Question

What did the Buddha teach about the soul, the gods, and animal sacrifice? Explain his teachings on these points incorporating his understanding of Nirvana.

Answer 1

Buddha taught soul as temporary mental state. He denied an existence of permanent soul or self that is immortal. Instead Buddha's soul is temporary states of self that changes in the life of an individual, thus, Buddha denies an immortal self or a soul to any human being or living organisms, and this non existence of a permanent soul or soullessness is called "Anatta" in Buddhism.

Buddha preached that belief in Gods evokes fear in individuals, this give rise to rituals and ceremonies to worship the Gods inorder to please them hindering the person from doing the right act or karma. So , Buddha emphasized on right actions or karma over pleasing Gods.

Buddha lays a great stress on righteous living or Dharma, for which right actions are necessary, hence, he forbids people from offering any kind of animal sacrifice. As for him killing is causing pain to a living being and taking it's life, that should always be forbidden and considered it to be negative action.

Nirvana is attainment of ultimate salvation from the cycle of life or birth. For attainment of Nirvana, it is necessary to understand the soullessness of human life. To live a righteous life, that is to follow Dharma by doing right deeds (good karma) instead of pleasing Gods. It also requires that one should forbid from sacrificing animals for any purpose because it causes pain and the life of animal is taken away,which a bad deed, and this bad deed ( bad karma) will cause one to get stuck the cycle of births or life, thus, the individuals will be barred from attaining Nirvana.