Sorry for this VERY LATE REPLY.
Regarding the existence of God, and An Eternal Now's testimony
to it, here is my answer to him.
http://peace-of-mind.net/buddhism.htm
Why I believe
Buddhism and Buddhist belief are false.
1.
What is Buddhism.
2.
Who is Buddha.
3. What is karma and
reincarnation.
4. Theory explains phenomena.
5. Reincarnation is a theory
6. Reincarnation contradicts the phenomenon of mediums invoking the
spirit of the dead.
7. Spirit possession theory explains all these
phenomena.
8. Demon possession.
9. Deception.
10.
Works versus grace.
11. Conclusion.
1. What is
Buddhism.
Buddhism
is a
widespread Asian
religion or
philosophy founded
by Siddartha
Gautama (Buddha;c.563-c.460
BC) in
north east
India in
the 5th
century BC,
which teaches
that elimination
of the
self and
earthly desires
is the
route to
enlightenment.
There
are two main schools of thought in Buddhism, the Theravada and the
Mahanyana,
Theravada
Buddhists believe they must personally eradicate their mental
defilements and develop all the great virtues
in order to
gain their final salvation by following the method and example
prescribed by the Buddha. They
respect
Bodhisattvas but do not regard them as saviors.
In
the Mahayana school of thought, the Bodhisattvas play an important
role by showing others the path to attain Nibbana. A Bodhisattva is
a person who is
able to be released from Samsara and reaching Nibbana but delays
doing so through compassion for suffering
beings.
The practice of Buddhism has
been modified by local customs, producing distinct varieties of
worship. They include the Indian, Tibetan, Ceylonese (Sri
Lankan), Burmese, Thai, Cambodian, Chinese and Japanese
varieties.
It is claimed
that the Siddartha Gautama's way of life
and doctrine were substantially different from the Hindu (Vedic and
Brahmanic) believing people in India.
Yet he embraced the
Hindu beliefs of Karma and
rebirth explaining it as a natural law of
cause and effect. Hence Buddhism is
often considered as an off-shoot of Hinduism because it shares with
Hinduism its core beliefs of Karma and reincarnation. It also
shares many common terms, some of which are: Dharma, Samsara,
Mantra, Samadhi and Aum.
What
distinguishes it from Hinduism is that it does not invoke the
existence of gods.
Although claiming to be
non theistic, yet the practice of Buddhism involves worship of the
statue or image of Siddartha Gautama. Buddhists claim is that these
images are not idols but are symbolic
representations of his great qualities
One
of his original concepts is that of dependent origination.
It
claims that that life or the world is built on a set of relations,
in which the arising and cessation of factors depend on some other
factors which condition them so that all phenomena in this universe
are relative, conditioned states and do not arise independently of
supportive conditions. Hence Buddhism does not support the concept
of a creator or first cause. Since everything is conditioned,
relative, and interdependent, there is nothing in this world which
could be regarded as a permanent entity, variously regarded as an
ego or an eternal soul.
This provided the basis
for another original concept called
the Anatta doctrine, interpreted as
the
absence of a distinct soul, self and ego for each
person.
Yet he was of the
opinion that the sum total of the Karma in the form of a
consciousness for each person is distinct and continues after
bodily death by reincarnating in another body.
He
introduced the idea of the Four Noble
Truths, Suffering, the
Arising of Suffering, the ceasing of Suffering, and the approach to
the ceasing of Suffering.
Another original concept
introduced is The Eightfold path of a righteous life
consisting of Right Speech, Sila Right Action
Morality, Right Livelihood, Right Effort,
Samadhi Right Mindfulness Mental culture, Right Concentration,
Right Understanding, Panna Right Thoughts Wisdom.
The adherence to
this path would bring a Buddhist devotee closer to the salvation
called Nibbana.
In Buddhism,
there is no such thing as sin as explained by other
religions. Sin is merely unskillful or unwholesome
action resulting in further suffering in the present life or future
lives.
His
rejection of the caste system appealed especially to the
untouchables.
2. Who is
Buddha.
A Buddhist apologist, K.Sri Dhammananda
describes Buddha as follows:
Gautama Buddha, the founder of what came to be known as Buddhism,
lived in Northern India in the 6th century B.C. His
personal name was Siddhartha, and family name Gotama. The name
'Buddha' was given to Him after He attained Enlightenment and
realized the Truth. It means the 'Awakened' or the 'Enlightened
One'. He generally called Himself the Tathagata, while His
followers called Him Bhagava, the Blessed One. Others spoke of Him
as Gotama or Sakyamuni.
