

ye dharmā hetuprabhavā hetuṃ teṣāṃ tathāgato hyavadat, teṣāṃ ca yo nirodha evaṃ vādī mahāśrāmaṇaḥ.
"The Tathagata has told the cause of those dharmas which arise from causes, and also their cessation. Such a teacher was the Great Striver."

sarvapāpasyākaraṇaṃ kuśalasyopasampadaḥ|
svacittaparyavadanaṃ etad buddhasya śāsanam||

"Not doing any evil, perfecting virtue
Purifying one's own mind: this is the teaching of the Buddha."

Though I'd put the three refuges first,
then the Verse of the Seven Buddhas (the last one),
and finally the Verse on Dependent Origination,
in that order.

~~ Huifeng

[Dechen Norbu]

[edearl]

For what audience is the creed intended?

[ananda]

For what audience is the creed intended?

Hi !

The creed is intended for those new to Buddhism and seek to understand Buddhist beliefs. It is also intended for those Buddhists seeking a statement of faith outlining most of Buddhist doctrine in a single formula.

[edearl]

For what audience is the creed intended?

Hi !

The creed is intended for those new to Buddhism and seek to understand Buddhist beliefs. It is also intended for those Buddhists seeking a statement of faith outlining most of Buddhist doctrine in a single formula.

Thanks

[PadmaVonSamba]

You need to focus on what the buddha taught, and not what buddhists believe, because not all buddhists believe the same things.

[Bonsai Doug]

in order to convey our beliefs to others

For me, I have taken my refuge vows formally, and I renew them at the beginning of each day.

For others, I try to explain that Buddhism is a practice of mental and spiritual development designed
to develop compassion and loving kindness for all beings, and to awaken my own inherent insight into
the nature of reality.

Wish I could remember where I got the wording for the above so I could credit him/her, but it's
gone from my memory.