Jesus Christ versus the Buddha......

[Relic]

CHART THREE
BUDDHIST ENLIGHTENMENT VS. CHRISTIAN SALVATION



Buddhist Enlightenment: Man’s nature remains fundamentally unchanged; the individual Buddhist accomplishes "enlightenment" but this is only a new perspective on life undergirded by carefully cultivated altered states of consciousness (the experience of "nirvana" in meditation).
Christian Salvation: Man’s nature is changed forever. This is accomplished wholly by God and constitutes an inner change of one’s nature (regeneration) a new legal standing before God (justification) and, logically, a corresponding "outer" transformation (sanctification).

Buddhist Enlightenment: Eradicates "ignorance" of the truths of Buddhism and ostensibly, in the end, suffering.
Christian Salvation: Eradicates sin.

Buddhist Enlightenment: History is ultimately irrelevant; salvation is experientially based and possible through mysticism. Inner experience supplants historical concerns. The person of Buddha is irrelevant to the process of enlightenment.
Christian Salvation: Historically based; salvation is objectively based and impossible apart from the person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Buddhist Enlightenment: The believer is ultimately saved from the problems of this life; sin is not forgiven.
Christian Salvation: The believer is ultimately saved from divine judgment; all sins are forgiven.

Buddhist Enlightenment: Humanistic: man instituted.
Christian Salvation: Theological: God instituted.

Buddhist Enlightenment: Escapist (salvation from the world).
Christian Salvation: Realist (salvation of the world, i.e., of all believers).

Buddhist Enlightenment: One cannot be reconciled to an impersonal nirvana, one can only "realize" it or "achieve" it; technically, one cannot even experience it.
Christian Salvation: Reconciliation to God

Buddhist Enlightenment: Eternal existence allegedly constitutes an ineffable existence somewhere in between (i.e., not comprising either) total annihilation or personal immortality (i.e., "the void").
Christian Salvation: Eternal life constitutes personal immortality and fellowship with a loving God.

Buddhist Enlightenment: Derives from a finite source of change utilizing the power of self-perfection.
Christian Salvation: Derives from an infinite source of change utilizing the power of divine grace.

Buddhist Enlightenment: Ultimate Reality is the experience of emptiness or ineffable impersonal "existence."
Christian Salvation: Ultimate Reality is the infinite personal triune God.

Buddhist Enlightenment: Faith is denied or placed in Buddhist gods plus works.
Christian Salvation: Based on faith in Christ alone apart from works.


http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/apologetics/AP0302W4.htm

 

[Relic]

CHART FOUR
BUDDHIST TEACHING VS CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE


Buddhist Teaching: "Those who, relying upon themselves only, shall not look for assistance to any one besides themselves, it is they who shall reach the topmost height."39
Christian Scripture: "Thus says the Lord, ‘Cursed is the man who trusts mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord.’" ( Jeremiah 17:5 )

Buddhist Teaching: "By this ye shall know that a man is not my discipleâ€â€that he tries to work a miracle."40 (italics added)
Christian Scripture: "But many of the multitude believed in Him; and they were saying, "When the Christ shall come, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?’" (John 7:31)

Buddhist Teaching: "One thing I teach," said Buddha: "suffering and the end of suffering…. It is just ill and the ceasing of ill that I proclaim."41
Christian Scripture: "But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right." ( 1 Peter 4:13, 1 Peter 4:19 )

Buddhist Teaching: "The self we think to be true and important is pure illusion, and a lie that is the cause of a large proportion of human suffering."42
Christian Scripture: "And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them…. Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." ( Genesis 1:27; Genesis2:7 )

Buddhist Teaching: "Perhaps the greatest difference between Buddhism and Christianity is that Buddhism very explicitly does not require an act of faith."43
Christian Scripture: "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who come to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." ( Hebrews 11:6 )

Buddhist Teaching: "There is no permanent self in Buddhism. In fact. Nothing is permanent."44
Christian Scripture: "Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and Thy dominion endures throughout all generations…. But Thou, O Lord, dost abide forever." ( Psalm 145:13; Psalm:102:12a )

Buddhist Teaching: "Do not believe in that which you have yourselves imagined, thinking that a god has inspired it."45
Christian Scripture: "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." ( 2 Timothy 3:16-17 )

Buddhist Teaching: "According to Buddhism the universe evolved, but it did not evolve out of nothingness; it evolved out of the dispersed matter of a previous universe, and when this universe is dissolved, its dispersed matterâ€â€or, its residual energy which is continually renewing itselfâ€â€will in time give rise to another universe in the same way. The process is therefore cyclical and continuous. The universe is composed of millions of millions of world-systems like our solar system, each with its various planes of existence."46
Christian Scripture: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." ( Genesis 1:1 )

"By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible." ( Hebrew 11:3 )

=======================


Footnotes for all four charts:

36. David-Neel, p. 15.

37. Norman Geisler, A Popular Survey of the Old Testament (Chicaco, IL: Moody Press, 1978), p. 11.

38. Houston Smith, The Religions of Man, p. 99.

39. Smith, p. 107, quoting E.A. Burt (ed.), The Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha (NY: Mentor, 1955), p. 50.

40. Smith, p. 108.

41. Woodward (tr.), p. XXI.

42. Ibid., p. 109.

43. Walt Anderson, p. 26.

44. Ibid., p. 32.

45. David-Neel, p. 123.

46. Neill, p. 121, citing Maha Thera U Tittila in The Path of the Buddha (ed.), K.W. Morgan, (1956), pp. 77-78.



http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/apologetics/AP0302W4.htm

 

[Relic]

.

