Is there really a God?

Ask-Me-Anything
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I am a new student of Buddhism Lamrin course conducted at B & W Monastery Woodlands. I had attended 4 lessons. I am not a baptised Christian and I have never undergoes any bible courses or shown any consistent faith or belief in Christianity. I am exposed to Taoism and Buddhism from parents influence since young and its rites, When you read Buddhist books given out by temples you may have some thesis of Taoism and Buddhism , I greatly appreciated the B&W Monastery spend time and efforts to give opportunity to all people from all walks of life to learn Buddhism.
I had few occassions being invited by Christian friends and volunteer missionaries to attend church sermons and prayers to feel the atmosphere and learn free Bible course,
Christians believe in strong faith to God specifically is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And accepts worship which traditionally only God would accept. Christianity is based on a personal relationship with a personal, infinite God who creaffhartha Gautes, loves, judges and saves.
In Buddhism, Siddharta Gautama never claimed he is a God. He said he was a human who woke up to the true nature of reality - an enlightened being . Buddhism generally does not center on worshiping a creator God Instead , it focuses on understanding suffering, its causes and how to end it through self realisation (awakening) . When Buddha became enlightened he sa the cycle of birth abd death and the way out of it Nirvana- which is beyond existence and non existence.
I copy above text by asking Chat GPT.

Question 1 (need guidance) - I am not clear what does it means Nirvana which is beyond existence and non existence?
Question 2 - This is one of the oldest questions humanities had asked. Is there really a God. Why Buddha never mentioned about God in his teachings? Does believe there is really a God and does he shown great in his worship to God if he believe there is God.
Question 3 - The news reported the recent demise of Pope Francis, Its funeral burial ceremony was attended by VVIPs such as royal families , politicians and 400,000 mourners from all over the world. Catholics from all over the world hold mass in their own countries to mark the respect of Pope Francis burial ceremony. I feel that the atmosphere is electrifying . If there is no celestial power overseeing this personality, how would its funeral ceremony could be so big and glorious. I just cannot accept the way humans react. Even those tsunami deaths , earthquakes victims and war casualties happened in any country , not all politicians from world do not showed such degree of great respect, and attendance as compared to Pope Francis demise. Only a handful of countries helped out in disasters.
Masters please help to enlighten my questions. Thank you for teaching

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Thank you for your sincere questions and reflections. It’s wonderful that you are exploring Buddhism deeply, and it’s perfectly natural to compare and question as part of your learning journey. Below are just some of my personal thoughts, by no means comprehensive, based on the Lamrim teachings to help you understand more clearly:

###Q1: What does it mean that Nirvana is “beyond existence and non-existence”?

In Buddhism, the ultimate goal is to leave suffering behind and attain true, lasting happiness—this is something all sentient beings desire (in Chinese: 离苦得乐).

For example:

  • When we feel hungry, we eat because we want to remove discomfort.
  • When we wear our best clothes, it makes us feel good—either because we like how we look or we hope others will compliment us.
    These are all signs that we naturally seek happiness and avoid suffering.

But the happiness we usually chase—through food, clothes, praise, even relationships—is often short-lived or even misleading.

  • For instance, going to a buffet may feel like a treat. But if we overeat, we may end up bloated and uncomfortable—so the happiness flips into suffering.
    This is a reminder that as long as we are in samsara (cyclic existence and rebirth), happiness is unstable and suffering keeps recurring in different forms.
    What the Buddha discovered is Nirvana—a state where this cycle stops completely. That’s true peace and freedom.

But what is Nirvana exactly? Is it nothingness?

Not at all. When we say Nirvana is “beyond existence and non-existence,” it might sound confusing, but it’s actually quite deep.

To explain it, we need to touch on the idea of emptiness (空性), which means:

Things don’t exist the way we think they do.
They appear solid and fixed, but actually, they are dependent on many causes, conditions, and our own perceptions.

For example:

  • A person who looks like a “good friend” now might become your “enemy” later.
  • A phone that brings joy today may frustrate you tomorrow when it crashes.

So, nothing has a fixed, independent identity. Everything is “empty” of a permanent self.

Nirvana is when we realise this truth deeply—not just in theory, but in our own mind. When we understand:

“There is no fixed ‘me,’ no fixed ‘problems,’ no fixed ‘attachments,’”
then we stop clinging, reacting, and creating new suffering.

So Nirvana is not “nothingness”—it’s a state free from confusion, full of clear awareness and peace.

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Question 2: Why didn’t the Buddha talk about God? Does Buddhism believe in a God?

This is a very deep question that many people wonder about.

In Buddhism, there is no concept of a creator God who made the universe and controls everything. Instead, it teaches that everything arises from causes and conditions—including our experiences of happiness and suffering.

The Buddha was not a god. He was a human being who achieved full awakening—perfect wisdom and compassion. He became omniscient (knows all truths), but not omnipotent (he does not control all outcomes or make things happen with a wish).

Instead of worshiping a god, Buddhism focuses on:

  • Understanding the truth of suffering and its causes,
  • And following the path to end it—through wisdom, ethical conduct, and mental discipline.

The Buddha’s goal was to teach people how to free themselves from suffering, step by step.

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Question 3: Why was Pope Francis’s funeral so grand and respected globally? If there’s no celestial power behind it, how do we explain this?

This is a heartfelt observation. When a spiritual leader like Pope Francis passes away, it’s natural to feel moved by the outpouring of respect.

Most religions encourage doing good, spreading love, and caring for others. When leaders embody these values, they naturally touch many lives.

  • For example, Mother Teresa also inspired the world through her compassion and service—people from all backgrounds respected her.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in his book “Beyond Religion,” explains that even outside formal religious frameworks, kindness, compassion, and ethical behaviour are universal values. When someone practises these deeply, people from all walks of life are drawn to their presence.

So such events may not be proof of a celestial power, but rather a sign of how much human hearts respond to love and goodness.

In Buddhism, compassion is also central.

  • But the Buddha taught us to go one step further: combine compassion with wisdom.
  • For example, we are not just kind because it feels good—we also learn to understand deeply what causes suffering and how to truly help others.