Who is God?

God

Is God even a question?

When questioned about my Buddhist practice, I am often asked if Buddhist’s believe in God. Most people assume that Buddhist’s do not believe in a external being of God.
When Buddha was asked about God, he did not respond. So please don’t expect an answer from me.
My understanding is, that Buddha felt that any energy spent pursuing this question was kind of a waste of time. No matter how much we may discuss it or think about it, it does not change the reality of suffering and the causes of suffering. And certainly, I have never met any religious or nonreligious person who is without suffering. This is something we all have in common.
So we can talk about the who, what and where of “God” until the cows come home, but still we will suffer.
So to me, the effort one exerts towards the discovery or hope of knowledge from this is energy that could instead be put into “Godly” behavior and actions right now.
I am sure many would tell me there is comfort in this pursuit, but I have yet to see this eliminate suffering for anyone. The temporary “high” of believing in some external being is always followed by the hardship and reality of life’s circumstances. This seems to create a constant cycle of happy and sad that never ends. One craves for happiness through prayer, then suffers the disappointment of realities when prayers do not seem to get answered.
Having been a very devout Christian for most of my life, I completely understand the mindset of this. And it is indeed extremely powerful when one has been conditioned and trained in these ways since the time of birth.
But, with compassion and acceptance, I attempt to have equanimity and be without judgement of anyone who seeks spiritual or divine intervention. But I do find myself suffering occasionally because of my inability to help others who are caught in this cycle. I see this as my desire, and ignorance, not theirs at all. Feeling compelled to enlighten anyone is clearly ego driven, and without equanimity. So I practice to be mindful and gain the discipline and wisdom of complete acceptance.

Recently, I was reading more about the Gnostic gospels and the teachings of Jesus where Constantine decided to strike gospels from the Bible. “Constantine commissioned and financed a new Bible, which omitted those gospels that spoke of Christ’s human traits and embellished those gospels that made Him godlike. The earlier gospels were outlawed, gathered up, and burned.”
The Gnostics (Christians) did not see Jesus as a teacher of sin and sorrow, but rather of what is illusion and of enlightenment. He did not come here to save us but to guide us to the spiritual, or inner, world. Once the student has arrived at enlightenment, Jesus is no longer his spiritual master because both have become the same. Jesus taught us how we ourselves can become like him.
How beautiful, that Jesus taught us about our connectedness and not about separation and dogmas. He inspired people to look within, and see we all posses the same qualities and potential as he did. That we are in fact Christ-like. And I clearly hear a message of love and peace in these teachings.

Hence I can only suggest we stop searching for an outwardly source to end our suffering. Right here, right now, in this moment, we each have the great opportunity to see things as they are. To see our connectedness and the Godliness which lies within.

Pains in your shoulder, a loss of a loved one, serious illness, or financial devastation; accept all things with loving kindness and compassion.
Do not cling to these feelings anymore than you should cling to the love of your Family, getting a big tax return, birth of a child, or obtaining a new car. All of these are impermanent. And clinging, aversion or attaching to them is only the cause of further suffering.
Do not look outwardly for your peace, your peace lies within.

May you be well, happy and peaceful.