Are Christians supposed to be of those who are living in an era pregnant with tolerance for everything? :o

An education is a good thing... but when it takes you away from the truth of God the Father, then... is it really such a good education? :roll:

Buddhism vs. Christianity
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John
In an era pregnant with tolerance for everything, some Christians have embraced Buddhism while numerous attempts have been made to “unify†Buddhism and Christianity. Through no fault of its own, “Christianity†is frequently the loser in such encounters. Why? Drs. Ankerberg and Weldon explain.
Html page:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/apolo ... 1101W3.htm
Adobe Acrobat Document:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFA ... 3W1101.pdf


Buddhism and Jesus Christ
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John
Buddhism has little directly to say about Jesus. It does acknowledge that He was a great person. On the other hand, there is a sense in which Buddhism explicitly rejects Jesus Christ. Drs. Ankerberg and Weldon explore these teachings this month.
Html page:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/apolo ... 0102W3.htm
Adobe Acrobat Document:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFA ... 3W0102.pdf


Buddhism and Jesus Christ
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John
What are Buddhists taught about Jesus Christ? Includes a chart comparing Jesus to the Buddha.
Html page:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/apolo ... 1104W3.htm
Adobe Acrobat Document:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFA ... 3W1104.pdf


Buddhism and Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John
A brief look at the history and doctrines of Buddhism and Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism
Html page:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/apolo ... 0900W4.htm
Adobe Acrobat Document:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFA ... 4W0900.pdf


America Smiles On the Buddha -- Part 1
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John
Buddhism is growing ever stronger roots in America and the West. American entertainers are especially becoming fascinatedâ€â€including such people as Steven Seagal, Richard Gere, Martin Scorsese, Tina Turner, Oliver Stone and Courtney Love. This month we begin to look at the teachings and practices of this religious movement.
Html page:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/apolo ... 0901W1.htm
Adobe Acrobat Document:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFA ... 1W0901.pdf

America Smiles On The Buddha -- Part 2
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John
For the Buddha, the essential problem of humanity was not one of sin, but of suffering and misery. But how could suffering be alleviated? His “enlightenment†on the matter led him to formulate the four noble truths and the eightfold path that are the foundation of Buddhism.
Html page:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/apolo ... 1001W3.htm
Adobe Acrobat Document:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFA ... 3W1001.pdf

America Smiles On The Buddha - Part 3
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John
The discussion in this article gives further illustrations of how Buddhism seeks to eliminate that which Christianity sees as foundational: the glorification of God and Christ, a real permanent existence and personal individual salvation.
Html page:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/apolo ... 1201W3.htm
Adobe Acrobat Document:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFA ... 3W1201.pdf

America Smiles on the Buddha -- Part 4
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John
Buddha is quoted as saying, “analyze as far as possible and see whether what I’m saying makes sense or not. If it doesn’t make sense, discard it….†Drs. Ankerberg and Weldon look at some of the Buddha’s teachings to see if they “make sense.â€Â
Html page:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/apolo ... 0202W3.htm
Adobe Acrobat Document:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFA ... 3W0202.pdf

America Smiles On the Buddha -- Part 5
AUTHORS: Ankerberg, Dr. John / Weldon, Dr. John
As we near the end of this series on Buddhism, the authors offer several charts that compare and contrast Christianity with Buddhism. They act as a handy reference for anyone wishing to discover important differences between these belief systems.
Html page:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/apolo ... 0302W4.htm
Adobe Acrobat Document:
http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/_PDFA ... 4W0302.pdf

 

[Soma-Sight]

Relic,

If I had the time....

Your sources are BIASED to the extreme!

There are MANY types Buddhism and your lame sources merely twist something they dont understand into what they want to think Buddha was about.

B. Jesus Christ offers forgiveness of sins. Every single person on this earth has sinned--lying, stealing, fornication, etc. and we need to be forgiven. If you tell a Muslim that you did something wrong and ask him for a solution, he'll shrug his shoulders. A Hindu will tell you maybe you can get it right in your next life (which is, incidentally, considered a curse by those in the east). A psychiatrist will tell you, "You need some counseling, step in my office. Oh, that'll be $200 per hour once a week." I knew a Buddhist woman who had been going to her therapist for 20 years and was no closer to relief than the first day she went!

I know a Christian who is a child molester, stole my truck and says the Bible is the Word of God.

He also has a temper problem.

Religion has nothing to do with happiness. Getting connected to your Source and Heart bring peacefulness.

 

[Relic]

I know a Christian who is a child molester, stole my truck and says the Bible is the Word of God.

He also has a temper problem.

Well, IF this person you know is still doing those things after he has turned his life over to Christ then he is a liar and a faker/deceiving person.

Truth is, that ONCE a person hands their life over to Christ Jesus, they do not continue living IN committing to acts of criminal behavior.
When the HOLY SPIRIT is living IN you, you have no desire to commit a crime! It is impossible to commit a sin when the Holy Spirit IS living IN you. If a person commits an act of sin, they have ignored the holy spirit and have committed to listening to something other than the HOLY SPIRIT.

So you need to go tell this person that IF he wants to accept Jesus Christ into his life he has to get serious about it and Go and Sin NO MORE.

He needs to read and study the bible and learn what a relationship with Christ Jesus really is, and stop taking the HOLY SPIRIT OF Christ for granted as if it is the spirit that commits to sin! The HOLY SPIRIT DOES NOT SIN! And a person who has given their life over to the Holy Spirit of Christ they don't listen to other "evil" spirits that come to tempt! They instead learn to obey the HOLY SPIRIT and learn to resist temptation, they learn how to overcome the evil whiles of the devil through obeying the HOLY SPIRIT and to learn how to STOP listening to spirits that are NOT OF the Holy Spirit! Read Ephesians 6:11-21

Your sources are BIASED to the extreme!

