Buddhism and Atheism | Ajahn Brahm | 16-04-2010
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- Is Buddhism an atheistic religion? Does it believe in a God? And what do Buddhists worship? Ajahn Brahm takes on this topic, pointing out the consequences of believing in a supernatural being and looking into who created our universe or world. Ajahn goes deeper by talking about meditation experiences (jhanas) and how the mind is chief and more powerful than anything else in the world.
As an atheist, I have great respect for Buddhism (most schools anyway). The Buddhist emphasis on compassion, wisdom and virtue are very noble indeed. I found this talk very interesting and agreeable. Much love to all Buddhists out there!!!
I'm ex atheist, now Buddhist
@@logicmama4686 I'm trending that way
@@josh1045
Actually there is no conflict between Atheism & Buddhism
Buddhism never believe on any ultimate creator or so called God
Buddhism is more a philosophy than other traditional religions
@@logicmama4686 Buddhism believes strongly in reincarnation, which does conflict with the atheist view that claims without evidence are empty words. Regardless, I agree that Buddhism can align with atheism much more closely than any other theology. I'm intrigued! Visiting a temple on Saturday!
Much love to you as well.
Buddha wanted us to use our own mind to figure things out not just excepting things without critical analysis.
Yeah-i done thinking incarnation twas a ruse invented by the Bhudda to encourage folk, sunk deep in eastern ruthless stagnant caste system, 2b creative imagining they have a suitcase. In fact we come from archytype pools in the Collective Unconscious Oversoul. Astrology works not so much on the stars but being a combo of archtypes themselves. To believe we are one whole individual soul being honed through life-times seems preposterous. More likely we are re-cyled
What are you on about, michele ? Seems like you were on Coke when you wrote your comment here. 🤦🏽♂️
I find the reincarnation aspect of Buddhism/Hinduism the most troublesome personally . But even as the Buddha said question everything, even the Buddhist teachings and scholars. Just because you choose not to 'embrace' a certain aspect of Buddhism, it does not disqualify you from practicing Buddhism. It is not like Western religions that insist you swallow the dogma completely or you are a bad boy or girl destined for a fiery end and eternal hell.
***** They don't believe in reincarnation? Tell that to the temple where I studied in Thailand. NOT only rebirth, but reincarnation. Did you mean way 'too' simple ?
65ADORNO+ Bhuddism is multi-layered. Some of the lamas and monks are pure statesmen . At the other end of the spectrum is the hidden one sunk deep in temple lore well away from the pesky public still trying to make Bhudda the God he dismissed as Anyone's Own Inner One . There they meditate on the deeper non-simplistic stuff ,which i suspect is all about the collective unconscious/the mere psychology of the occult and opening the pineal gland beyond the occult stew of tradition
you mean heathen?
@@65ADORNO If you understand Hindi language, then I can suggest you a video where the concept of reincarnation has been explained by a motivational speaker, not a Buddhist monk
And that's too simple to understand
Do you understand Hindi??
@@logicmama4686 can you post the link brother (is it sn goenka ji?)
I'm sooo happy to have found this channel. I've always had a fond appreciation for Buddhism and your videos have really helped me understand the teachings and have me even more interested in learning more. Thanks and please keep the videos coming.
Yes dude
I feel the same way. Ajahn Brahm and his fellow monks make dharma so accessible and, dare I say, fun!
I love how Christians (insert others here) can find a bad point about buddhism yet the belief in a god has taken countless lives. hypocrisy should be its own religion.
Jantes Inferno it matters little what the belief is of any man determined to take the lives of others...either way it's wrong. depending on perspective of course.
EyeAmTheBeast people have taken lives out of ignorance not God, your remark is confusing, God never said to create the inquisition, people or pope did, when the crusades happened, it was the pope speaking "for god" everyone just agreed with him because most of Europe couldnt read or write so the pope was the only translator of scripture, God never did these things, according to hinduism, God gives us choice but we are responsible for our actions, we are all sinners because we are all ignorant, enlightment is relief of all ignorance, many paths to enlightment, many individual souls, Buddha never said he was atheist or theist, he simply was silent, silence speaks many many words.
Bhikkhu Pesala I'm starting to realize that, I noticed Mahayana Buddhist really hold on to the concept of devas dead and spirits, souls etc.
