<p>According to Wikipedia, Indonesia has an official state policy policy/philosphy called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancasila_(politics)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Pancasila</a> i.e. "Five Precepts" (which are not the same as the "Five (lay) precepts" of Buddhism).</p>

<blockquote>
  <ol>
  <li>Belief in the One and Only God (in Indonesian "Ketuhanan Yang Maha Esa"),</li>
  <li>A just and civilized humanity (in Indonesian "Kemanusiaan Yang Adil dan Beradab"),</li>
  <li>A unified Indonesia (in Indonesian "Persatuan Indonesia"),</li>
  <li>Democracy, led by the wisdom of the representatives of the People (in Indonesian "Kerakyatan Yang Dipimpin oleh Hikmat Kebijaksanaan, Dalam Permusyawaratan Perwakilan")</li>
  <li>Social justice for all Indonesians (in Indonesian "Keadilan Sosial bagi seluruh Rakyat Indonesia").</li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>

<p>My guess (I don't know) is that the first precept is designed to prevent sectarian conflict (if there's one and only one God, then hopefully people shouldn't fight about whose God is which and so on).</p>

<p>My <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanghyang_Adi_Buddha" rel="nofollow noreferrer">reading of Wikipedia</a> is that, for Buddhism to exist with that (Indonesan) context, in must fit in with those precepts, and therefore:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Sanghyang Adi Buddha is a concept of God in Buddhism in Indonesia. This term was used by Ashin Jinarakkhita at the time of Buddhist revival in Indonesia in the mid 20th century to reconcile the first principle of the official philosophical foundation of Indonesia (Pancasila), i.e. "KeTuhanan Yang Maha Esa" (lit. "Recognition of the Divine Omnipotence") that requires the belief in a supreme God, with Buddhism which strictly speaking does not believe in such monotheistic God.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I guess one way in which the Buddha might be like God is that the Buddha advises humans on what laws  to follow?</p>

<p>I don't know how else it's interpreted (I expect there are other interpretations).</p>

<hr>

<p><strong>I have no idea what Udana Nikaya (VIII: 3) is. I wish we have something like biblehub for buddhism.</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://suttacentral.net/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://suttacentral.net/</a> might be like what youre looking for, i.e. it has translations in many languages of many suttas.</p>

<p>Here is</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udana" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia's article about the Udāna</a></li>
<li><a href="https://suttacentral.net/ud" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Suttacentral's list of Udāna suttas</a></li>
<li>A link to <a href="https://suttacentral.net/ud8.3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Udana number 8.3</a> (or "VIII: 3" as it's written in the Indonesian Wikipedia)</li>
<li>A link to the <a href="https://suttacentral.net/ud8.3/en/anandajoti" rel="nofollow noreferrer">English translation</a> of that sutta</li>
</ul>

<p>Note that that sutta is talking about "Nibbāna", not about the Buddha; but the suttas teach that <em>Nibbāna</em> is the state which the Buddha attained.</p>

<hr>

<p><strong>All this time I thought the essence of Buddhism is that nothing is permanent. And yet here, Buddha says that something is permanent.</strong></p>

<p>Buddhism teaches that all <em>sankharas</em> (all "conditioned things") are impermanent.</p>

<p><em>Nibbāna</em> is an exception to that rule (not included in that rule), becase <em>Nibbāna</em> is unconditioned (these <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/search?q=unconditioned+is%3Aquestion">these topics</a> for further details about "unconditioned").</p>

<hr>

<p>Also some schools of Buddhism de-emphasise the importance of <em>Nibbāna</em>. Wikipedia's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_(Buddhism)#Mahayana" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Nirvana (Buddhism) -- Mahayana</a> aticle says,</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The Mahayana (Great Vehicle) tradition envisions an attainment beyond nirvana, namely Buddhahood. [...] The Mahayana path aims at a further realization, namely Buddhahood or nonabiding (apratiṣṭhita) nirvana. A Buddha does not dwell in nirvana, but engages actively in enlightened activity to liberate beings for as long as samsara remains.</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<p><strong>It seems that this concept is only popular in Indonesian buddhism. Are other buddhist in other countries have monotheistic beliefs too?</strong></p>