There are MANY types Buddhism and your lame sources merely twist something they dont understand into what they want to think Buddha was about.

Religion has nothing to do with happiness. Getting connected to your Source and Heart bring peacefulness.

And your sources are not BIASED to the extreme? :o

As a matter of fact,
your sources don't' even recognize JESUS AS LORD and SAVIOR. :-?

I doubt if you even bothered to read any other the articles I posted or gave links to for further investigation, but I think you only skimmed through them.


And who's talking about religion making you happy?

It's all about relationship with God through Jesus Christ Holy Spirit living in you through you.
Would you rather look to some Buddha or Hindu for your source of inspiration instead of Jesus Christ? Is that what you want? :o Stray Cats look to others for support when they have wandered far off from their master!

And, if you think that Nirvana or discovering some profound philosophical message is reaching the ultimate in relationship with God you are mistaken. The New Testament clearly states that we are going to face trials and tribulations and persecutions in life! Relationship with God does not always entail " a certain type of happiness" or a peacefulness that is liken to some kind of a passive high like that of a state of Nirvana, nor does it always entail a "monotonous emotional state of drawing into yourself" though chanting an OHM to find that state of connectedness to whatever "supreme state of being" the Buddhists and Hindus are searching and reaching for.
Neither do I feed my God cigarettes and spoonfuls of milk to appease Him. Jesus Christ who did the last and final sacrifice for all of us is all we need to look to. Not some meditative chanting of OHM or some appeasement of gift giving and burning of incense for "religious" purposes. :-? If I burn incense it is to make my house smell nice, not to make appeasement my God!

No SomaSight,
"Christians" do not look to other forms of religion or philosophy to further connect themselves to God.
True Christians don't need to look to other gods for enlightenment that only mimics what truth is in the the Holy Bible already!

JESUS is the way, the truth, and the life.

So again,
Are Christians supposed to be of those who are living in an era pregnant with tolerance for everything? :o

An education is a good thing...
but when it takes you away from the truth of God the Father,
then... is it really such a good education?

Take Jesus' Word for it!

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

[Soma-Sight]

I doubt if you even bothered to read any other the articles I posted or gave links to for further investigation, but I think you only skimmed through them.

I am going to because actually a lot of it is very good.

I am just busy in clinical at school and finding time is hard.

So you need to go tell this person that IF he wants to accept Jesus Christ into his life he has to get serious about it and Go and Sin NO MORE.

I agree!

My good friend Lonelyguide who recently left the boards stressed that INTEGRITY to be the foundation of any believers Faith!

As a matter of fact,
your sources don't' even recognize JESUS AS LORD and SAVIOR.

That depends...

There is a book called the "sayings of Jesus and Buddha" or something to that effect that is written by a CHRISTIAN. Oh I found it... here is the link. :wink:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156975 ... e&n=283155

It's all about relationship with God through Jesus Christ Holy Spirit living in you through you.

This I agree with as well!

If there is one kind of person that is "trained" to have the Holy Spirit live inside it is a Buddhist!

They stress mental clarity through mediatation that I can verify in my own walk.

Think of the Buddhist Clear Light of Understanding like a "LASER" beam of concentrated thoughts.

And, if you think that Nirvana or discovering some profound philosophical message is reaching the ultimate in relationship with God you are mistaken.

Actually the path to Nirvana is full of troubles!

YOU MUST GIVE EVERYTHING UP.

Demons will assail you.

The flesh will temp you.

Mara the Tempter offered Buddha all the women and riches of the world before he could reah the unitive state!

chanting an OHM to find that state of connectedness to whatever "supreme state of being" the Buddhists and Hindus are searching and reaching for.

Mantras DO work!

When I mountain climb I use a mantra to stay focused and keep my mind on the Supreme Divine Presence which is transcendent yet immanent! :wink:

"Have mercy on me Jesus Christ" is a good mantra for Christians wanting to focus exclusively in the Saviour!

If I burn incense it is to make my house smell nice, not to make appeasement my God!

I find incense "gets my mind on God" and helps in my meditative and prayer life.

I try to sanctify my prayer area and make it a Holy time with my Creator.

"Christians" do not look to other forms of religion or philosophy to further connect themselves to God.
True Christians don't need to look to other gods for enlightenment that only mimics what truth is in the the Holy Bible already!

I was there once myself.

I tried to rationalize the Fundy mindset but found that I would be lying to myself if I said that the

Bhagavad Gita
Dhammapada
Upanishads

were not VERY HELPUL in my walk with God and "entering the Unitive State".

JESUS is the way, the truth, and the life.

I have had a vision of Jesus Christ and it is the most important moment of my life in many ways.

I realized so much in that moment and hopefully will have the priviledge of becoming more like Him every day leading up to my ascention from this body.

Because if I dont become like Jesus NOW

I never will.

 

[Gary]

Relic's posts on Buddhism

Relic, thanks for the posts. The material is very good.

 

[Relic]

.

Bhagavad Gita , Dhammapada , Upanishads ...Are not what Jesus teaches.


One more time. There is one God, He is the true God. He is the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.There is none other. The Bible says so.

"I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God."Isaiah 44:6

"Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any."
Isaiah 44:8

"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me:
I girded thee, though thou hast not known me."
Isaiah 45:5

"There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour;
there is none beside me."
Isaiah 45:21


...there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is a right answer to the comparative religion question.

His name is Jesus.


Listen SomaSight,

There exists a book many of the white witches use... It is a book which contains many of the Psalms from out of the bible. They use those Psalms as spells to perform their witch craft! Do you think that is how God wants us to use scripture, through vain requests and pagan rituals?

