Religion

Buddhism is usually classed into Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhism). Only in Vajrayana (which is my interest) are there "deities" or yidams. Probably the Tibetans see the Yidams as real god-like beings. I however, understand them as imaginery beings that we humans anthropomorphize for certain qualities that we value. For example, Chenrezig represents compassion, Manjushri represents wisdom, Mahalaka represents protection. But in reality, these beings don't really exist. They are imagineray, like Santa Clause is imaginery.

There is a whole branch of Buddhist philosophy that debates the nature of reality and the nature of mind. and from there, we get into the Buddhist teachings about shunyata, or "emptiness." "Emptiness" is a very poor translation of shunyata. It took me years to understand this teaching. But it basically means that things don't exist with the subjective thoughts and feelings that we project onto them.

Suffice it to say, that Buddhism has a component for ethical behavior and a practice of using mental analysis for discovering the true nature of one's own mind, and how the mind works. Vajrayana vaguely gets into a discussion of eternal, unborn (without beginning) omnescient mind, which theists would probably call "divine Consciousness." That experience is called enlightenment. And at the same time, some Buddhists would say that your ordinary mental awareness is the same as Buddha-mind. We are supposed to sit down, observe, and contemplate our own mind to discover for ourselves what that experience is all about. It's not a belief. It's an experience that each of us can observe for ourselves. Generally, I don't believe that any god is coming to save me. Each of us is responsible for saving our own self from the bondage of mental suffering, caused by delusional ideas and negative emotions.

Personally, I'm not certain if the mind continues after the death of the body, but I am open to the possibility. If it is true, then I want to make as certain as possible in this life right now that the mind that I take with me is predisposed and well-practised in loving kindness and open-ness to dealing with whatever comes my way. That's my 2 cents.