http://www.letusreason.org/Buddh1.htm
I hope to reinforce my understanding of basic Buddhist concepts
through various viewpoints. It is also my wish to be able to
explain such concepts well to Christian acquaintances and friends.
Please help me to improve on my answers.
Point 1:
Christ did not have to
search for wisdom since he was the wisdom and power of God before
and during his coming to earth. He came from heaven as a servant to
mankind. He grew in understanding in his humanity only, but even at
an early age he was aware of his purpose and who he actually
was.
Buddha needed to make sense
of the world and its suffering for himself. He was in turmoil in
his soul seeing the condition of life being unfavorable for so
many. So he searched for enlightenment to have answers for the
dilemma he saw in the world.
How I would answer: The
Buddha's search is actually a personal demonstration of how the
awakening of our inner spiritual wisdom is possible for all of us.
Before the historical Buddha was born as a prince, he is actually a
heavenly being (to be correct, a Buddha-to-be 'heavenly being')
with great wisdom and compassion. He came down from the heavens to
teach us the truth about the world that we live in and about the
unawakened Buddha nature in all of us.
Point 2:
Buddha did not claim to have a special relationship with God
in fact Buddha did not consider the existence of God to be
important. Buddha claimed to point to the right way to escape
suffering and attain enlightenment. Contrary Jesus claimed to be
the way. Christianity teaches there was only one incarnation of
God. While anyone can make a belief system, it is another thing to
prove it. In this Buddha and those who followed after failed and
Jesus succeeded.
How I would answer: For
those who have made wholehearted efforts to practise the Buddhist
teachings, they have succeeded in freeing themselves from the
bondages of greed, anger and ignorance. If one has yet to make the
right efforts to practise those teachings, one cannot succeed in
understanding anything about the Buddha's teachings.
Point 3:
..Buddhists hope to enter into the state of Nirvana, but
there is no clear, objective proof or teaching on what occurs
beyond the grave. Even Buddha himself was not certain what lay
beyond death. He left no absolute teaching on the afterlife only
philosophical speculations which can still be debated today. The
body of Buddha lies in a grave in at the bottom of the Himalayan
Mountains. The facts of life after death still are an unsolved
mystery in Buddhism. Buddhism offers neither assurance of
forgiveness or eternal life. In contrast Christ spoke emphatically
and absolutely about an afterlife, something every religion had
sought to have answers for. It would be best to listen to the one
who conquered death and lives eternally than continue to speculate
on it. That is what we hope Buddhists will do.
How I would answer: The Buddha tells us clearly that a human being
who observes basic moral behaviour throughout his entire life would
generally enjoy a peaceful death and be reborn in heavenly planes
of existence. Next, our state of mind at any point in time affects
the quality of our human experience; be it physically, emotionally
or spiritually. For example, when we are angry all the time, not
only are we experiencing a continued unpleasant disturbance in
thoughts and feelings, we are likely to observe some ill effects to
our physical and mental health in time to come. So through such
teachings, the truth on life after death is actually explained to
us: cultivate a healthy state of mind and one will experience true
and better lasting inner peace when we are alive, at the point of
death and thereafter. This kind of mental or spiritual peace can be
regarded as experiencing a form of true heavenly
life.
Forgiveness is an important teaching in Buddhism and so is
forbearance. These two human qualities, along with
others, help Buddhists to make sustained progress in
their personal path to awaken perfect wisdom and compassion from
within. The cultivation and observance of humility, forbearance and
forgiveness are often praised and encouraged by the Buddha.
When mental afflictions brought about by greed, anger and
ignorance are eradicated through diligent practice of the Buddha's
teachings, the fear of physical death or uncertainty about life
after death no longer arises. One is considered to have truly
conquered death according to the Buddha.
This is one of those important messages about
life and death from the Buddha to all living beings; regardless of
their religious beliefs.