Do you think that joining in on the practices of Buddhism which does not uplift or acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is what Christ would approve of? You think some pagan stance or ritualistic form of meditation is what Jesus taught us to do? :-?

Apostacy is drifting away from the fundamental teachings of Jesus Christ.


Buddhism and Jesus Christ
By Dr. John Ankerberg, Dr. John Weldon

As a whole, Buddhism has little directly to say about Jesus Christ. It does acknowledge what most men do: that He was a great person. For the most part, however, His Gospel teachings are largely ignored and a more convenient Jesus is accepted: one who, along with the Buddha, smiles serenely. On the other hand, there is a sense in which Buddhism explicitly rejects Jesus Christ. After all, if no "person" exists, then no "personal savior" exists either. So what is there to save? The central message of Christianity (John 3:16) is thus dismissed as remnants of beclouded consciousness.

This explicit rejection of the biblical Jesus is to be expected, for He rejects what Buddhism accepts. The biblical Jesus stresses repentance before God (Matt. 4:17). He believes in a loving, infinite, personal Creator who makes moral demands upon and judges His creatures (Luke 12:5). He denies the possibility of self-perfection and refers to Himself alone as the Savior of the world (Matt. 20:28; 26:28; John 6:29, 47; 14:6). He is God’s unique and only Son (John 3:16,18), and the creator God is His personal Father (John 14:5-6). Spiritual enlightenment and salvation come only by Him (John 14:6) because He is "the true light" of the world (John 1:9; 8:12; 12:46). It is impossible that these could come through Buddha and his philosophy, or through Bodhisattvas and their sacrifice of remaining in the world, or through any other self-achieving method (cf. Matt. 19:24-26). Jesus Christ utterly rejects polytheism and paganism (e.g., Matt. 6:7; 22:37; Luke 4:8). His worldview is thoroughly based on moral absolutes, and it is by His moral standards that all creatures, heavenly and earthly, will be judged and required to give an account (Luke 10:19-20; John 5:22-29; Col. 1:16-18; 1 Cor. 6:3). Jesus accepted the permanency (Matt. 25:46) and utility of suffering in this life (Heb. 2:10; 5:8-9); indeed, it is by Jesus’ suffering alone that the world is redeemed and through which (in part) God sanctifies His people (Phil. 3:10; 1 Pet. 2:21, 24; 3:18; 4:1).

Although ecumenically minded people would find it difficult to accept, the Jesus Christ of history is not merely un-Buddhist but anti-Buddhist. If we could bring Jesus and Buddha together for a discussion, neither Jesus nor Gautama would find the other’s worldview acceptable. According to Christ, Buddha would certainly not have been spiritually enlightenedâ€â€far from it. His rejection of a creator God would classify him as a pagan unbeliever, however adept he was at philosophical speculation. Jesus would view Gautama as in need of salvation as much as everyone else. Conversely, Buddha would have no need for Christ as Savior, for Buddha taught total, unswerving self-reliance: "Rely upon yourself: do not depend on anyone else." Compare this with Jeremiah 17:5: "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord." Thus, in discussing Buddhism’s appeal to modem people, Stephen Neill correctly observes that this appeal is based squarely upon prideful self-sufficiency:

For the modern man one of the most attractive things in this scheme is that in it he is entirely cast back upon himself. "Therefore, O Ananda, take the self as a lamp; take the self as a refuge. Betake yourselves to no external refuges. Hold fast as a refuge to the truth. Look not for refuge to anyone besides yourself. Work out your own salvation with diligence."
[In] the Maha-Parinibbana-Sutta, one of the most famous of Buddhist classics.... The Buddha attained to enlightenment by his own intense concentration; he called in no help from any god or savior. So it must be with the disciple. God has been abolished, at least as far as any possibility of a practical relationship to him is concerned. There is no hope for a man outside of himselfâ€â€or rather in his inner apprehension of the meaning of the Buddha, the Law and the Order. "Man for himself." That is the modern mood. The last thing that a modern man desires is to be told that he needs to be saved, or that he requires the help of a savior.... So naturally Buddhism has attractive power.…1

Whereas Theravada views the Buddha as an enlightened man (more enlightened, no doubt, than the biblical Christ, but still a man), Mahayana places Buddha on the level of a divine being who rivals Christ in his deity, although still falling far short of the biblical concept.

The Mahayana text Matrceta Satapancasatkastotra I, 2-4 states of Buddha: "To go to him for refuge, to praise and to honor him, to abide in his religion, that is fit for those with sense. The only Protector, he is without faults or their residues; The all-knowing, he has all the virtues, and that without fail. For even the spiteful cannot find with any justice any fault in the Lordâ€â€in his thought, words or deeds."2 The Lotus Sutra (Saddharmapundarika) says of him: "He thus becomes the Saviour of the world with its Gods" (XXIV, 17).3

And in the area of miraculous we find another disagreement with Christian faith: "It may be fairly said that Buddhism is not a miraculous religion in the sense that none of its central doctrines depend on miracles."4 By contrast how many Christological themes or doctrines depend upon the miraculous? To name just several: messianic prophecy (Psa. 22; Isa. 9:6); the incarnation (Phil. 2); the virgin birth (Matt. 1:25); Christ’s miracles as proof of his Messiahship (Matt. 8:15-17); the miracles associated with the crucifixion (Matt. 27:50-53); the resurrection (Luke 24:36-39); the ascension (Acts 1:9-10); and the second coming (Matt. 24).

Clearly, Buddha and Jesus are not just a little bit short of being friends! The suffering and exaltation of Jesus Christ is hardly equivalent to the serene peacefulness of the Buddha entering nirvana. Jesus came to save the world, not himself (John 12:27). Indeed, Jesus said, "Whoever wants to save his life will lose it" (Matt. 16:25). He obeyed and glorified the very God whom Buddha so contentedly and forcefully rejected (John 17:4).

