SeekGod.ca Discussion Forum

One finds that in the mysticism surrounding the contemplative movement, the attempt to unify Jesus and Buddha.

http://www.upanishad.org/dialogue/jesus_buddha.htm..

"In one such article from the Shalem Institute:
In the Winter 2000 Newsletter of Shalem, we find the following article by Tilden Edwards, an Episcopal Priest and Director of Shalem.

"For many years, I have kept in my office an ink drawing of two smiling figures with their arms around each other: Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha, with the caption: "Jesus and Buddha must be very good friends." They are not the same, but they are friends, not enemies, and they are not indifferent to one another. From the very beginning of Shalem, I have been moved to affirm that statement. ...

...Many people have discovered the contemplative strands of other traditions that contribute to Judeo-Christian ones. I believe that the Holy Spirit is in these enrichments across faith lines, not only for individual deepening but as a way of discovering an underlying human spiritual connectedness beyond our authentic differences - a sense of connectedness that is essential to the world's peace...

...Particular Buddhist practices that I have experienced in the last twenty six years have, with grace, shown me such an "inclusive" mind. ... In graced times, I have been brought to a place of energetic availability to the loving Holy Spirit in the heart of what is. .... I think this awareness touches the edge of the Mind of Christ, which I am called to share.

"2. "The mind is as large as the sky, and our actions need to be as fine as sand." This quote of a Buddhist teacher....

"Jesus Christ has his own unique way of showing us that great, underlying, loving light. Gautama Buddha illuminates some of its facets through his own profound experience. Today, I think many of us are called to see them as special friends. The world will be richer for it." end quote

What do you think? Can Jesus and Buddha be united as suggested?

Buddhism holds that desire is the cause of all suffering. This doctrine I hold to be nonsense, for it never distinguished between desire and its fallen abuse, lust, and it never distinguished between desire and one's response to the circumstance of thwarting of said desire, namely disappointment.

As such Buddhsim is, I hold, naive and crude concerning the matter of desire.

We were made to desire, and to have our desires to be fulfilled eg "Delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart" "Open your mouth and I will fill it".

The Bible itself distinguishes desire from its abuse, or lust (not just sexual lust but lust or greed for any other thing also). For though the Bible speaks against lust it says that, regarding desire for sex, that the marriage bed is not defiled. which is to say sex is not sin only the abuse of it. therefore desire is not sin only the abuse of it. And we are cleansed not by the removing of our evil desires but to have our desires, essentially gifts from God, cleansed of the greed and selfishness which render our lives barren and perpetualy unsatisfied. IOW it is not the removing of our evil desires but the removing of the evil from our desires, as well as the removing of the greed which makes satisfaction of our desires so fleeting for a greedy person is always hingry and never satisfied; this is God's way.

THus I can repent in christ of my greed and find happiness and delight in this life. Buddhism instread would have me seek some total repression of self which in fact makes me some kind of high function catatonic schizophrenic, making depraved indifference a virtue and calling it spirtual detachment. It is nothing of the kind

Buddhism and the Gospel deal with huiman desire in totally different ways, therefore the two are not compatible. The trouble is centuries of monastic and church legalism has had men deal with desires as if they were sin in themselves. The proper distinction has been muddied, and when religious people deal with the sin in their desires by equating it with the desire it self in order to purge the desire rather than repent of the abuse, they deal with it in a Buddhist manner, which makes Buddhism seem not too different from the Gospel.

But I hope to have demonstratred the vast difference.

Buddhism has no attraction for me. Once more the false religions of men advocate hard, hard work to no effect, but the Grace of God whereby his commands are not burdensome and He offers rest to the weary, is both easier and better.

There are of course other areas of difference. Buddha claims that matter is illusion, God tells us it is good and he made it; Buddha believes in reincarnation, the Bible will have not a bar of it ; Buddhist worldview is entirely negative, some horror, the wheel of samsara, from which one must escape to nirvana (originally obliteration) but in the gospel though the creation is cursed it was made good and will be renewed.

And also, Buddhism is atheist. Any Gods in their worldview are simply higher in the path of growth than man but seek the same thing, under this system you are on your own saddled with the so called four noble truths and the eight fold path (those who pray to Buddha has denied their own teaching IMO); whereas it surely hardly need be said that the God of the Bible made us for intimate fellowship with Him starting now and for all eternity

I work with a group of people who call me Religious because I am a Christian. Amongst their beliefs and "life practice" systems which to their thinking are not religious, are: astrology (which anecdotally, I have always found to be a habit/practice of those who were raised Roman Catholic and/or who continue in RC); New Age "all paths lead to God;" Hinduism derived relaxation and stress relieving techniques; and further Hinduism derived Buddhism.

While their "beliefs" can be freely discussed mine cannot, because they are "religious".

In thinking about this over some time, I came across James 1:27 "pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." From this I decided to look into what the various religions do about widows and orphans (fatherless). At my place of work, Buddhism was presented to me as being truly humane, and able to ensure one lives a good life which does not cause harm to others.I decided to try to find out how Buddhism treats widows and orphans. While on paper I found that Buddhism has a humane and kindly attitude towards widows and orphans , in practice on a large scale, this is not the case. In Burma, for example, which is over 90% Buddhist, and which has a Buddhist government, no particular provision is made in any government policy that I could find. However, the Buddhist monasteries do take in orphans, and care for them until they are in their teens, and able to work. From what I read, once in their teens boys are sent out to work and have to pay back to the monastery the cost of their board and lodging, and that girls may be "exchanged" for a monetary endowment to the monastery for their future living arrangements.

From this, I cannot see that Jesus and Buddha can be unified. It saddens me to see so many people who claim to be Christian ( and often are Catholic) place pictures and statues of Buddha in their homes.

There is some truth in all religions and Buddhists, as well as Hindus and Muslims believe in a coming "Messiah". Buddhists also believe in Nirvana (Heaven) and reincarnation which is definitely possible and has happened. If you go to Heaven you have a choice to live again on earth, if you go to hell, you're history. I believe Jesus is coming back in the flesh-he'll have a new name.

(02-21-2013 09:42 PM)susanblange Wrote: [ -> ]There is some truth in all religions and Buddhists, as well as Hindus and Muslims believe in a coming "Messiah". Buddhists also believe in Nirvana (Heaven) and reincarnation which is definitely possible and has happened. If you go to Heaven you have a choice to live again on earth, if you go to hell, you're history. I believe Jesus is coming back in the flesh-he'll have a new name.

All roads don't lead to God. There is only one way to heaven, and to the Father, and that is believing Jesus Christ.You are speaking false ideas, and reincarnation is not part of Biblical truth which you also claim to spout. The choice concerning heaven is made while on this earth, and it is completely a choice of accepting God's free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Believing who He is and why He died and rose again for our sins, and that He is the author of eternal life. No one gets to heaven without believing Him. And we that believe are there for eternity--aka receive eternal life--the salvation of our souls because of Him. Those who reject Him, from every nation, tribe or peoples or other beliefs, will face the wrath of God, be sent to hell, until the final judgement where all in hell will be cast into the lake of fire which is the second death. You need to read the Scriptures instead making things up as you go along.