Deity

====Buddhism====
{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = Ssangbongsa 11-05266.JPG
| width1 = 105
| alt1 =
| caption1 =
| image2 = A Chinese deity with sword accompanied by a tiger. Gouache Wellcome V0047141.jpg
| width2 = 101
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| footer = Left: Buddhist deity in [[Ssangbongsa]] in South Korea; Right: Chinese deity adopted into Buddhism
}}
{{Further|Creator in Buddhism|Buddhist deities}}

Buddhists do not believe in a [[creator deity]].<ref name="McClelland">{{cite book|last1=McClelland|first1=Norman C.|title=Encyclopedia of Reincarnation and Karma|date=2010|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|location=Jefferson, NC|isbn=978-0-7864-5675-8|page=136}}</ref> However, deities are an essential part of Buddhist teachings about cosmology, [[Rebirth (Buddhism)|rebirth]], and [[Saṃsāra (Buddhism)|saṃsāra]].<ref name="McClelland"/> Buddhist deities (such as ''[[Deva (Buddhism)|devas]]'' and ''[[bodhisattva]]s'') are believed to reside in a pleasant, heavenly realm within [[Buddhist cosmology]], which is typically subdivided into twenty six sub-realms.<ref name="Trainor">{{cite book|last1=Trainor|first1=Kevin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_PrloTKuAjwC|title=Buddhism: The Illustrated Guide|date=2004|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-517398-7|location=New York|page=62|language=en|access-date=4 October 2017|archive-date=11 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111060833/https://books.google.com/books?id=_PrloTKuAjwC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="McClelland" /><ref name="Keown" />{{rp|35}}

Devas are numerous, but they are still mortal;<ref name="Trainor" /> they live in the heavenly realm, then die and are reborn like all other beings.<ref name="Trainor" /> A rebirth in the heavenly realm is believed to be the result of leading an ethical life and accumulating very good [[karma]].<ref name="Trainor" /> A ''deva'' does not need to work, and is able to enjoy in the heavenly realm all pleasures found on Earth. However, the pleasures of this realm lead to attachment (''[[upādāna]]''), lack of spiritual pursuits, and therefore no [[nirvana]].<ref name="Keown" />{{rp|37}} The vast majority of Buddhist [[Laity|lay people]] in countries practicing [[Theravada]], states Kevin Trainor, have historically pursued Buddhist rituals and practices because they are motivated by their potential rebirth into the ''deva'' realm.<ref name="Trainor" /><ref>{{cite book|last1=Fowler|first1=Merv|title=Buddhism: Beliefs and Practices|date=1999|publisher=Sussex Academic Press|location=Brighton|isbn=978-1-898723-66-0|page=65|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=A7UKjtA0QDwC}}|access-date=28 June 2017|language=en|quote=For a vast majority of Buddhists in Theravadin countries, however, the order of monks is seen by lay Buddhists as a means of gaining the most merit in the hope of accumulating good karma for a better rebirth.}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Gowans|first1=Christopher|title=Philosophy of the Buddha: An Introduction|date=2004|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-46973-4|page=169|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EbU4Hd5lro0C|access-date=28 June 2017|language=en|archive-date=11 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111060836/https://books.google.com/books?id=EbU4Hd5lro0C|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''deva'' realm in Buddhist practice in Southeast Asia and East Asia, states Keown, include gods found in Hindu traditions such as [[Indra]] and [[Brahma]], and concepts in [[Hindu cosmology]] such as [[Mount Meru]].<ref name="Keown" />{{rp|37–38}}

[[Mahayana]] Buddhism also includes different kinds of deities, such as numerous [[Buddhahood|Buddhas]], [[bodhisattva]]s and [[fierce deities]].
Description	What you type	What you get
Italic	''Italic text''	Italic text
Bold	'''Bold text'''	Bold text
Bold & italic	'''''Bold & italic text'''''	*Bold & italic text*
Description	What you type	What you get
Reference	Page text.<ref>[https://www.example.org/ Link text], additional text.</ref>	Page text.^[1]
Named reference	Page text.<ref name="test">[https://www.example.org/ Link text]</ref>	Page text.^[2]
Additional use of the same reference	Page text.<ref name="test" />	Page text.^[2]
Display references	<references />	↑ Link text, additional text. ↑ Link text