Notes:

1 Stephen Neill, Christian Faith and Other Faiths (2nd ed.) (Great Britain: Oxford University Press, 1970), pp. 118-119.

2 Edward Conze, et al. (eds), Buddhist Texts Through the Ages (New York: Philosophical Library, Inc., 1954), p. 194

3 Ibid.

4 Sir Charles Eliot, Hinduism and Buddhism, Vol. 1 (New York: Barnes and Noble, Inc. 1971), p. 325


http://www.ankerberg.org/Articles/apologetics/AP0102W3.htm

 

[Relic]

Re: Relic's posts on Buddhism

Relic, thanks for the posts. The material is very good.

Gary, much appreciated

I don't know why I keep at SomaSight. Maybe it's because I've been on that route before. Not only did I get into transcendental meditation and all the rest of that which goes along with Eastern religions and meditations. I also studied astrology and much of the occult. All of it to just find out that it is all nothing but going round in circles that have no value but growth in vanity and emptiness. Finally, after all that wasted time in meditation on the wrong things in the wrong form, I stopped and said to myself, this is stupid! Who in their right mind wants to go into a state of nothingness? :-? Who in their right mind wants to totally empty their mind and be one with nothingness? And all that other stuff that has nothing to do with Jesus Christ. :

When the prodigal son (SomaSight) is finished with all that nonsense and comes to realize that his ventures will only result in being liken to an empty well. He will come back to Christ and repent of merging other religions with the teachings of Christ Jesus the Son of God the Father.

Jesus will open SomaSights' eyes only when he is willing to let go of those things that have nothing to do with Jesus Christ, when he gets serious in having a true relationship with HIS WORDS/JESUS' WORDS, Not the words of Buddha or some other Eastern philosopher or god. But it won't happen until SomaSight lets go of the false religions and really gets serious about Jesus the Christ who is written of in the Judeo Christian teachings. Not some other source. When he comes to realize there is no other path and the true path is narrow. And it is in the WORD written of in OUR BIBLE. Not the written words of pagan gods and priests.

They don't call it the "HOLY" BIBLE for nothing. 8-)

How long must we keep at SomaSight to wake up out of his wandering off to pagan practices and new age movements? :-? I suppose when he's had enough of the nonsense and comes to realize that the teachings in the bible are sufficient enough. aye?


Hold onto the faith, that kind of Faith which is not taught in any other religion!


.

 

[soma]

If we take Jesus seriously, the words of Jesus become clearer when matched with the practices and insights of Buddhist teachings. A Christian way to implement the words of Jesus by looking inside to see what stands between the a person's mind and God's kingdom is a way to become a better Christian.

People are trying to make themselves better in the eyes of God, better Christians and people, and other Christians are putting them down, trying to put the skids on improvement.

The Christians who put others down for trying to grow in Christ are the same Christians who support Christian supremacist, bombing other countries and tax cuts for the rich at the expense of the poor.

I say change yourself before trying to change another.

 

[Relic]

The Christians who put others down for trying to grow in Christ are the same Christians who support Christian supremacist, bombing other countries and tax cuts for the rich at the expense of the poor.

Well, if that isn't a perfect example of an exaggeration and false labeling, if I ever saw one. :-?

I say change yourself before trying to change another.

Isn't it convenient to throw that change yourself before you try and change another card at those who present a valid scriptural reproof to those who are in error? :roll:

There is righteous judgment and there is unjust judgement.
When a brother is in error, it is the duty of another "Christian" to shew them they are in error. That is righteousness in action. I am not unjustly judging you. Nor am I condemning you. That is up to God to judge you in the finality of your life. I am not doing that! And as far as plucking the splinter out of your eye and taking the boulder out of mine.... Well, I already took that boulder of Buddha out of my eye! So I am here righteously in this instance! When a person has cleaned up their own life from "specific" types of transgressions against the HOLY spirit. They are very well qualified to give correction to those 'brothers IN Christ" who have walked astray. If you don't think so, then the bible would not mention for anyone to listen to the elders or it would not even mention for us to use scripture for correction and reproof. It's not unjust judgement. It is decerning the spirits that are not of the HOLY/"SANCTIFIED" WORD OF GOD. JUDEO CHRISTIANITY is not of the way of the Buddha!


Ephesians 5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Ephesians 5:13
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

1 Timothy 5:20
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

Titus 1:13
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Titus 2:15
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Revelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

If we take Jesus seriously, the words of Jesus become clearer when matched with the practices and insights of Buddhist teachings.

You've got to be kidding! :o No buddha can "match" the teachings and words of Jesus! Jesus gives clarity! NOT Buddha!

People are trying to make themselves better in the eyes of God, better Christians and people, and other Christians are putting them down, trying to put the skids on improvement.

Buddhism does not make you better in the eyes of God!

Buddhism does not improve your Christ-ianity! Buddhism deters you away from the teachings of Jesus Christ! :-?

If you believe in the Judeo Christian teachings you will not look to other sources for enlightenment! JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY.

Take it or leave it, soma. I am not trying to change SomaSight or you.
I am providing information which proves that is it WRONG to LOOK TO BUDDHA for inspiration and enlightenment. Ignore all the proof I provided if you want. No skin off my back. I provide information for those who are not so blind to the truth of the words of Jesus. If you don't want to believe Jesus when He said to Thomas in John 14:5-6 then you can serve all your different Buddhas. Go right ahead. Apostacy is still apostacy no matter how you try to ignore or deny it.
John 14:5-6
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Buddha is not the way! Nor is Buddha "the way" to the truth of Jesus Christ. JESUS SAID HE IS THE WAY! BELIEVE JESUS. not some pagan buddhist belief and practice!

