The core of true Theravāda Buddhism, as taught by the Buddha, is clear: the only path to ultimate liberation is through the Triple Gem—the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha—and the practice of the Noble Eightfold Path. The worship of nats (or any other spirits) stands in direct opposition to this core principle, as it is rooted in misguided attachment to rites and rituals (silabbata), wrong livelihood, and the mistaken belief that external beings with their own defilements can offer lasting refuge. · The Triple Gem is the Sole Refuge: Since the period of Early Buddhism, all Theravada schools only take refuge in the Three Jewels (the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha), and a Buddhist who has taken refuge should not go for refuge to other deities. · Defining Nats: Nats are not devas (divine beings from Buddhist cosmology) but lower spirits often bound to a specific locality or object, in contrast to Buddhist devas who still traverse the path to Nibbana. Nats can be deified humans after death or spirits of nature acting on worldly desires. · Silabbatupadana (Attachment to Rites and Rituals): Nat worship is a prime example of silabbata—practices divorced from the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. This attachment is a fetter that is completely destroyed only upon reaching the first stage of enlightenment (Sotapanna), making nat worship a direct hindrance on the Buddhist path. · Wrong Livelihood (Micchā-ājīva): The ritual practices often associated with nat worship—such as fortune-telling, reciting spells, and exorcism—are condemned by the Buddha as "base arts" (tiracchāna-vijjā) and "wrong livelihood" for any sincere practitioner. · The Historical Suppression in Burma: In the 11th century, King Anawrahta of Pagan suppressed nat worship after establishing Theravada Buddhism nationally, relegating the 37 spirits to the base of a pagoda and symbolically subordinating them to the Buddha. · Material Desire vs. Liberation: The Buddha teaches the path is for the end of suffering, not for mundane gain. Even when giving to deities is mentioned as generating merit, this generosity is an act of sharing, not the transactional "worship" or begging for favors that characterizes nat worship. In essence, while there are beings in the universe, true Buddhists understand that these beings are as trapped in Samsara as humans. Offering them worship is a diversion from the path of self-reliance and ethical conduct. As the Buddha taught, seeking salvation through gods, spirits, or rituals is an inferior practice, as liberation can only be found through one's own efforts in following the Dhamma. #fypシ゚ #myanmartiktok🇲🇲🇲🇲 #buddhism #religion #နတ် - @maryuraa