Actually, vast majority of Theravadins Sri Lankan, Burmese and Thais believe in local sprits (gods) as well.
Just a human nature, trying to relying on imaginary friends.
All the same, Chinese, Tibetans, Japanese believe in gods as well. Just not almighty infallible "God".
Elisha well technically if we all properly followed the sect of Christianity i just made up called murderism(where we believe strongly in the book of Leviticus) lots and lots and lots of people would die
As a Japanese Buddhist, I can tell you that although Buddhism has been forcibly classified as a religion, it is a means to an approach that belongs to philosophy and self-realization. Buddhism is not a belief in a specific god, but a practical wisdom for exploring the unknown self as taught by the Buddha.
I love this talk. It help an atheist to learn from Buddhism about god question even though is a "religion."
I practice Zen Buddhism and in the Zendo we bow to statues of Shakyamuni Buddha and Jizo, a Bodhisattva. This is to show respect to the teachings of these figures and appreciation to the quality of those teachings. It has nothing to do with worship or deification. It is simply a humble show of respect. Also, there is a donation jar, but nothing is expected. I didn't even know where the jar was the first month I started there. Buddhist practice is very different from Christian practice.
As always, Ajahn Brahm, communicating the dhamma to all beings with dignity, grace and sprinkled with spontaneous comedy!
I feel very blessed to have had the privilege of knowing this humble bhikkhu for 37 years. Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu.
I heard the satguru (revealer of truth), who provided my Raj Yoga initiation said, "Atheists are sometimes closer to God (Generator, Operator, Directorr) than theistic individuals, as energy cannot be created or destroyed and they have the faith to live as is." What is self and where is it? This is it...Keep on keepin' on...
I find Ajahn Brahm's teaching very refreshing, natural, and sincere, and full of wisdom. Thank you!
As a Buddhist who is also an atheist, this is one of the best discussions on the subject I have ever seen.
Great video! This is the first time I have heard the multiple Big Bangs theory in connection with Buddhism, but it fits perfectly. Open-mindedness along with Mindfulness will help many accept the crossing of physical science with Buddhist philosophy. But they go hand in hand.
i went to the vibes a few weeks ago, which in itself was a life-changing experience. keep in mind i smoked a lot of weed and had two tabs to my name
i saw a buddhist section far from the main stage, all meditating. I read and practice buddhism alot, i sat down with them. i gained this incredible state of mind, that the acid i took disappeared and this whole new experience took play. i can't explain it, but man did it help my views
Ajahn Brahm also teaches "Don't believe anything just because some one told you, or it came from holy scripture." Examine it yourself. One of the most intriguing things about Buddhism is that it is not a "take all" scripture. Evaluate what you are presented with, make up your own mind and apply it in a way that makes you a better human being.
as an atheist, this is a fantastic talk to listen to.
Dear BuddhistSocietyWA :), I would like to say, thank you, to you, for taking the time, energy and effort to both upload and share this video with the youtube community. Thank You, BuddhistSocietyWA! :)
Everyone has their own opinions . This man has given hundreds of talks that makes sense and truly touches the heart , mind and soul . If he was wrong in this one talk . Let us reflect on the many good he has brought to us . He is no Buddha . Why critic on someone who isn't perfect ? Everyone makes mistakes . No one is always right . So accept it . Then let it go .
Such a great talk. It's just what I needed as an atheist raising children with creator god worshiping friends at school.
I’m a buthiest, a atheist that try’s to live by the Buddhist principles
He meant to say "positive correlation" at 23:21.
Negative correlation is: as one variable goes up, the other goes down...Positive correlation is when one goes up the other goes up.