If you don't like the facts that I presented in consideration of reproving with the scriptures then you can go and turn your back on the words of Jesus as you wish. That's your problem down the road, not mine.

I present scriptures here for those who are open to the Word in the bible and are willing to see how wrong it is to look to other religious practices and think an alternative "path" is going to get them closer to knowing or being enlightened in the truth of Jesus.
Who are you going to meditate on? ... Buddhas sayings, or Jesus's truth! JESUS IS THE WAY, NOT ANY WAY OF BUDDHA.

If you think Jesus is liken to Buddha then you are in for a shock later on down the road. Buddha leads to emptiness. Jesus does not! Been there done that! BUDDHA IS NOT THE ANSWER TO GAINING CLOSENESS TO JESUS! Don't thake the advice of someone who's been there,if you don't want to... Foolish children never listen to their elders who speak from experience and truth of scripture, do they? :roll:

Prodigal children have to learn the stubborn way. Don't they? :roll:

I wished I had had some wise counsel from elders when I was going through all that searching. I didn't have anyone. I was alone and abandoned the whole truth of Jesus by looking to other sources! In those days, I picked and chose what scriptures I wanted and ignored the ones that really convicted me of my transgressions against the HOLY Sanctified WORD OF GOD as it is written in the bible. Especially those scriptures that told me that sorcery and serving other gods was wrong. Skimping of the truth in scripture JUST DOESN'T WORK. Believe it!
I wanted to study my astrology and all kinds things that pertained to the occult, and eastern religions, and I wanted to participate in them, thinking all that would make me (what I thought was wise) like some gurus who thought their way was better than the way of Jesus. OF WHOM, BY THE WAY! THEY DON'T EVEN TAKE CLAIM AS BEING LORD AND SAVIOR!!!! Thinking I was cool and hip with the new age thinking that I had, the deeper I got into it, the less Jesus had to do with it.

Don't kid yourself! No man can serve two masters! Nor can any man mix and mash together a variety of different teachings and think they are all of the same "God". Even the demons know God! And even the demons come dressed as angels of light!!!!! If you don't get off your high horse and if you don't stop undermining Jesus so as to stuff him into your little box of Buddha buddies. You are going to feel the burden of that heavy load sooner or later. Hopefully, you will come to realize that GOD is a jealous God and that HE does not stand for other gods before HIM. The first commandment is clear on that one! Thou shalt have no other gods before me! and the third commandment is clear on the vanity you practice when you follow after Buddha and think you can make Buddha equal to Jesus! Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain!

Matthew 6:7
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

OOOOOOHMMMMM! (vain repetitions)

If you are going to buy that garbage that compares Buddha to Jesus and makes Buddhism equal to, or on the same level as Jesus, then you are undermining Jesus the Christ Savior.

Jesus said it himself!

John 14:5-6
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Buddha is not the way! Nor is Buddha "the way" to the truth of Jesus Christ!

Go ahead soma, merge your religions and be an apostate if you want. Deny the truth being told here. But you can't change truth, not one iota!



Galatians 1:6-7
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.[/b]


Truth is truth, you can't chance the truth of the words of Jesus when he says.....
John 14:5-6
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

.

 

[not-one-not-two]

I happened to notice this thread in passing and wished make a comment.

Please note that I am aware that this is a Christan forum and have no wish to detract from that at all - I merely wanted to correct certain misconceptions about Buddhism expressed within this thread. I nearly didn't bother with this post in case it was misconstrued. The absolute last thing I want to do is appear to be defending Buddhism or claiming it's better or worse than anything else (which would be quite un-Buddhist). I hope it dosen't come across at all like that.

The general theme of this thread has been to compare Buddhist scriptures with Christian scriptures and analyse the results. However, one particular Buddhist verse from the Kalama Sutta has been missed and it really sums up why, from a Buddhist perspective, the comparison doesn't work:

Therefore, did we say, Kalamas, what was said thus, 'Come Kalamas. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumor; nor upon what is in a scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious reasoning; nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over; nor upon another's seeming ability; nor upon the consideration, "The monk is our teacher." Kalamas, when you yourselves know: "These things are bad; these things are blamable; these things are censured by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to harm and ill," abandon them.'

The Buddha tells us to eventually reject even his own teachings in favour of what we discover for ourselves.

The Buddha said many things and flavoured the things he said to try and express them as best as possible for the listening audience, but the words themselves are not Buddhism. They can be seen as items of advice for those who need something to work from rather than the absolute directives one gets from, for example, the Bible.

Many schools of Buddhism do insist upon a strict discipline which follows many of the precepts of the religion. The exact nature of the schools in question is often as much directed by the culture of the society as anything else. Tibetan Buddhism might appear to the outsider to be much different from Zen, for example. The schools do what they do because they feel it is the best way to initiate people on a path towards enlightenment. But seeing the schools and their routines as Buddhism is a misnomer. They are Buddhism inasmuch as anything is Buddhism but they are not specifically Buddhism; they do not 'define' Buddhism.

I would say that a good 95%+ of comparisons between Buddhism and Christianity one sees are made by Christians (or, at least, non-Buddhists) in a similar way to this thread. One rarely sees such comparisons from experienced Buddhists because the idea of making such a comparison simply wouldn't be on their radar. What would be the point? Yes, as an intellectual exercise it can be interesting, but that would be the extent of its usefulness to a Buddhist. Buddhists consider everything to be Buddhism from the most mundane task to the most heavenly. Buddhism is simply doing what you're doing.