He was born a prince who
seemed to have everything. He had a luxurious upbringing and His
family was of pure descent on both sides. He was the heir to the
throne, extremely handsome, inspiring trust, stately and gifted
with great beauty of complexion and fine presence. At sixteen He
married His cousin named Yasodhara who bore Him a son whom they
called Rahula. His wife was majestic, cheerful day and night, and
full of dignity and grace.
Despite all this, He
felt trapped amidst the luxury like a bird in a golden cage. During
a visit to the city one day, He saw what is known as the 'Four
Sights', that is , an old man, a sick man, a dead man, and a holy
recluse. When He saw the sights, one after another, the realization
came to Him that, 'it is subject to age and death'. He asked,
'Where is the realm of life in which there is neither age nor
death?' The sight of the recluse, who was calm for having given up
the craving for material life, gave him the clue that the first
step in His search for Truth was Renunciation.
Determined to find the
way out of these universal sufferings, He decided to leave home to
find the cure not for Himself only, but for all mankind. One night
in His twenty-ninth year, He bade His sleeping wife and son a
silent farewell, saddled His great white horse, and rode off toward
the forest.
His renunciation is
unprecedented in history. He left at the height of youth, from
pleasures to difficulties, from certainty of material security to
uncertainty, from a position of wealth and power to that of a
wandering ascetic who took shelter in the cave and forest, with His
ragged robe as the only protection against the blazing sun, rain
and winter winds. He renounced His position, wealth, promise of
prestige and power, and a life filled with love and hope in
exchange for the search for Truth which no one had found.
For six long years, He
labored to find the Truth. He studied under the foremost masters of
the day, and learned all these religious teachers could teach Him.
When He could not find what He was looking for, He joined a band of
ascetics and tortured His body so as to break its power and crush
its interference, since it was believed that Truth could be found
this way. A man of enormous energy and will power, He outdid other
ascetics in every austerity they proposed. While fasting, He ate so
little that when He took hold of the skin of His stomach, He
actually touched His spine. He pushed Himself to the extent that no
man had done and yet lived. He, too, would have certainly died had
He not realized the futility of self-mortification, and decided to
practise moderation instead.
On the full moon night
of the month of Vesakha, He sat under the Bodhi tree at Gaya,
wrapped in deep meditation. It was then that His mind burst the
bubble of the universe and realized the true nature of all life and
all things. At the age of 35 years, He was transformed from an
earnest truth seeker into the Buddha, the Enlightened One.
For nearly half a
century, the Buddha walked on the dusty paths of India Teaching the
Dhamma so that those who heard and practised could be ennobled and
free. He founded an order of monks and nuns, challenged the caste
system, raised the status of women, taught religious freedom and
free inquiry, opened the gates of deliverance to all, in every
condition of life, high or low, saint or sinner, and ennobled the
lives of criminals like Angulimala and courtesans like
Ambapali.
He was towering in
wisdom and intellect. Every problem was analyzed in component parts
and then reassembled in logical order with the meaning made clear.
None could defeat Him in dialogue. An unequaled teacher, He still
is the foremost analyst of the mind and phenomena even up to the
present day. For the first time in history, He gave men the power
to think for themselves, raised the worth of mankind, and showed
that man can reach to the highest knowledge and supreme
Enlightenment by his own efforts.
Despite His peerless
wisdom and royal lineage, He was never removed from the simple
villager. Surface distinctions of class and caste meant little to
Him. No one was too little or low for Him to help. Often when an
outcast, or poor and dejected came to Him, his self-respect was
restored and he turned from the ignoble life to that of a noble
being.
The Buddha was full of
compassion(karuna)and wisdom(panna), knowing how and what to teach
each individual for his own benefit according to his level and
capabilities. He was known to have walked long distances to help
one single person.
He was affectionate and
devoted to His disciples, always inquiring after their well-being
and progress. When staying at the monastery, He paid daily visits
to the sick wards. His compassion for the sick can be seen from His
advice, 'He who attends the sick, attends on me.' The Buddha kept
order and discipline on the basis of mutual respect. King Pasenadi
could not understand how the Buddha maintained such order and
discipline in the community of monks, when he as a king with the
power to punish, could not maintain it as well in his court.