Thank you Ajahn Brahm - your dhamma is becoming of virtue and it stills my heart 💠. Many people in the comments disagree with the concept of seeing into past lives that you hold. There are many strange things in the universe which we can't yet explain, be it the quantum enigma or the depths of our emotions - however the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence (that is not reason to believe in something blindly and trust it - for that is not the way.) Bhudda was simply a psychologist and teacher of a way to attain peace, harmony and virtue. If he experienced such a thing in his heart then there must have been a good reason for sharing it with other people. Regardless of whether it's true or not, It provides encouragement to seek the way - if it exemplifies the lack of wisdom that not following the way shows ( feeling and knowing past lives will remind one of dukkha(suffering) and encourage the way of virtue) The same thing goes for the concept of reincarnation - if a mind is troubled on why he is suffering while following the way it may bring an answer( not necessarily true but maybe necessary for peace of mind) of why his suffering exists. It is smart to explain the unknown (regardless of the truth of the explanation), as if we didn't that may induce Nihilism. The only reason we would scrutinise and explanation for suffering is if it didn't reduce suffering but justified adding it to others (all powerful God). All that matters is peace - science can progress undisturbed in such an environment, even if the truth is not yet found concerning Karma - because from a phycological point of view, explaining the unknown/giving a reason for the unknown and playing the serpent is what stills the heart and mind - but does not remove the curiosity for truth. Therefore it does not matter.
*an explanation
‘Taking responsibility for our actions’; very good advice. Thank you.
I respect it because it's more about self enlightment than kneeling down to some doctrine or church-like authority, also i don't think i've ever heard or witness an act of buddhism extremism,
I don't pratice it or believe in it but i find the concepts it preaches to be respectable.
Namo Buddhaya! 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you Ajahn. Very enjoyable and informative.
Finally the truth I've been looking for.
***** You look like someone is going to end up in prison. Maybe is you who has to clear your mind.
*****
Research, yes. BS... that's your judgement.
Beautiful and wise teaching from a beautiful person..I both laughed and cried at times. Such a great wisdom - the truth can be found in ones heart ♥
As an Atheist, I have no problem with Buddhism or it's concepts, and even find a great measure of value in them.
That being said, this man won my heart at 1:30.
i love ajahn brahm and i am so thanful for his talks. it`s so weird because i believed in the same things as buddhism teaches us without even realizing that my beliefs are as the exact same as buddhism... than a few months ago i was talking to my cousin about how there was such unhappiness in my life and that of others
I would describe myself as an athiest looking into Buddhism. Ajahn Brahm is such a wonderful speaker and moral philosopher
Sathu ! I am glad to hear such a great teaching from those who have gotten this heritage teachings of Lord Buddha. You are caring on the great messages teaching of Lord Buddhas for shelters of mankinds.
Near the beginning he refers to the experience of remembering countless past lives. We know that by stimulating a certain part of the brain with magnets, people get the sense of many bodies preceding this one. It doesn't prove that Buddhist experiences are not 'real', but it demonstrates that obvious logical reasoning that the brain is deeply involved in spiritual experiences. It also shows that perhaps neuroscience can find shortcuts to the incredible effort needed to attain the deep jhana states.
I happen to be atheist and I can't really say I believe in past lives, but I do believe that meditation is an amazing tool that everyone should learn to implement. Out of any religion Buddhism seems the most credible and Buddhist people seem to be quite intelligent. It's something I'm researching further and maybe implement certain ideals into my own life.
I'm a strong atheist, I don't believe in any god, or reincarnation, or anything similar, and I totally agree with Sam Harris in the idea that being atheist does not mean that there is nothing positive in so-called "spiritual experience." That would be incorrect according to current scientific understanding. Meditation is very healthy and positive (even if, for me at least, it can get VERY frustrating at times) and requires no faith.
Watching this is comforting, from what this guy says about Buddhism, it seems the most logical of any belief system. I've argued a lot of what he says when debating Christian thought and believe that your choices are reliant on your own heart not a set of rules in an ancient text or from other fallable beings. Kindness, love, peace, etc. are not "Christian" but universal inner truths. If you take responsibility away from yourself, bad things are going to happen.
BS Detector A few things should be noted about Buddhist "hell" or Narakas.
1) Going to Narakas is not a punishment. No one sends you there. People are pulled there by unskillful mindstates (i.e. those ruled by hate, delusion, arrogance, etc). In the story it's King Yama who sends people there, but keep in mind that the Buddha said more than once that the gods don't actually control anything, and are subject to samsara too. It's fair to infer that he wasn't being literal.
2) Hell isn't permanant. It's an ironic reversal for a set period of time. Hell has a two way door in Buddhism. You get out once you correct your unskillful mindstate. In other words, hell is corrective, it re-balances your kamma based on your own effort.
3) Hell was never an literal place. The cosmology that the Buddha outlines are metaphorical, describing the various mind states that are achieved through particular kinds of effort. He wasn't talking about literal places.