So I think what I'm trying to add to your thread is this: the comparisons you're making are all well and good if that is what you wish to do, but I just wanted you to be aware many Buddhists would think that you've missed the 'essence' of Buddhism by making comparisons in the way you have; that you've perhaps paid too much attention to words alone. You may ask what else there is to look at - and that would be a fair point - but I couldn't answer that in a 5 minute (or possibly even 5 year) forum post. From a Buddhist perspective there is no comparison between the Buddha and Christ, no concept of 'better than' or 'worse than', no duality and certainly no objection to Christians claiming that 'Christ is the Way' if that is the path they're on. I know of a few Buddhist teachers who, when asked by Christian students how they might become Buddhists, advise them to continue on the path to Christ.

This post is intended as a one-off as I have no wish to interfere with your discussions about Christianity. I hope it adds something to your understanding of the subtleties within Buddhism; it is often those subtleties that one must grasp - rather than the Buddhist Sutras - in order to be in a position to address Buddhism as a religion.

Thank you for listening and please forgive my intrusion.

 

[Gary]

The missing logic.....

I would say that a good 95%+ of comparisons between Buddhism and Christianity one sees are made by Christians (or, at least, non-Buddhists) in a similar way to this thread. One rarely sees such comparisons from experienced Buddhists because the idea of making such a comparison simply wouldn't be on their radar. What would be the point? Yes, as an intellectual exercise it can be interesting, but that would be the extent of its usefulness to a Buddhist. Buddhists consider everything to be Buddhism from the most mundane task to the most heavenly. Buddhism is simply doing what you're doing.

So let's test the logic:

(1) B (Buddhism) = A (All "Buddhists consider everything to be Buddhism from the most mundane task to the most heavenly. Buddhism is simply doing what you're doing")

(2) C (Comparison between the teachings of Buddha and Jesus) = NotB (Not Buddhism)

Therfore B (Buddhism) is Not All!

:roll:

 

[Soma-Sight]

The Buddha tells us to eventually reject even his own teachings in favour of what we discover for ourselves.

The experience of 'Nirvana" and 'enlightenment" is just this.

Your PERSONAL experience and interpretation of the Divine without scriptures, gurus, institution, etc.

"Before enlightenment scripture is misunderstood....

After enlightenment scripture is unecessary...."

 

[Soma-Sight]

Jesus as a Reincarnation of Buddha


In the sixth and fifth centuries B.C., Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, also known as "the Buddha" (i.e., the Enlightened One), in southern Nepal. The title "the Buddha" is applied to Siddhartha Gautama in the same way that the title "the Christ" is applied to Jesus. The basic teachings and lives of the Buddha and the Christ are so remarkably similar that it is hard to believe they are not the same entity. This web page will present the case that Buddha was indeed a previous reincarnation of Jesus.

http://www.near-death.com/experiences/origen045.html[/b]

 

[Soma-Sight]

Gary you shouldnt plagerize yourself and then accuse others of the same thing!

http://www.near-death.com/experiences/origen045.html

Identical Teachings

(1) "Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:31)
"Consider others as yourself." (Dhammapada 10:1)

(2) "If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also." (Luke 6:29)
"If anyone should give you a blow with his hand, with a stick, or with a knife, you should abandon any desires and utter no evil words." (Majjhima Nikaya 21:6)


(3) "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. From anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them back." (Luke 6:27-30)

"Hatreds do not ever cease in this world by hating, but by love: this is an eternal truth. Overcome anger by love, overcome evil by good ... Overcome the miser by giving, overcome the liar by truth." (Dhammapada 1.5 & 17.3)


(4) "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me." (Matt. 25:45)

"If you do not tend one another, then who is there to tend to you? Whoever would tend me, he should tend the sick." (Vinaya, Mahavagga 8:26:3)


(5) "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take the sword shall perish by the sword." (Matt. 26:52)

"Abandoning the taking of life, the ascetic Gautama dwells refraining from taking life, without stick or sword." (Digha Nikaya 1:1:8)


(6) "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friend." (John 15:12-13)

"Just as a mother would protect her only child at the risk of her own life, even so, cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings. Let your thoughts of boundless love pervade the whole world." (Sutta Nipata 149-150)


(7) "Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:17)
"The body of the Buddha is born of love, patience, gentleness and truth." (Vimalakirtinirdesha Sutra 2)


(8) "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." (Matt. 13:31-32)

"Do not underestimate good, thinking it will not affect you. Dripping water can fill a pitcher, drop by drop; one who is wise is filled with good, even if one accumulates it little by little." (Dhammapada 9:7)


(9) "Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, "Friend, let me take the speck out of your eye," when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye." (Luke 6:41-42)

"The faults of others are easier to see than one's own; the faults of others are easily seen, for they are sifted like chaff, but one's own faults are hard to see. This is like the cheat who hides his dice and shows the dice of his opponent, calling attention to the other's shortcomings, continually thinking of accusing him." (Undanavarga 27:1)


(10) "They said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" He said to them, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:4-7)

"Do not look at the faults of others, or what others have done or not done; observe what you yourself have done and have not done." (Dhammapada 4:7)


(11) "Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness. Therefore consider whether the light in you is full of darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays." (Luke 11: 34-36)

"As a man with eyes who carries a lamp sees all objects, so too with one who has heard the Moral Law. He will become perfectly wise." (Udanavarga 22:4)


(12) "Your father in heaven makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous." (Matt. 5:45)

"That great cloud rains down on all whether their nature is superior or inferior. The light of the sun and the moon illuminates the whole world, both him who does well and him who does ill, both him who stands high and him who stands low." (Sadharmapundarika Sutra 5)