The Buddha did not claim
to have 'created' worldly conditions, universal phenomena, or the
Universal Law which we call the 'Dhamma'. Although described as
lokavidu or 'knower of the worlds', He was not regarded as the sole
custodian of the Universal Laws. He freely acknowledge that the
Dhamma, together with the working of the cosmos, is timeless, it
has no creator and is independent in the absolute sense. Every
conditioned thing that exists in the cosmos is subject to the
operation of Dhamma. What the Buddha did (like all the other
Buddhas before Him) was to rediscover this infallible Truth and
make it known to mankind. In discovering the Truth, He also found
the means whereby one could ultimately free oneself from being
subjected to the endless cycle of conditioning, with its attendant
evils of unsatisfactoriness.
After forty-five years
of ministry, the Buddha passed away at the age of eighty at
kusinara, leaving behind thousands of followers, monks and nuns,
and a vast treasure store of Dhamma Teaching. The impact of His
great love and dedication is still felt today.
3. What is karma and
reincarnation.
Karma
is the sum
of a
person’s actions
in this
and previous
states of
existence, viewed
as affecting
their future
fates. (ie the effects of a person's actions that
determine his destiny in his next
incarnation)
The origin
of this
word is
from the
Sanskrit karman
which means ‘action
_ effect _ fate’.
Reincarnation
is the
rebirth of
a soul in
a new body.
Incarnation is
a spirit
embodied in
a living
human from.
To incarnate
is to be
invested in a
bodily form.
The origin of
this word
is from the
Latin in-
carn- which
means ‘into’ ‘flesh’.
Reincarnation is a necessary adjunct to Karma. This is because
incomplete punishment for a person’s evil deeds in this life will
be completed in future lives.
How else would
punishment for the evil deeds of Pol Pot and Idi Amin be justly
meted out as these two persons died peacefully in ripe old
age.
It is believed that
reincarnation takes
place at
conception or
when the
baby is in
the womb
or at birth.
4. Theory explains phenomena.
A
phenomenon is a fact that is
observed to exist or happen.
A
theory is a system of
ideas intended to explain
phenomena.
Consistency is a harmonious agreement
amongst things or parts without contradictions.
If a phenomenon
contradicts a theory, then the theory is inconsistent and is
probably false.
If this phenomenon is
consistent with another theory, then the second theory should
replace the first theory.
5.
Reincarnation is a theory to explain the phenomena of
persons being able to
recall events experienced by individuals who have
died.
The strongest
evidence supporting
the theory
of reincarnation
is from
the work
of Ian
Stevenson who
documented numerous
cases of
children ‘recalling’
historical events
and relatives
of deceased
individuals. Some
of these
amazing claims
have been
corroborated.
(Ref: Old
Souls, the
scientific evidence
for past
lives by
Tom Shroder, published
by Simon &
Schuster, Rockefeller
Center, 1230, Ave of the
Americas, New
York, NY
10020. ISBN
0-684-85192-X ©1999.)
6.
Reincarnation contradicts the phenomenon of mediums invoking the
spirit of the dead.
Reincarnation cannot explain how temple mediums are able to invoke
the spirits of the departed.
If the spirit of the
departed has already reincarnated into another body, how can it
also appear in the temple medium?
7. Spirit
possession theory explains all these
phenomena.
To
possess
is to have
complete power
over.
The
origin of
this word
is from
the Latin
possidere which
means
‘occupy, hold’.
Spirit
possession is
the state
of being
under complete
control of
a spirit.
Spirit
possession is
real ( Mark 1:23-25,
5:1-20, 7:24-30,
9:17-27).
Spirit possession
can
explain explain
how temple mediums are able to invoke the spirits of the
departed. It can also explain how some persons are able
to accurately
recall events experienced by individuals who have
long since died.
A
definite case
of spirit
possession is
described by
Roy Stemman
about a
Thai Buddhist
monk who
was born
one day
before his
previous body
died.
This case
cannot be
explained by
reincarnation because
it would
mean that
the baby
was born
without a
spirit and
remained without
a spirit for
one day.
The logical
explanation is
that the
baby was
already born
with an
original spirit. One day after birth,
his body became
inhabited or
possessed by
another
spirit.
