William O. Douglas

“ Buddhism-whose advent marked the reform of Hinduism-continued somewhat the same concept. As stated by Nancy Wilson Ross, 'God-if I may borrow that word for a moment-the universe, and man are one indissoluble existence, one total whole. Only THIS-capital THIS is. Anything and everything that appears to use as an individual entity or phenomenon, whether it be a planet or an atom, a mouse or a man, is but a temporary manifestation of THIS in form; every activity that takes place, whether it be birth or death, loving or eating breakfast, is but a temporary manifestation of THIS in activity. ”

“ Does a Buddhist believe in 'God' or a 'Supreme Being'? That, of course, depends on how one defines 'God,' as one eminent student of Buddhism has explained:
'It has often been suggested that Buddhism is an atheistic system of thought, and this assumption has given rise to quite a number of discussions. Some have claimed that since Buddhism knew no God, it could not be a religion; others that since Buddhism obviously was a religion which knew no God, the belief in God was not essential to religion. ”

“ Mention of only two-Hinduism and Buddhism-illustrates the fluidity and evanescent scope of the concept. In the Hindu religion the Supreme Being is conceived in the forms of several cult Deities. The chief of these, which stand for the Hindu Triad, are Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. Another Deity, and the one most widely worshipped, is Sakti, the Mother Goddess, conceived as power, both destructive and creative. Though Hindu religion encompasses the worship of many Deities, it believes in only one single God, the eternally existent One Being with his manifold attributes and manifestations. ”