<p>Some schools of Buddhism seem to me to be a bit like theistic beliefs -- see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pure_Land_Buddhism" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Pure Land Buddhism</a> for example.</p>

<p>Some schools seem polytheistic (with many Buddhas, or at least many manifestations of Buddha).</p>

<p>And some schools are polytheistic but may de-emphasise the importance of "gods", and explain for example that a god, too, even a god (or, a god's time/existence in a divine realm) is temporary.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-25T20:50:35.080Z
2018-03-25T21:41:34.647Z
2018-03-25T21:41:34.647Z
ChrisW
<p><a href="https://id.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanghyang_Adi_Buddha" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://id.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanghyang_Adi_Buddha</a></p>

<p>In Indonesia, due to muslim influence, believes in an "Esa" God is one of the founding principle of Indonesians.</p>

<p>The words "Esa" in Indonesia can mean many things. Some says it means one (as in islam), or united (as in christianity) or comprehensive (according to my hindu friends).</p>

<p>It seems that whoever wrote "Ketuhanan yang maha esa" wants to unite Indonesians under some open to interpretation terms.</p>

<p>The buddhists in Indonesia then have this concept  of Sang Hyang Adi Buddha which they called is "God"</p>

<p>Is it?</p>

<p>What is it?</p>

<p>Is it God? I thought God is more like Bakka Brahma in Buddha.</p>

<p>Is this just Indonesian thingy or is it common among buddha?</p>

<p>In that wikipedia article I found a strange paragraph</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>“Ketahuilah Para Bhikkhu, Ada sesuatu Yang Tidak Dilahirkan, Yang
  Tidak Menjelma, Yang Tidak Tercipta, Yang Mutlak. Wahai para Bhikkhu,
  apabila Tidak ada Yang Tidak Dilahirkan, Yang Tidak Menjelma, Yang
  Tidak Diciptakan, Yang Mutlak, maka tidak akan mungkin kita dapat
  bebas dari kelahiran, penjelmaan, pembentukan, pemunculan dari sebab
  yang lalu. Tetapi para Bhikkhu, karena ada Yang Tidak Dilahirkan, Yang
  Tidak Menjelma, Yang Tidak Tercipta, Yang Mutlak, maka ada kemungkinan
  untuk bebas dari kelahiran, penjelmaan, pembentukan, pemunculan dari
  sebab yang lalu."</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I have no idea what  Udana Nikaya (VIII: 3) is. I wish we have something like biblehub for buddhism. Let me translate that to English.</p>

<p>Know Bhikkus, Something is not born, something doesn't manifest, something isn't created, something is absolute. Hi Bhikkus, if nothing is not unborn, not manifested, not created, not absolute, then we cannot be free from birth, manifestation (or incaranation/reincarnation), forming, and resulting out of previous causes. But Bhikkus, because something is not born, not manifested, not created, not resulting from previous cause, then there is a possibility to be free from birth, manifestation, forming, and resulting from previous causes.</p>

<p>Any Indonesian can say that my translation is about right. Am I?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-25T10:42:31.397Z
Did you read the Wikipedia article you linked to? Isn't it clear, and doesn't it answer your questions?
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-25T14:21:53.580Z
I do not see any english version that fit with the indonesian article. Also most european countries do not have monotheism as one of it's country principle. Hence, it's politically correct to portray buddhism as another monotheistic religions in, and only in, Indonesia
user4951
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-25T14:25:30.330Z
So it's OK to answer this question (in English) with a summary of what the Wikipedia article says.
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-25T14:34:32.833Z
Or you can read Indonesian, have read the Wikipedia article, and don't need an English-language summary of it? It seemed to me that the article already contains the answers to your original questions.
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-25T16:25:59.823Z
You can find [Udana 8.3](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/ud/ud.8.03.than.html) in English [here](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/ud/ud.8.03.than.html). It's a description of Nibbana, and not Buddha.
ruben2020
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-25T16:27:53.123Z
The whole Wikipedia article is also available in English [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanghyang_Adi_Buddha).
ruben2020
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-25T19:24:23.283Z
All this time I thought the essence of Buddhism is that nothing is permanent. And yet here, Buddha says that something is permanent. Is he referring God?
user4951
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-25T19:27:46.627Z
It seems that this concept is only popular in Indonesian buddhism. Are other buddhist in other countries have monotheistic beliefs too?
user4951
<god>
What is Sang Hyang Adhi Buddha?
# What is Sang Hyang Adhi Buddha?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-03-25)

