Does buddhism speak of demons ever?

Question

My dad has asked me to join him in a buddhism class. I know a little of the philosophy and it sounds nice. But if I hear anything about demons I am out of there.

Answer 1

Demons? I'm pretty sure they acknowledge 'bad' happens but that it is part of yin/yang, balance. ie: there can't be light w/o dark-but I've never heard much of anything about spirit beings (ghosts-?)

Answer 2

There are many devils and demons described in the 52,000 sutras (or teachings) of the Buddha.  However, these are merely allegorical, as many times, the Buddha taught his disciples by telling them stories or parables. The devils and demons in Buddhism, refer only to negative influences in our environment and within our own minds.

So there is no need to be afraid. The stories encourage us to overcome the negativity in our lives so that we can take our lives forward and achieve true happiness and absolute freedom!

Answer 3

Tibetan Buddhism definitely does

Answer 4

The Buddha became the Buddha by realizing that Mora the demon was only a figment of his own mind and realizing this Mora disappeared

and the Buddha was enlightened.

Answer 5

心魔!

心境不定...

是第六识(思维),经文产生的现象.

demons,

sutra beginner thought procreant phenomenon.

Answer 6

The only demon I can find is Mara, who tempted Buddha. He apparently represents spiritual death.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_(demon...

Answer 7

Pure theoretical Buddhism does not depend on supernatural explanations, although in the traditional legend of the Buddha, he was tempted by a demon, Mara. The essence of Buddhism is concerned with suffering and release from it. Often, however, a universe, adapted from traditional Hinduism, which contains both supernatural forces and realms is assumed. Thus one might be reborn as a demon or a god, yet not escape suffering.

Tibetan Buddhists have what looks like demons, but they are in reality guardian deities, dharmapalas. They also have h***s and tormenting demons who run them. I had a great deal of difficulty finding anything in Wikipedia about their demons. This aspect of Buddhism is being played down, as it ought to be, being rooted in traditional Asian superstition. A image of the God of Death with one foot on a naked man and the other on a naked woman tormenting them in h**l is not appealing to the population being currently proselytized in the West.

You may find a great deal in Buddhism without addressing supernatural questions, but the populations which have historically adopted Buddhism have traditional cosmologies and superstitions which have been integrated into Buddhism as practiced, rather like Catholicism. The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path do not depend on those superstitions, but the reality of Buddhist practice is entangled with them.

Answer 8

I don't know about the Hindu-Buddhism hybrid but the original Buddhism doesn't deal with the supernatural.