4) The Buddha wasn't one for scare tactics. He's not trying to frighten the monks when he tells them that unskillful mindstates will pull them into a lower plane of being, he's simply informing them. Note that the monks are in fact not afraid of this information, they rejoice at his words.
5) You're not required to believe in it. The Buddha said (paraphrased, of course) that we should believe in only that which we can confirm for ourselves. It isn't integral to Buddhist teaching.
>Hell is not a literal place
Then you don't believe in anything then, you are just LARPing. Naraka is indeed a real place, and to claim otherwise is to deny history.
@@MaksFaks-kl1zj Yes, this one belief means I believe in nothing at all. Think before you speak, it would do you some good.
@@SonofSethoitae No, you either believe Naraka is real, or you do not. No metaphorical nonsense inbetween.
And besides, how the hell did you get a reply notification on this old post?
@@MaksFaks-kl1zj I can't believe you're an actual, real life Buddha. You must be, or you wouldn't be so cavalier.
@@MaksFaks-kl1zj Please tell me more, oh fully enlightened Buddha, about how slavish, excessive literalism is the Buddha's way.
5:55, yes. I can agree there, in fact scientists are saying that big bangs are happening all over the place, creating more and more universes every fraction of a second, and just as fast, universes, disappear, so yes, I can agree there.
This is Great, there is no need to believe in a Higher Power because there is no power outside one self. We all individually have the wisdom and power to solve problems and find solultions and be self-reliant...
Everything this man makes sense.
Respond to this video... I like the Buddha very much after reading about buddhism I have found some the teachings very helpful in may everyday life.Learning not to make my life miserable chasing after material things has mellowed out my life considerably.First get what you need.
I would have being an 100% atheist if it had not being the philosophical views of Buddhism and Ajahn Brahm made things alot clearer and made me understand more about Buddhism..
than i had said ``its as if life is suffering...not just depression and tragidy but everything`` and she said ``isn`t that wat buddhism is all about`` than i looked up buddhism n saw the 4 noble truths n it was such an epiphany n realized that i had believed in buddhism all along. then i found my way to ajahn brahms talks and enjoy them very much so :)...anyway nice little story
I hope more and more people subscribe to this universal, no non-sense, views, for humanity's well being.
Great talk as usual. Thank you and bless you Ajahn Brahm. I believe in God in a metaphysical sense. And I believe Buddhism is not nihilism(he taught reincarnation and he taught phenomena is anatta and we are not phenomena.) Thank you for all you do.
All belief in any deity is in the metaphysical sense lol
Good talk. I love that he gave this on my birthday and I am an atheist who really respects Buddhism. :)
What is that many people don't seem to understand is that atheism simply means the belief that there are no deities. No gods with persons, names and ancient laws that must be followed. Atheism doesn't mean that the person can't believe to supernatural, power of meditation etc.
I DO BELIEVE IN SELF RESPONSIBILITY. AND YOU ARE VERY TRUE THAT GOD IS IN BUDDHIST PERCEPTION IS SO REAL WE CAN TOUCH HIM RIGHT HERE ITSELF AS GOD ALL VIRTUES, PEACE AND COMPASSION. ..
"Never allow knowledge to stand in the way of truth" :)
thank you for this beautiful teaching AB!
Exactly, that is what I like about Buddhism :)
Loved it. Insightful, powerfully peaceful and virtuous. I wish you'd have a version in Spanish.
Very good talk Ajahn Brahm.thank you very much
I have very much enjoyed your talks, including this, and found them very helpful.
A minor point regarding Ajahn Brahm’s “That’s even said in one of the Christian Psalms: Be still, and know that thou art God". (at 51:40 in the video)
Actually, the Psalm does not address a human as God.
It is actually Psalm 46:10: “'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
(Translated from the Hebrew - the Psalms are pre-Christianity)
+Brian Sacks Who gives a shit, get a life!
These videos have impacted me so much.
Thank you!
Now that's an interesting answer I've heard before. While I agree that suffering can develop empathy, why would you need to "care" if suffering did not exist in the first place? I'm afraid it sounds like circular reasoning to me.