<https://id.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanghyang_Adi_Buddha>

In Indonesia, due to muslim influence, believes in an "Esa" God is one of the founding principle of Indonesians.

The words "Esa" in Indonesia can mean many things. Some says it means one (as in islam), or united (as in christianity) or comprehensive (according to my hindu friends).

It seems that whoever wrote "Ketuhanan yang maha esa" wants to unite Indonesians under some open to interpretation terms.

The buddhists in Indonesia then have this concept of Sang Hyang Adi Buddha which they called is "God"

Is it?

What is it?

Is it God? I thought God is more like Bakka Brahma in Buddha.

Is this just Indonesian thingy or is it common among buddha?

In that wikipedia article I found a strange paragraph

> “Ketahuilah Para Bhikkhu, Ada sesuatu Yang Tidak Dilahirkan, Yang
> Tidak Menjelma, Yang Tidak Tercipta, Yang Mutlak. Wahai para Bhikkhu,
> apabila Tidak ada Yang Tidak Dilahirkan, Yang Tidak Menjelma, Yang
> Tidak Diciptakan, Yang Mutlak, maka tidak akan mungkin kita dapat
> bebas dari kelahiran, penjelmaan, pembentukan, pemunculan dari sebab
> yang lalu. Tetapi para Bhikkhu, karena ada Yang Tidak Dilahirkan, Yang
> Tidak Menjelma, Yang Tidak Tercipta, Yang Mutlak, maka ada kemungkinan
> untuk bebas dari kelahiran, penjelmaan, pembentukan, pemunculan dari
> sebab yang lalu."

I have no idea what Udana Nikaya (VIII: 3) is. I wish we have something like biblehub for buddhism. Let me translate that to English.

Know Bhikkus, Something is not born, something doesn't manifest, something isn't created, something is absolute. Hi Bhikkus, if nothing is not unborn, not manifested, not created, not absolute, then we cannot be free from birth, manifestation (or incaranation/reincarnation), forming, and resulting out of previous causes. But Bhikkus, because something is not born, not manifested, not created, not resulting from previous cause, then there is a possibility to be free from birth, manifestation, forming, and resulting from previous causes.

Any Indonesian can say that my translation is about right. Am I?

**Tags:** god

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Did you read the Wikipedia article you linked to? Isn't it clear, and doesn't it answer your questions?  
> **username_0**: I do not see any english version that fit with the indonesian article. Also most european countries do not have monotheism as one of it's country principle. Hence, it's politically correct to portray buddhism as another monotheistic religions in, and only in, Indonesia  
> **username_1**: So it's OK to answer this question (in English) with a summary of what the Wikipedia article says.  
> **username_1**: Or you can read Indonesian, have read the Wikipedia article, and don't need an English-language summary of it? It seemed to me that the article already contains the answers to your original questions.  
> **username_2**: You can find [Udana 8.3](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/ud/ud.8.03.than.html) in English [here](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/ud/ud.8.03.than.html). It's a description of Nibbana, and not Buddha.  
> **username_2**: The whole Wikipedia article is also available in English [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanghyang_Adi_Buddha).  
> **username_0**: All this time I thought the essence of Buddhism is that nothing is permanent. And yet here, Buddha says that something is permanent. Is he referring God?  
> **username_0**: It seems that this concept is only popular in Indonesian buddhism. Are other buddhist in other countries have monotheistic beliefs too?  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-03-25. Score: 2

According to Wikipedia, Indonesia has an official state policy policy/philosphy called [Pancasila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancasila_(politics)) i.e. "Five Precepts" (which are not the same as the "Five (lay) precepts" of Buddhism).

