[Buddha-l] Buddhist salvation

[Bruce G. Seidner Ph.D.]

Erik, I am curious about your experience. Doctrinal issues aside, in 
actual practice, is this not a distinction without a difference? What 
percent of sentient beings paying attention to Buddhas of various 
ilk, protectors, etc. make this distinction? Even for those who have 
the language and theory to make this distinction, during practice 
what is the affect that permeates the experience? How would the 
edification of the practice be different? Just curious. I myself 
cycle though times where I care a lot about organizational charts and 
times where it matters little.

Bruce


At 06:21 AM 3/7/2006, you wrote:
>jkirk schreef:
>
>>What about Amitabha and Maitreya? do they qualify as salvific?
>>Actually, aren't most of the deities in Mahayana Buddhism salvific
>>one way or the other, in the sense that devotion to them, observing 
>>the practices associated with them, ensures either eventual 
>>enlightenment or transition to the pure land?
>>Joanna
>>================================================
>No, there are also protectors, like Mahaakaala/ii, Garuda, most of 
>the Tara's, Bhaisajaguru, etc. Their rituals are clearly made for 
>overcoming problems and hindrances. I have the impression that 
>tantradeities, like Kaalacakra, Cakrasamvaara etc. have both 
>functions. Besides that there are local deities in 
>Tibetan  Boeddhism, which have to be honoured but are not enlightened at all.
>
>Erik
>
>
>www.xs4all.nl/~jehms
>weblog http://www.volkskrantblog.nl/pub/blogs/blog.php?uid=2950
>
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Bruce G. Seidner, Ph.D.                                 1111 Northshore Drive
Clinical & Forensic Psychology                                  Ste S-490
Family 
Mediation                                                Knoxville, TN 37919

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