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Does this stanza coincide with Christlike principles?

S

Soma-Sight

Guest
Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think
Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draw it
Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think
Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that never leaves
“He was angry with me, he attacked me, he defeated me, he robbed meâ€Â
-those who dwell on such thoughts will never be free from hatred
“He was angry with me, he attacked me, he defeated me, he robbed meâ€Â
-those who do not dwell on such thoughts will surely become free from hatred

For hatred can never put an end to hatred; love alone can
This is an unalterable law
People forget that their lives will end soon
For those who remember, quarrels come to an end
 
I am still curious on any thoughts for this stanza.......

No biters?
 
Some Buddha "part-truth"....

The real issue is... how do you change your mind?

Christianity has that answer. It starts with a changed heart. How do you change a heart? YOU can't..... only Jesus (via His Holy Spirit) can change a heart.

Read the Bible and learn:

Mark 7:14-23

  • 14Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.' "

    17After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18"Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? 19For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")

    20He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' "
and

Luke 6:45

  • 45The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
The Old Testament told us what would happen:

Jeremiah 31:33

  • 33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD.
    "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.
    I will be their God, and they will be my people.
and this is the result. Read what Peter said:

Acts 15:7-9

  • 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
.. and Paul explains further...

Romans 5:1-5

  • 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, wehave peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
... and he explains who changed our heart....

2 Corinthians 1:21-22

  • 21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Wonderful really..... unlike Buddha, who can do nothing for you!

:) :)
 
Hey! I recognize that! Its the first chapter of the Dhammapada, meaning "Verse on the Way". The first chapter is actually my favorite, but the entire book is filled with wisdom! Its also my signature! :D

Buddha was right on! So was Christ! They both understand that we are a result of our thoughts. If we think with hatred, we will act with hatred and then hatred will be returned to us!

This is why Jesus said to love your enemy and why he said to look at another man's wife with lust is to commit adultery, for it is not enough to prevent ourselves from doing an action, we must kill it at its root...in our mind.

Gary, your getting caught up with words. Buddha is advocating a changed heart, he's saying we must form our heart to love and not to hate.

Soma-Sight, Isn't it amazing how the Dhammapada is saying virtually the same thing as Christ's Sermon on the Mount? Yet Buddha lived 500 years earlier?

It just goes to show that God works in all religions, that his truth can be seen anywhere, not just in Christianity. All you have to do is look deeply into yourself, and you'll find the answers have ALWAYS been there!
 
Sounds like a typical twist of truth. That is how the enemy works. Give a little truth but surround it with worldly wisdom.

Nope, not a Christian stanza.
 
They are totally the opposite. Buddha thinks that a man can change by his THOUGHTS. Jesus (and the Bible) show us that we first need a changed HEART.

IF you can change by your thoughts, why is it imposible for most non-Christians to change their homosexual behaviour?

Reference:
http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopi ... 243#181243

:o
 
"Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think"

No our life is shaped by changing our nature from sinner to saint through the blood and sprit of Jesus Christ

Titus 3:5 “He saved us, NOT on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spiritâ€Â

"Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draw it"

Suffering is real, both wicked and righteous will suffer; Righteous (by Christ) will suffer most as he refuse to use worldly things for his pleasure. Comparatively the wicked will prosper in this world at it belong his master!
Christ suffered most than anybody else in the world, Paul suffered, Peter suffered... Christians are called to suffer (Take up their cross) not to use their Mind and Soul to think positively and make money!!


Mark 8:34 “And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Meâ€Â


"Buddha was right on! So was Christ! They both understand that we are a result of our thoughts."

Christ NEVER said we are results of out thoughts! , Here is what our thoughts in flesh can accomplish

Galatians 5:19-25: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envying, murders, drunkenness, revel lings, and such like..â€Â



"This is why Jesus said to love your enemy and why he said to look at another man's wife with lust is to commit adultery, for it is not enough to prevent ourselves from doing an action, we must kill it at its root...in our mind."

Yes we have to love our enemy but not Satan! (Because he was already condemned by God), we will keep committing adultery unless our nature changed, Changing Nature will happen only when the sprit of Jesus dwelt on us. So it is not the matter of using our (corrupted) Mind to think ‘Positively’ but crucifying our corrupted mind with Christ and resurrect our new mind with Christ.

When ever we decided to control our mind or action in our own we are simply making a god (an idol) who will not condemn our actions Like, say a Gay person will make a god who will not condemn his Homo Sexuality. Person watching Pornography will make a god who will not condemn his lust , Often these people will say themselves "Oh well it is just an image, I am not hurting any one else ?"