> 1. Belief in the One and Only God (in Indonesian "Ketuhanan Yang Maha Esa"),
> 2. A just and civilized humanity (in Indonesian "Kemanusiaan Yang Adil dan Beradab"),
> 3. A unified Indonesia (in Indonesian "Persatuan Indonesia"),
> 4. Democracy, led by the wisdom of the representatives of the People (in Indonesian "Kerakyatan Yang Dipimpin oleh Hikmat Kebijaksanaan, Dalam Permusyawaratan Perwakilan")
> 5. Social justice for all Indonesians (in Indonesian "Keadilan Sosial bagi seluruh Rakyat Indonesia").

My guess (I don't know) is that the first precept is designed to prevent sectarian conflict (if there's one and only one God, then hopefully people shouldn't fight about whose God is which and so on).

My [reading of Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanghyang_Adi_Buddha) is that, for Buddhism to exist with that (Indonesan) context, in must fit in with those precepts, and therefore:

> Sanghyang Adi Buddha is a concept of God in Buddhism in Indonesia. This term was used by Ashin Jinarakkhita at the time of Buddhist revival in Indonesia in the mid 20th century to reconcile the first principle of the official philosophical foundation of Indonesia (Pancasila), i.e. "KeTuhanan Yang Maha Esa" (lit. "Recognition of the Divine Omnipotence") that requires the belief in a supreme God, with Buddhism which strictly speaking does not believe in such monotheistic God.

I guess one way in which the Buddha might be like God is that the Buddha advises humans on what laws to follow?

I don't know how else it's interpreted (I expect there are other interpretations).

---

**I have no idea what Udana Nikaya (VIII: 3) is. I wish we have something like biblehub for buddhism.**

<https://suttacentral.net/> might be like what youre looking for, i.e. it has translations in many languages of many suttas.

Here is

* [Wikipedia's article about the Udāna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udana)
* [Suttacentral's list of Udāna suttas](https://suttacentral.net/ud)
* A link to [Udana number 8.3](https://suttacentral.net/ud8.3) (or "VIII: 3" as it's written in the Indonesian Wikipedia)
* A link to the [English translation](https://suttacentral.net/ud8.3/en/anandajoti) of that sutta

Note that that sutta is talking about "Nibbāna", not about the Buddha; but the suttas teach that *Nibbāna* is the state which the Buddha attained.

---

**All this time I thought the essence of Buddhism is that nothing is permanent. And yet here, Buddha says that something is permanent.**

Buddhism teaches that all *sankharas* (all "conditioned things") are impermanent.

*Nibbāna* is an exception to that rule (not included in that rule), becase *Nibbāna* is unconditioned (these [these topics](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/search?q=unconditioned+is%3Aquestion) for further details about "unconditioned").

---

Also some schools of Buddhism de-emphasise the importance of *Nibbāna*. Wikipedia's [Nirvana (Buddhism) -- Mahayana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_(Buddhism)#Mahayana) aticle says,

> The Mahayana (Great Vehicle) tradition envisions an attainment beyond nirvana, namely Buddhahood. [...] The Mahayana path aims at a further realization, namely Buddhahood or nonabiding (apratiṣṭhita) nirvana. A Buddha does not dwell in nirvana, but engages actively in enlightened activity to liberate beings for as long as samsara remains.

---

**It seems that this concept is only popular in Indonesian buddhism. Are other buddhist in other countries have monotheistic beliefs too?**

Some schools of Buddhism seem to me to be a bit like theistic beliefs -- see [Pure Land Buddhism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pure_Land_Buddhism) for example.

Some schools seem polytheistic (with many Buddhas, or at least many manifestations of Buddha).

And some schools are polytheistic but may de-emphasise the importance of "gods", and explain for example that a god, too, even a god (or, a god's time/existence in a divine realm) is temporary.


---

