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i don't know how it is phrased in the book itself but in Tibetan Buddhism there is no god. And their innovation is far beyond this book (at least the plot summa

i don't know how it is phrased in the book itself but in Tibetan Buddhism there is no god. And their innovation is far beyond this book (at least the plot summary on wikipedia).

Reubachi 2y ago
"asimovfan", would you say the same type of criticism of Asimov's injection of the Cristian God in "the Last question"? In this story from Clarke, the sentiment you just portrayed is acknowledged, and the point of the whole story. The two westerners cannot understand not only the grand project being undertaken by the monks, but also what "god" even is to them. Before they can really understand, their project is completed and reality changes.
- asimovfan 2y ago
  Asimovs fantasy god has more in common with the Christian god. In tibetan Buddhism, god in the sense of an almighty individual that has influence over what happens is refuted explicitly.
  - Reubachi 2y ago
    Hmm without getting too esoteric and the disclosure that I am not a Bhuddist, your point is one of the inferences the reader can make from the story. -the vendors can't see the point in this 'fruitless' endeavor to build a database of their god's names for some godly/spiritual reason. -The buddhists can't understand and importantly have no need to understand why the vendors need to "understand" their task, which, they never clarify to us. That said, obviousley CLarke probably had no idea about proper bhuddist theology. But I like to hope that the idea is still proper?
    - asimovfan 2y ago
      The concept of "god" is considered a problem in Buddhism, its a wrongly held belief (superstition) that Buddha actively speaks against and refutes (in debate). Also in Buddhism there is no further religious knowledge to be gained or mystery to be solved. Buddhists would really like everyone to understand their task. There is no trace of Buddhism in that story really. That being said, i am not sure i understand your question. What is supposed to be proper?
benterix 2y ago
Although there is no God, there are many gods (lha, sometimes translated as deity). To add to the confusion, the same word is used for the so-called mundane gods like elementals and supramundane gods, i.e. beings who transcended subject-object dychotomy and can manifest also under a form of a god, whatever it may be. An inspiration for Clarke could be the famous Mañjuśrīnāmasamgīti or "Chanting the names of Manjushri". To add even more confusion, if instead of gods we consider God and identify that being with characteristics such as omnipresence, all-pervasiveness, being beyond ordinary mind and so on - then one could attempt do identify it with the central topic of all Tibetan Buddhist tradition that exists under various names (primordial wisdom, the union of appearance and emptiness, self-existing wisdom and so on).
- asimovfan 2y ago
  You can ask god for things and he will give it to you but manjushri is ultimately a teacher. He cannot protect you from bad karma you accrue.
wslh 2y ago
If I were a Tibetan Buddhist, I might say we were just having some fun with Arthur C. Clarke's imagination.

i don't know how it is phrased in the book itself but in Tibetan Buddhism there is no god. And their innovation is far beyond this book (at least the plot summary on wikipedia).

Reubachi 2y ago

"asimovfan", would you say the same type of criticism of Asimov's injection of the Cristian God in "the Last question"? In this story from Clarke, the sentiment you just portrayed is acknowledged, and the point of the whole story. The two westerners cannot understand not only the grand project being undertaken by the monks, but also what "god" even is to them. Before they can really understand, their project is completed and reality changes.

asimovfan 2y ago
Asimovs fantasy god has more in common with the Christian god. In tibetan Buddhism, god in the sense of an almighty individual that has influence over what happens is refuted explicitly.
- Reubachi 2y ago
  Hmm without getting too esoteric and the disclosure that I am not a Bhuddist, your point is one of the inferences the reader can make from the story. -the vendors can't see the point in this 'fruitless' endeavor to build a database of their god's names for some godly/spiritual reason. -The buddhists can't understand and importantly have no need to understand why the vendors need to "understand" their task, which, they never clarify to us. That said, obviousley CLarke probably had no idea about proper bhuddist theology. But I like to hope that the idea is still proper?
  - asimovfan 2y ago
    The concept of "god" is considered a problem in Buddhism, its a wrongly held belief (superstition) that Buddha actively speaks against and refutes (in debate). Also in Buddhism there is no further religious knowledge to be gained or mystery to be solved. Buddhists would really like everyone to understand their task. There is no trace of Buddhism in that story really. That being said, i am not sure i understand your question. What is supposed to be proper?

benterix 2y ago

Although there is no God, there are many gods (lha, sometimes translated as deity). To add to the confusion, the same word is used for the so-called mundane gods like elementals and supramundane gods, i.e. beings who transcended subject-object dychotomy and can manifest also under a form of a god, whatever it may be. An inspiration for Clarke could be the famous Mañjuśrīnāmasamgīti or "Chanting the names of Manjushri". To add even more confusion, if instead of gods we consider God and identify that being with characteristics such as omnipresence, all-pervasiveness, being beyond ordinary mind and so on - then one could attempt do identify it with the central topic of all Tibetan Buddhist tradition that exists under various names (primordial wisdom, the union of appearance and emptiness, self-existing wisdom and so on).

asimovfan 2y ago
You can ask god for things and he will give it to you but manjushri is ultimately a teacher. He cannot protect you from bad karma you accrue.

wslh 2y ago

If I were a Tibetan Buddhist, I might say we were just having some fun with Arthur C. Clarke's imagination.