Raised as a Mahayana Buddhist, I have an agnostic view towards supernatural beings existing alongside or parallel to humans and believe that they could possibly exist though not for certain, but creator-of-everything deities are especially questionable for me. I admit there are Buddhists who refuse to consider other views outside of their religion, but I feel Buddhism's teachings have kept my mind open to interesting ideas such as the ones in this video that help me to develop my understanding.
Great quote to summarise the message of this speech, for the second half mainly.
you have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion.
@adamitinerant No, I don't know anything about Buddhadasa Bhikku. I believe in most teachings of Buddhism, but I don't believe in religion so I focus on the philosophical side of it more than religion. The way Ajahn Brahm talks about things makes the teachings of Buddhism a lot clearer and helps me understand it and life more.
Amazing speaker. I only wish I'd listened to someone like him years ago.
Thank you for the good talk Ajahn Brahm
I am a Buddhist because I am an atheist.
I am not tied to one slanted text or another...
Thank You Buddhas and Bodhisattvas!!!
He's very calming to listen to.
Good speaker. Simple language and making his points directly with only a few sentences.
Really learned a lot from this video. Thanks. :)
Np, glad you enjoyed it.
this is great stuff,
Just imagine reading the bible and changing the word "god" with the words "my mind" and having a name signed to those words that are said to have been spoken. That would be a much smaller book that is kinder and makes much more sense.
He has often said to question everything and think for yourself.
Anecdotal evidence, is not sufficient for me to accept rebirth or reincarnation. I am a secular Buddhist and that's okay.
Why? Suffering is caused by the craving for something better, not by the actual situation we think causes the suffering. It is difficult to care for someone when you are held down by your own suffering.
I am a Deist, but I practice Buddhist philosophy in every day life. Despite the fact I do have a believe in a sort of supreme being, I completely understand Ajahn Brahm's point here and agree with it. There is no problem if you believe in Cthulu or the Giant Spaghetti Monster, but if you rely on that being to provide the solutions for you then you will not have control over your life. I believe in God, but God is a guide, not a dictator.
I bow to you to because you have that Buddha nature inside you.
I am with you there. However all the respects to Ajan Bhram who is one of my great teachers.
About 2500 yrs ago, people couldn't understand what Buddha said such as time, space, atom, galaxy and etc. Nowaday, science can prove they are exactly true. But if you learn real Buddhism you will realise those things are not the purpose.
+Warawut Tianchitrapetch Lol. Did he say any of that? These guys just claim Buddha said whatever they want him to say.
+David Brainerd you don't need to trust me, learn by yourself. As I said Buddha didn't emphasize on those things anyway.
+David Brainerd So true. Most "Buddhists" in the West haven't even read Buddhist scriptures. If they read them, they would realize it is no different than Greek mythology, Judaism and Christianity.
@@winterdragondragon2884
Then if you're not going to read the source material, don't say ignorant stuff about it.
Define the future - What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others - Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life - He who will not economize will have to agonise.
I found this incredibly helpful. I've recently started reading about Buddhism and decided it was something I wanted to learn more about, but I have seen things that made me believe in some sort of things supernatural. Yet, I have always struggled with the idea of the Christian God, for as you said, if it were all powerful why would it not have the compassion to save us all? Why would there be suffering? This was helpful! Thank you!
30:00 about forgiveness of yourself leading to forgiveness of others. So good :)
@Mathenaut "That being said, this man won my heart at 1:30" he's right too
I can tell you're very spiritual, very good heart and very smart. Way to go!
The 'truth' experienced in med. is like that stuff gained through hypnosis which is not admitted in a court of law because it isn't recognized as valid. If we excel at anything it's deluding ourselves. Med feels great and it's nice to experience calmness and peace. But we can misunderstand the experience and believe we're contacting some 'higher self' or something. It's similar to those Near Death experiences which aren't valid either. It's just the mind experiencing an altered state but unreal.
@AryaSravaka
I know I´m a Buddhist, cos I feel like a Buddhist.
once Buddha said: "you become what you think you are"
It's like believing in Christianity, but refusing the fact that god created the world, or Jesus exists
Buddhism as I understand it is literally atheism but with different vocabulary.
The idea of no-self Anatta means there is no permanence in anything. There are forces of cause and effect that drive the creation (birth of dukka) and complete destruction of any given entity.
This includes the, so-called, gods in scripture.
They too, while they are supernatural, get born, live and finally die as all other things that exist.