New Age is not actually a 'New' Age , It is a VERY old lie from Satan, Satan told Eve, "You can decide what is right and what is wrong" , You can make your choices Not God! That is what New Agers doing when they think 'positively'

To be honest , Before i came to Christ, I thought i am a wonderful person, I never felt bad for Lust or lie or Vengeance, I always comfort myself by comparing others. When i came to Christ, It was a shock to me!, I felt like worst sinner when i self examined in the light of Christ , The sprit of God shown/helped me to leave the Lust of this world and HE stays in with me to continuously fight Satan in daily life, He NEVER EVER reminded my Past (Which Satan did) HE always care about now and future

Thanks
 
Soma-Sight, Isn't it amazing how the Dhammapada is saying virtually the same thing as Christ's Sermon on the Mount? Yet Buddha lived 500 years earlier?

It just goes to show that God works in all religions, that his truth can be seen anywhere, not just in Christianity. All you have to do is look deeply into yourself, and you'll find the answers have ALWAYS been there!

Right on man....

Right on!

At least someone here gets it!

The heart and the mind are like two sides to the same coin......

The words of the Dhammapada and the life of Christ demonstrate this!

Thank God for Jesus and thank God for the Buddha! The Holy Spirit working through the wisdom of these two men has changed my life for the better!

I went from being unsure and insecure about life to a true believer in the Gospel of Love and Truth demonstrated in the words of Christ and through the spiritual disciplines of the east.
 
It just goes to show that God works in all religions, that his truth can be seen anywhere, not just in Christianity. All you have to do is look deeply into yourself, and you'll find the answers have ALWAYS been there!

Soma/Ahimsa,
Well God work in all religions.. Where satan works???

If God is the author of all rligians then why in the bible HE condemns the following

Deuteronomy 18:10 "No one among you is to make his son or daughter pass through the fire, practice divination, tell fortunes, interpret omens, practice sorcery,

Deuteronomy 18:11 "cast spells, consult a medium or a familiar spirit, or inquire of the dead.â€Â

Romans 1: 22 "Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles"

Romans 1: 25 "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever


while he approves the same acts as "sacred" in Gita or Veda?



Finally , What is the outcome of looking deeply into yourselves? , Do you guys think you are gods or sinners?


Thanks
 
Karma2Grace,

God Himself has used pagan sorcerers in the OT with Balaam.

This is a fact.

The wisemen that worshipped Christ were Babylonian astrologers and not Jews!

Of course this has nothing to do with meditation or recoginizing the "good fruits" of the Gita or Dhammapada!

Dont be angry, train your mind, seek God, listen to your heart.....

That is what I get from the eastern texts! You may see demons but I see Godly insight!

How do you reconcile THIS verse?

Luke 11:52 (King James Version)

52Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

 
God Himself has used pagan sorcerers in the OT with Balaam.

So What, God used Death (bad) and Cross (bad) to show his Mercy and Grace what is the point? does it make sorcery is Good?

The wise men that worshipped Christ were Babylonian astrologers and not Jews!

Christ does not belongs to Jews!, He is for all , Salvation for the whole earth!

Of course this has nothing to do with meditation or recognizing the "good fruits" of the Gita or Dhammapada!

Dont be angry, train your mind, seek God, and listen to your heart.....

That is what I get from the eastern texts! You may see demons but I see Godly insight!

I really don't want to spoil the mood of this forum by quoting from Hindu Puranas, if you have eastern Guru then ask him about the story of Siva Linga or Kali. It is SO adulteress!! . It reminds me the verses in Genesis, “…Fallen angels came down to earth and have sex with womanâ€Â

How do you reconcile THIS verse?

Luke 11:52 (King James Version)

52Woe unto you, lawyers! For ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.



I think I need to ask this question to you. Jesus Addressed this to Pharisees, They thought they can enter into heaven by following the laws as rituals and by their knowledge in other words they tried to satisfy God by their filthy works (as easterner does), God needs submission here is what God wants to here from each one of us “Oh God I am nothing, I cannot Save my self, All my righteousness is filthy, Please help me, Cleans me with your blood"

NOT "I am god, All I need to do is realize that I am god and behave positively like god!" it is LIE!!


