The Supreme Divine: Why the Buddha Is the Highest Among All Beings

The Buddha is considered the supreme divine being not because of miraculous powers, but because He attained absolute non-self (anatta). This realization is the foundation of perfect compassion, wisdom, and complete peace. In this life, if we ask someone who they consider the highest deity, each person might give a different answer. Yet few pause to question why they chose that particular figure. In his dharma talk on the Supreme Divine, Venerable Thich Chan Quang guides us toward an unexpected and profound answer.

Choosing a deity means choosing an entire worldview. What makes a person bow before a rock or a mountain? It is not that the rock holds special power, but rather that their wisdom has not yet matured enough to harbor doubt. Conversely, the person who begins to ask "why" is starting to cultivate true wisdom. The Buddha taught that believing everything one hears without scrutiny is a sign of limited intelligence. Beyond wisdom, morality serves as another measure. If a god blesses an invading army that steals and kills, how can that deity be considered just?

Sadly, today divinity is no longer sought for inner peace but has been turned into a brand for division and competition. Every religion teaches kindness, yet people use faith to create separation. We must remember this truth: I do not need a saint; I need what is right. I seek a holy being who teaches you to love me and teaches me to love you. Truth resides in the teachings and in the compassionate heart, not in names or displays of power.

Supremacy lies not in power, but in non-self (anatta). As science advances, humans increasingly recognize their own limitations. But is a divine being simply one who can transform everything? If an omnipotent god still allows human suffering, such a being would be cruel. If a deity loves but lacks the power to help, they are helpless. Therefore, the supreme divine being is not the one with the most miracles. Venerable Thich Chan Quang affirms that the supreme divine being is one who has attained non-self. It is not about claiming supernatural abilities.

Absolute compassion, wisdom, and peace are the three marks of the supreme being. One who attains non-self no longer perceives a separate self. Consequently, their compassion becomes absolute, loving all beings without discrimination. Their wisdom does not come from external study but from direct realization. They remain at peace amidst all changes. The Buddha once demonstrated supernatural powers but was not satisfied with them. He sought non-self, and upon attaining it, became the eternally enlightened one.

Understanding non-self allows us to step into a new level of practice. When we bow to the Buddha, if we understand that we are honoring a being of absolute non-self, our merit is immeasurable. If we only visit temples to request blessings, we remain ordinary disciples. By understanding non-self, we plant the seeds to become holy beings. This is the door to entering the Buddha's teachings more deeply.

In this world full of suffering, let us find a refuge based not on power, but on non-self. This is where wisdom and compassion merge, marking the path we wish to walk. May you find the supreme being within your own mind/heart.