(13) "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God." (Luke 6:20)
"Let us live most happily, possessing nothing; let us feed on joy, like the radiant gods." (Dhammapada 15:4)


(14) "If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." (Matt.19:21)

"The avaricious do not go to heaven, the foolish do not extol charity. The wise one, however, rejoicing in charity, becomes thereby happy in the beyond." (Dhammapada 13:11)


(15) "He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on." (Luke 21:1-4)

"Giving is the noble expression of the benevolence of the mighty. Even dust, given in childish innocence, is a good gift. No gift that is given in good faith to a worthy recipient can be called small; it effects us so great." (Jatakamala 3:23)


(16) "Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." (John 11:26)
"Those who have sufficient faith in me, sufficient love for me, are all headed for heaven or beyond." (Majjhima Nikaya 22:47)


(17) "Those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it." (Mark 8:35)

"With the relinquishing of all thought and egotism, the enlightened one is liberated through not clinging." (Majjhima Nikaya 72:15)


(18) "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." (Matt. 8:20)

"The thoughtful exert themselves; they do not delight in an abode. Like swans who have left their lake they leave their house and home." (Majjhima Nikaya)


(19) "When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time." (Luke 4:13)

"During the six years that the Bodhisattva practiced austerities, the demon followed behind him step by step, seeking an opportunity to harm him. But he found no opportunity whatsoever and went away discouraged and discontent." (Lalitavistara Sutra 18)


(20) "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Matt. 5:8)
"Anyone who enters into meditation on compassion can see Brahma with his own eyes, talk to him face to face and consult with him." (Digha Nikaya 19:43)


(21) "Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them." (John 20:26)
"He goes unhindered through a wall." (Anugattara Nikaya 3:60)

(22) "And after six days Jesus takes with him Peter, and James, and John, and leads them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them." (Mark 9:2-3)

"Ananda, having arranged one set of golden robes on the body of the Lord, observed that against the Lord's body it appeared dulled. And he said, "It is wonderful, Lord, it is marvelous how clear and bright the Lord's skin appears! It looks even brighter than the golden robes in which it is clothed." (Digha Nikaya 16:4:37)

 

[Gary]

The only PLAGIARIST is YOU SomoSite. Look at the forums...

No plagiarism.... it was YOUR original post (plagiarized as you often do) that I responded to. One of the Mods deleted your original post because it promoted Buddhism.

 

[Soma-Sight]

Relic,

Have YOU read the Bhagavad Gita?

The Upanishads?
Dhammapada?

Have you ever taken Martial Arts?

Have you meditated?

If not, I do not believe you have an accurate experience of eastern wisdom.

If all you have done is cut and paste from apologetic websites without ever engaging in Buddhism yourself it is merely hurting your own development and shows an utter lack of knowledge on the matter.....

Kind of like me when it comes to Islam for the most part! :-?

 

[Free]

Soma-Sight,

Hvae you ever meditated on Scripture or read any writings of the early saints or Church Fathers regarding Christian spirituality? You seem to post a lot of anti-Christian rhetoric from anti-Christian sites. The point is, have you ever really experienced the depths of Christianity?

 

[Gary]

SomaSite ... does he even READ what others post?

Relic,

Have YOU read the Bhagavad Gita?

The Upanishads?
Dhammapada?

Have you ever taken Martial Arts?

Have you meditated?

If not, I do not believe you have an accurate experience of eastern wisdom.

If all you have done is cut and paste from apologetic websites without ever engaging in Buddhism yourself it is merely hurting your own development and shows an utter lack of knowledge on the matter.....

Kind of like me when it comes to Islam for the most part! :-?

Oh dear.... let's ask a few questions in return.

SomaSite, have you not even read Relics posts? Have you not meditated about what she wrote?

Obviously not.

As Free says, you spend so much time copy-n-pasting from anti-Christian sites (hence the name SomaSite) that you don't even read what Relic posted.

Here is what she said: (If you want to only scan the post... then look for the BIG BLUE WORDS!)

Relic, thanks for the posts. The material is very good.

Gary, much appreciated

I don't know why I keep at SomaSight. Maybe it's because I've been on that route before. Not only did I get into transcendental meditation and all the rest of that which goes along with Eastern religions and meditations. I also studied astrology and much of the occult. All of it to just find out that it is all nothing but going round in circles that have no value but growth in vanity and emptiness. Finally, after all that wasted time in meditation on the wrong things in the wrong form, I stopped and said to myself, this is stupid! Who in their right mind wants to go into a state of nothingness? :-? Who in their right mind wants to totally empty their mind and be one with nothingness? And all that other stuff that has nothing to do with Jesus Christ. :

When the prodigal son (SomaSight) is finished with all that nonsense and comes to realize that his ventures will only result in being liken to an empty well. He will come back to Christ and repent of merging other religions with the teachings of Christ Jesus the Son of God the Father.

Jesus will open SomaSights' eyes only when he is willing to let go of those things that have nothing to do with Jesus Christ, when he gets serious in having a true relationship with HIS WORDS/JESUS' WORDS, Not the words of Buddha or some other Eastern philosopher or god. But it won't happen until SomaSight lets go of the false religions and really gets serious about Jesus the Christ who is written of in the Judeo Christian teachings. Not some other source. When he comes to realize there is no other path and the true path is narrow. And it is in the WORD written of in OUR BIBLE. Not the written words of pagan gods and priests.

They don't call it the "HOLY" BIBLE for nothing. 8-)

How long must we keep at SomaSight to wake up out of his wandering off to pagan practices and new age movements? :-? I suppose when he's had enough of the nonsense and comes to realize that the teachings in the bible are sufficient enough. aye?


Hold onto the faith, that kind of Faith which is not taught in any other religion!


.

http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopi ... 379#261379