(Reincarnation, Amazing
True Cases
From Around
The World
by Roy Stemman
(Editor of
Reincarnation International),
published by
Judy Piatkus Ltd.
Windmill Street, London W1P
1HF. ISBN 0-7499-1708-3 hbk, ISBN 0-7499-1787-3
pbk ©1997 (Ref: in
page 38))
I
believe the
spirit that
possesses the
body of a
person suppresses
the expression
of the
original spirit
of that person.
I believe
all possessing
spirits are
evil, otherwise
they would
not possess.
I believe
the Holy
Spirit does
not possess.
On the
contrary, the
Holy Spirit
renders a
person free
to choose.
8. Demon
possession.
A
demon
is an evil
spirit or
devil. A
person is
demon possessed
if he is
completely controlled
by an evil
spirit.
I
believe
demons are
fallen angels,
Satan being
chief among
them.
A
medium is
a person
who claims
to be able
to communicate
between the
dead and
the living.
Temple
mediums appear
to be able
to summon
the spirit
of the
departed. They
go into a
trance,
as if
possessed,
before they
appear to
talk like
the deceased
person. I
believe that
the demonic
spirit which
has possessed
the departed
individual was
invited by
the medium
to speak
through the
medium.
I
believe yoga
meditation, which
involves a
process of
emptying oneself
of logic
and reason,
is a ploy
by Satan
to deceive
the devotee
into preparing
himself as
fertile ground
for demon
possession.
Demon
possession is
evil because
it enslaves
and suppresses
the free
will of
the individual.
When the
Hindu or
Buddhist parents
bring their
children to
their temples,
they are
actually offering
their children
as human
sacrifice to
demons for
possession.
I
believe when
an unsaved
person’s body
dies, his
original spirit
is released
into the
spirit realm
to dwell
there until
the final
judgment because
it is
unable to
enter the Kingdom
of Heaven.
Through Hinduism
and Buddhism,
Satan and
his fellow
demonic spirits
have deceived
many generations
of people
in large parts
of the
world into
unwittingly allowing
their bodies
and souls
to be
possessed. This
permits the demonic
spirits to
'reincarnate' in
them serially.
I
believe the
spirit realm
is the
‘valley of
the shadow
of death’ (Psalm 23:4).
I believe
the original
spirit of
an individual
is from Adonai
and is
eternal. When
an individual’s
body dies,
his original
spirit leaves
the body
and enters
the spirit realm.
When
a person
accepts Jesus
as Savior,
his or her
spirit becomes
a sibling
of Yeshua who
is the
first born
of Adonai
(Abba). As
this spirit
is a
relative of
Abba, it
is permitted
to enter
and ‘dwell
in the
house of
the Lord forever’
(Psalm 23:6).
If
a person,
during his
lifetime, has
not accepted Yeshua
as his
Savior, his
spirit is
not sanctified (separated as
holy). Even
if he has
performed many
miracles in
the name
of Adonai,
his spirit
would not
be permitted
to enter
the kingdom
of heaven (Matthew 7:
21-23).
When his
body dies,
his spirit
would remain
in the
spirit realm
until the
day of
final judgment, when
he will be
cast into
the lake
of fire to
be tormented
forever (Revelation 20:11-15).
9. Deception.
Deception
means to
deliberately mislead
or misrepresent
the truth;
to swindle,
hoax, cheat,
dupe, fool,
or entrap.
I believe the
theory of spirit possession is able to explain all
the phenomena attributed to the theory of
reincarnation as well as explain the phenomenon of
invoking the spirits of the departed.
Because of this, I
consider the theory of reincarnation as redundant, unnecessary and
even false.
As the theory of
reincarnation is open to question, it then follows that the theory
of karma is also open to question.
As the theories of
reincarnation and karma form the foundations of
Hinduism, Buddhism and New Age, then these systems of belief are
also open to question.
Then what is the purpose
of the theory of reincarnation?
I believe the purpose is
deception.
I believe
this concept
of Nirvana
is a
deception hatched
by Satan
and his
fellow demonic
spirits
I
believe the
demonic spirit
seeks to
escape from
the valley
of the
shadow of
death and
the eventual
great white
throne judgment
and inevitable
punishment in the
lake of
fire.
