It is common for those unfamiliar with the intricate different details between various religions to suppose that all the divine worshipped or taken refuge in are similar, to be manifestations of one another in myriad forms, that they are “all the same”. However, upon closer look, it is also common for each religion to proclaim itself to be the ultimate expression of the sacred, while believing that other religions might not even be true.
An example of a religious belief that clashes with that of another religion is the Hindu belief that the Buddha is a manifestation (avatar) of their god Vishnu. Buddhists however, would disagree – since the Buddha had stated clearly (as recorded in the Dona Sutta: http://tinyurl.com/donasutta) at the beginning of his teaching career, before Brahmanism evolved to become Hinduism, that he is not a god:
“When asked [by me, Dona], ‘Are you [the Buddha] a deva [god]?’ you answer, ‘No, brahman, I am not a deva.’… When asked, ‘Are you a human being?’ you answer, ‘No, brahman, I am not a human being.’ Then what sort of being are you?”… [The Buddha answers] “Remember me, brahman, as ‘awakened.’ ['Buddha]‘”
This conversation is when the Buddha defined himself as above both the human and divine (godly). In fact, even the wise devas go to the Buddha for refuge. (See http://accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/jootla/wheel414.html) As such, one of the traditional titles of the Buddha is “Teacher of humans and gods”.
However, the situation is not so straightforward. While the Buddha is not a god or the manifestation of any god, he is able to manifest as a god out of skilful means to teach. This is reflected in the Maha-parinibbana Sutta (the last discourse of the Buddha
http://accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.16.1-6.vaji.html#t-28):
“And I recall, Ananda, how I have attended each of these eight kinds of assemblies (nobles, brahmans, householders, ascetics, of the Four Great Kings, of the Thirty-three gods, of Maras, and of Brahmas), amounting to hundreds. And before seating myself and starting the conversation or the discussion, I made my appearance resemble theirs, my voice resemble theirs. And so I taught them the Dhamma, and roused, edified, and gladdened them.
Yet while I was speaking to them thus, they did not know me, and they would enquire of one another, asking: ‘Who is he that speaks to us? Is it a man or a god?’ Then having taught them the Dhamma, and roused, edified, and gladdened them, I would straightaway vanish. And when I had vanished, too, they did not know me, and they would enquire of one another, asking: ‘Who is he that has vanished? Is it a man or a god?’”
Having seen the Dona Sutta, the answer is obvious – he wasn’t a human or a god; he was the Buddha. This ability to manifest at will into forms he wishes is not limited to the Buddha. The great enlightened Bodhisattvas too have the ability to do so. Many of these Bodhisattvas are in reality ancient Buddhas, who chose to re-manifest as Bodhisattvas out of boundless compassion to skilfully aid beings to liberation.
An example of this is Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara) Bodhisattva, as recorded in the Lotus Sutra’s chapter – the “Universal Door of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva (who contemplates the sounds of the world)” From
http://buddhistdoor.com/oldweb/resources/sutras/lotus/sources/lotus25.htm:
“The Buddha told Inexhaustible Intention Bodhisattva, ‘… if living beings in this land must be saved by means of someone in the body of a Buddha, Guanshiyin Bodhisattva will manifest in the body of a Buddha and speak Dharma for them… If they must be saved by someone in the body of the Brahma King [a major god], he will manifest in the body of the Brahma King and speak Dharma for them. If they must be saved by someone in the body of Shakra [another major god], he will manifest in the body of Shakra and speak Dharma for them… [This does not say such gods are always the Bodhisattva.]
Guanshiyin Bodhisattva has accomplished merit and virtue such as this and, in all manner of forms, roams throughout the land, saving and liberating living beings. Therefore you should all single-mindedly make offerings to Guanshiyin Bodhisattva. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva Mahasattva can, in the midst of fear, crisis, and hardship, bestow fearlessness. That is why in this Saha world all call him the ‘Bestower of Fearlessness.’”
Note that it was stated that “Therefore you should all single-mindedly make offerings to Guanshiyin Bodhisattva.” It was not taught that the gods should be taken refuge in, though they are definitely respected. The gods are not taken refuge in because it is not clear which god taken refuge in is a Buddha (or Bodhisattva) in the moment. It should be clear that Buddhists only take refuge in the Triple Gem – the Buddha(s), the Dharma and the Sangha.
The Sangha however, technically encompasses anyone, including gods who have attained any fruit of sainthood (e.g. Shakra, who is a stream-winner). Even so, the Buddha(s) collectively form the ultimate Sangha – as they are fully enlightened and teach the ultimate Dharma. The belief in the ability of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to manifest as enlightened and unenlightened gods is very interesting. While some “purists” might see this as possibly leading to the “corruption” or “dilution” of the Buddhist teachings, it can be seen to be great “clarification” of the breadth of enlightened skilful means. Even if the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas manifest as gods, what they teach will always be the Buddhadharma, or that which leads (in)directly to the Buddhadharma.
Back to the Hindu-Buddhist tension on the status of the Buddha… Lesser mentioned is the tension of how even supposedly Hindu gods (with similar names as those in the Buddhist scriptures, such as Brahma and Indra) might be (occasional?) manifestations of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. How do we reconcile these differences in view? The truth is, there is no need to – because it might raise further unneeded tension. Surely, neither the Buddhas nor any gods would wish conflict in their names, if they truly exist and are truly good. There is just the need to agree to disagree harmoniously. Religious harmony, after all, is to make peace with both similarities and differences. The last thing to do is to force another to accept one’s beliefs. In the spirit of the Buddha’s advice of free enquiry, we should urge one another to doubt the doubtful, and to personally probe with intelligence for the truth instead.