I really doubt how much you know about eastern mysticism before jumping on it

Thanks
 
I think I need to ask this question to you. Jesus Addressed this to Pharisees, They thought they can enter into heaven by following the laws as rituals and by their knowledge in other words they tried to satisfy God by their filthy works (as easterner does), God needs submission here is what God wants to here from each one of us “Oh God I am nothing, I cannot Save my self, All my righteousness is filthy, Please help me, Cleans me with your blood"

NOT "I am god, All I need to do is realize that I am god and behave positively like god!" it is LIE!!

Sounds pretty esoteric to me!


I really doubt how much you know about eastern mysticism before jumping on it

Always use a sitter, that is all I will say on that!

http://www.erowid.com
 
Jesus himself was a mystic, he cared not for eloquent doctrines or intricate theologies. He DID care about direct experience with God, a living experience as he describes it.

it always distrubs me how much Christianity is obsessed with theology and doctrine, placing far too much emphasis on what one believes. Jesus was not a theologian, he not did not preach complicated doctrines. Rather Jesus preached the message that God was here and could be experienced...and that such an experiecne would change your life. He saw the futility of placing this in concepts and theologies, for words only limit the experience of God.

Take note, when the Sadduccees brought Jesus the question about the Ressurection and marriage, trying to trap him in the complications of theology and doctrine, Jesus simply answered them:

"People will neither marry nor be married, they will be like angels in heaven"
Which is really a good way of saying: It is so beyond what we can comprehend that its not even worth bringing human concepts of marriage to it.

Then he says, "God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living."

For me, this is one of the most powerful things that Jesus ever said. While Christians seem so obessed with heaven and the afterlife, Jesus is simply telling us not to worry about such things.

To the Sadduccees and Pharisees, God existed much less in the realm of human experience, than he did in the pages of scripture or in the concepts that they had structured around him. That was the dead God, the God who lived only as words on a page, or images and conepts in the mind.

This is not God, rather God is the God of the living. The God of living experience, who we can meet here and now, whom we can know here and now. Such questions as "What happens after death" become irrelevant to those who know the Living God, for such notions are beyond the realm of human comprehension.Yet Christianity remains obsessed with these doctrines, remains obessesed with theology and "what gets us into heaven". In doing so, we have confined God to the pages of books, to the concepts that exist within our heads...rather than directly experiencing the Living God and understanding that such issues do not matter.


Soma, I fear we may have to accept that it is the human tendency to worship religion. Many religions today act as an "instant spiritual fix", they give a neatly packaged set of pre-written and already thought out ideas that one has to simply acknowledge as 'true' to recieve the divine security of eternal salvation. And I fear that it may always be the few who truly learn to look beyond the obstacle that religion has become and find the living experience that lies behind it. Religion is really some of the greatest poetry ever expounded, and like poetry, its uses symbols, metaphors, drama, exaggeration and language to bring forth the unspeakable, unthinkable reality of our humanity.

Religion is the human framework through which we can pull otherwise unknowable ideas into the depths of human understanding. It is never quite adaquate, but then again, it is the inability to describe the spiritual experience in which its boundless awe is truly contained.
 
AHIMSA said:
Jesus himself was a mystic, he cared not for eloquent doctrines or intricate theologies. He DID care about direct experience with God, a living experience as he describes it.

Having a relationship with God is not a mysticism, No human can have direct relationship with God because God is pure and holy !

AHIMSA said:
Jesus was not a theologian; he not did not preach complicated doctrines. Rather Jesus preached the message that God was here and could be experienced

I would like you to unpack your statement “God was here and could be experiencedâ€Â, what do you mean by it?, why do you think that a Christian is not experiencing God when he kneel down and pray? Quote me from bible where did Jesus utter this sentence?


AHIMSA said:
Then he says, "God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living

For me, this is one of the most powerful things that Jesus ever said. While Christians seem so obsessed with heaven and the afterlife, Jesus is simply telling us not to worry about such things

So according to you, Jesus is saying don’t worry about Hell or Heaven, Just live for today, is that the meaning you are getting??

How about the following verses which Jesus told,

Matthew 10:28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell"

Mark 9:45 "If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell,

Mark 9:46 where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.

Mark 9:47 "If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell,

Mark 9:48 where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.

So what you think, Jesus worried about this life or after life?


AHIMSA said:
...rather than directly experiencing the Living God and understanding that such issues do not matter.

Why it (hell or heaven) doesn’t matter?
How would you experience God if you don’t know him?
Are you sure that you are experiencing God (not Satan) through your Yoga?


