Buddhism and Judaism

See also: Jewish Buddhist and Buddhism in Israel

Since the 20th century, Buddhism and Judaism have become associated due to the common religious overlap in Jewish Buddhists. According to the Ten Commandments and halakha (classical Jewish law), it is forbidden for Jews to worship any deity other than the God of Israel—specifically by bowing or offering incense, sacrifices, or poured libations, in Exodus 20:4-6. It is likewise forbidden to join or serve in another religion as doing so would render the participant an apostate or idol worshipper.

Since most Buddhists do not consider the Buddha to have been divine in the same sense traditional Jewish theology and the Hebrew Bible understand, Jewish Buddhists do not consider Buddhist practice to be worship despite some practices, such as incense and food offerings made to a statue of the Buddha, as well as prostration and bowing to statues of the Buddha, having an outwardly worship-like appearance. In addition, many Buddhists do not worship the Buddha; instead, they "revere" and "express gratitude" for the Buddha's (and all buddhas') accomplishment of reaching Nirvana and compassionate teaching, respectively. Buddhists honor the Buddha for discovering and teaching the Dharma, enabling others to be freed from suffering and thus attain Nirvana.

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