I
believe the
demonic spirit
believes that
by doing
good works
it can
seek favor
with Adonai in order to
enter the
kingdom of heaven.
I
believe on
entry into
the kingdom
of heaven, these
demons, under
the leadership
of Satan,
will, once
again, attempt
to overthrow Adonai.
Since
the demonic
spirit is
unable to
do good
deeds in
the spirit
form, it
needs to incarnate (
to become
invested in
a bodily
form) by
possessing the
body of
some unsuspecting
person in
order to
do good
deeds.
Hence
it needs
to ‘re-incarnate’.
‘Reincarnation’ does
not occur
with the
original spirit
of an
individual. ‘Reincarnation’
occurs with
demonic spirits.
They hop
from body
to body,
possessing and
suppressing the
original spirit
within each
new body.
Through Hinduism
and Buddhism,
and their
core belief
of karma
and reincarnation,
Satan has
deceived many
people into
accepting and
believing that
by doing
good works,
a person
would qualify
to have
his spirit
elevated from
one lifetime
to the
next in
order to
eventually reach
a state of
spiritual ‘enlightenment’.
I believe
even rational
and logical
thinking persons
can choose
to believe
in ‘reincarnation’.
This is because
they have
been deceived
by demonic spirits.
They are
rendered blind
to reason
and logic
regarding spiritual
matters.
Deception
is the
signature of
Satan.
I
believe Adonai
created man
to fellowship
with. Adonai
gave man
dominion over
the earth.
The first
action of
Satan to
Adam and Eve
was deception.
Satan possessed
the serpent
and duped
Eve and
Adam into
eating the
fruit of
the tree of
knowledge of
good and
evil, the
one which Adonai
specifically forbade
them to
eat. (Genesis 3:1-7)
By
this hoax,
Satan cheated
mankind of
his right
standing with Adonai
and dominion
over the
earth. Instead,
mankind, including
myself came
under dominion
of Satan
and was
headed for
certain death.
In the
‘fallen’ state,
I am
unable to
fellowship with Adonai.
However, Adonai
still wanted
to fellowship
with me.
The
triune Godhead
sent a
part of
Himself, Yeshua
to earth
as a man
to die and
bear the
total punishment
for the disobedience
(sin) of
all of
mankind so
that in
believing in
this sacrifice,
my fallen
spiritual self
will die
and become
reborn as a
sibling of Christ
Yeshua.
As
a new creation (2Corinthians
5:17), I
can directly fellowship
with Adonai
by casting
all my
cares to
Him, secure
in the
belief that
I have
absolute right-standing
with Him ( Psalm
55:22, 1 Peter 5:7)
When I
believe in Yeshua
as my
savior, I
am freed
from bondage to
Satan. Satan is
powerless
to prevent
me from
believing the
good news
of the
divine exchange.
What
he can do
is to attempt to
deceive me
with alternative
routes to Adonai
like Hinduism,
Buddhism, New
Age and
Islam.
Satan inspired
Hinduism and
Buddhism with
the core beliefs of
Karma and
reincarnation.
The concept
of
reincarnation has
been debunked
by the
concept of
demonic spirit
possession explaining
all the
‘evidence’ proffered
for reincarnation.
Hence reincarnation
is a
lie and
Hinduism, Buddhism,
and New
Age beliefs
are deceptions.
They bear
the signature
of Satan.
With the
death burial
and resurrection
of Yeshua,
Satan has
had been
stripped of
his power
over me
and over
anyone else
who believe
in the
risen Yeshua
Christ.
The
demonic possessing
spirit prevents
the person
from hearing
and understanding
the good
news of
Grace.
In order
to set
free any
person under
bondage of
demonic spirits,
one can
drive out
demons by
calling on
the name
of Yeshua
because ‘at
the name
of Yeshua,
every knee
will bow’
(Philippians
2:10).
Once
liberated, that person, if
chosen by Adonai, would
be able to
see and
believe the Gospel (good
news) which
is ‘Adonai
so loved
the world
that he
gave his
one and
only Son
so that
whoever believes
in him
shall not
perish but
have eternal life (John
3:16).
10.
Works versus
grace.
Most religions
include in
their system
of beliefs
the belief
that doing
good deeds
and avoiding
bad deeds
make a
person more
spiritually ‘pure’
and therefore
more acceptable
by the<