See You have maid some assumptions about Jesus with out quoting anything from the scripture , I have created a thread called “Gods of New Age†with the quotes from the Holy books of your ‘living gods’ that you are experiencing, I would like you and Soma to comment on it.


Thanks
 
Soma, I fear we may have to accept that it is the human tendency to worship religion. Many religions today act as an "instant spiritual fix", they give a neatly packaged set of pre-written and already thought out ideas that one has to simply acknowledge as 'true' to recieve the divine security of eternal salvation. And I fear that it may always be the few who truly learn to look beyond the obstacle that religion has become and find the living experience that lies behind it. Religion is really some of the greatest poetry ever expounded, and like poetry, its uses symbols, metaphors, drama, exaggeration and language to bring forth the unspeakable, unthinkable reality of our humanity.

Religion is the human framework through which we can pull otherwise unknowable ideas into the depths of human understanding. It is never quite adaquate, but then again, it is the inability to describe the spiritual experience in which its boundless awe is truly contained.

Amen!

You have a truly great heart to recognize this fact!

Instead if giving in to the temptation to draw lines against everyone that doesnt believe as you do, a spiritual person seeks to understand where a person is coming from and WHY they think that way.

Is that so evil?

Thanks for stopping by on this thread!
 
Anyone who claims Jesus did not care for doctrine knows nothing of the biblical Jesus...

Jesus instituted all the doctrines in the bible.

Only a person who wants to create his or her personal Jesus will believe otherwise...

Matthew 16:6-12 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the DOCTRINE of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

There are many today that hold the erroneous belief that DOCTRINE is not important. Jesus Christ shows in the above verses that this modernist philosophy is not only false but also in direct conflict with the Word of God. The apostles and prophets who wrote the New Testament under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit give considerable importance and emphasis on DOCTRINE.

Paul writes in his epistle to the Romans...

Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of DOCTRINE which was delivered you.

Paul writes again in Romans...

Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the DOCTRINE which ye have learned; and avoid them.

1Timothy 1:2-10
Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and
peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into
Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no
other DOCTRINE,
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which
minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith:
so do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure
heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain
jangling;
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what
they say, nor whereof they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but
for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners,
for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of
mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with
mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if
there be any other thing that is contrary to SOUND DOCTRINE;

Paul exhorted Timothy to give attendance to Doctrine

1Timothy 4:13-16
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to
DOCTRINE.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by
prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy
profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the DOCTRINE; continue in them:
for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear
thee.

Those who show contempt for DOCTRINE are fulfilling prophecy.

2Timothy 4:2-3
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove,
rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and DOCTRINE.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound DOCTRINE;
but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears;

The Scriptures are profitable for DOCTRINE.

2Timothy 3:16-17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
DOCTRINE, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all
good works.

Sexual degenerates, and false teachers and prophets wish to create an occult mystic Jesus so they can foist their stench ridden doctrines on the unlearned and weak.

They have no direct experience with God. The lot of them are liars and servants of Satan.

Paul warns...

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Mystics are people that would rather have an emotional experience with a "higher power" or a drug induced esperience than find the true God that the scriptures reveal.

This way they can create the god they choose rather than subject themselves to the living God...

Websters Dictionary

Main Entry: 1 mys·tic

Pronunciation: 'mis-tik

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English mistik, from Latin mysticus of mysteries, from Greek mystikos, from mystEs initiate

1 : MYSTICAL 1a
2 : of or relating to mysteries or esoteric rites : OCCULT3 : of or relating to mysticism or mystics
4 a : MYSTERIOUS b : OBSCURE, ENIGMATIC c : inducing a feeling of awe or wonder d : having magical properties
 
...you're resorting to a dictionary to prove your point....in addition you have proven mine.
 
AHIMSA said:
...you're resorting to a dictionary to prove your point....in addition you have proven mine.

You must have missed the scriptures that prove mine... ;-)

You have no point...

All hereticks want to create Jesus in their image and likeness.
 
AHIMSA, I have a question concerning what you said about heaven, hell and the "afterlife". Do you think that the soul lives on when the body dies?

If you do, then isn't the "afterlife" just life somewhere else?

also, when Jesus said that God is the God of the living and not the dead
Then he says, "God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living"
it was in the context of the resurrection, saying that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are still alive in God. Sadducees don't think that the soul lives on. So they were playing devil's advocate to try and trap Him. Jesus was correcting them.

Matthew 22:29-32 NKJV
"You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."

telling them that life goes on after the body dies.
 
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