In other words, they aren't gods, there is no "afterlife" as it is commonly understood, there is no reincarnation and there is no soul.
These are atheistic principals.
Hence the buddhists are atheists.
The only real difference between buddhists and modern atheists
Is that modern atheists are material monists (only the material exists, "if it can't be measured it isn't real")
Whereas buddhists believe in a spiritual and physical dualism (you have a ghost but the ghost is born and eventually dies in the same way the kandas do)
peace and love may we all love each other and rid ourselfs of evil views that will lead us to a hell in this life and the next.may we all be at peace and love each other no matter what faith we have may we also defend the small purity left in this planet and never let men maintain evil views without at least trying to show them love and right from wrong deeds.
The world is no creation, but rather uncreated, uncreatable, indestructible, in short: eternal and endless. It develops incessantly according to its inherent principles in which necessities and randomness are staggered.
We are the personal Gods, God personified into beeings, love personified into what we are.That is how god is personal.How love comes into the mental,and the physical.
+alex manatu lol.
සාදු සාදු සාදු
I am a Buddhist and I do not believe in birth after physical death and I believe that the mind is the product of the brain.
Most important thing for me in Buddhism is the 4 noble truths, Anitta Dukka and anata. Kalami sutta.
The verse says " be still and know that I am god..."psalm 46:10
Excellent dhamma talk as usual!!Sadhu,sadhu,sadhu!!!
I never seen a monk so cheerful like him.
He said many times that he has friends who are other types of religious leaders and that he admires ideas in other religions.
16:05 to 17:25 brought a tear to my eyes,
That is debatable, but doesn't change the fact that i find it respectable.
@jcicone1
the Buddha: "When one falls back on creation by a Supreme Being as being essential, there is no [motivation], no effort [of], 'This should be done. This shouldn't be done.' When one can't pin down as a truth or reality what should & shouldn't be done, one dwells bewildered & unprotected. One cannot righteously refer to oneself as a contemplative. This was my second righteous refutation of those priests & contemplatives who hold to such teachings, such views." [Tittha Sutta]
We will be chasing our tails if we try to answer if there is a God. ...Sometimes the best answer is "I don't know", rather than trying to fill in the gaps with our egos. It's alright to say, "I don't know". I feel we will know once we die, perhaps not even after that. Many are uncomfortable with finality; reincarnation, yes (I'll become a blade of grass). Will arguments on God improve our present moment?
Wonderful lecture. Thank you.
Can anyone attempt to explain the "discrepancy" between the Buddhist teaching on no self/no soul (anatman) impermanence and the the ability to have past lives and being able recall them (not reincarnation right?).
The study that Ajahn Brahm mentioned done by Gregory Paul, that people who believe in God also have a high crime rate, was interesting. I don't agree with the conclusion though, that believing in God takes away personal responsibility for our actions. I think people believe in God but are lost because their chruches fail to reach and teach them, people can't relate to a church that is stuck in old ways and not in touch with and responding to peoples' needs.
I've always thought the universe functioned like a beating heart. Contracting and and expanding like a pulse. Every beat is a big bang. Just seemed very obvious and I hear it here 25 years later.
As an atheist, I think rebirth is a lot more probable than a single all powerful creator God in the sky. It may or may not be true. But it is more believable than most, if not all, of the God stories I've heard.
In short, the question is not if you are believer or atheist, the question is that we have to heal ourselves, being righteous in our life, in our thinking, in our actions, in our words, in our doctrine and then once we are healed we can debate about God and creation.
Or I see it as the debate being irrelevant. So there is a god, so there isn't - so what? How does belief or not help me if I'm suffering *right now*?
valar
Sometimes we can not understand truth, not because it is impossible to understand, but because our psychological attitude prevents a correct solution, in these cases is necessary to "believe" in the correct solution.
BehindDesign
Belief in a god, I mean. Of course you have to believe in whatever path you are following.
valar
For me believe in God is a general principle that tend to produce some beneficial psychological predispositions. Anyway it can produce the opposite effect. It's like science, can be used for God or Bad.
@nzungu833 You're right Buddhism is a religion. However, the Buddha did not teach "Buddhism" the Buddha taught Dharma, and that is universal, not bound to any religion. Nirvana, freedom from suffering does not belong to Buddhism.