Originally posted by crescent:
Since everything stems from our wandering minds, how do we know its
not our innate selfishness, gread for power or our evil desires
that propels religions to what they are today? It might be some
guy, hundreds of thousands of years ago in his bid to win over
people's heart and to secure influence, conjure a phony tale of a
Jesus decending from earth, or a Buddha attaining
enlightenment...
Not much comments about other religions (not so gd to comment
too much in BWB) other than that to some extent it is happening to
certain religions but in Buddhism, Enlightenment is something that
is absolutely true. (hmm.. you may think I'm prejudiced or what
this is not to belittle other religions.. I have
great respect for them but certain parts may be distorted by their
followers) But when the Buddha awakened, he was awed by the fact
that every single sentient being in the world has Buddha Nature,
potential Buddha Wisdom... and this Buddha Nature is already wholly
complete, just that they have yet to realise it. This is to say
that every single sentient being will eventually attain
enlightenment, Buddhahood! What he said isn't just something said
out to sound nice so that people would be interested in his
teachings... but is a FACT that can be 'tested'. In Buddha's era
alone, after his enlightenment at the age of 35, thousands of
others attained enlightenment, liberation, Arhatship, while Buddha
was still teaching.
There continue to be many enlightened people today... not just
dharma masters and teachers, but also ordinary Buddhist
practitioners.. in fact a number of forummers in this forum are
enlightened as well. I am not kidding here, but I will not mention
their names publicly in sgforums as I guess they do not wish to be
under the spotlight... but those who frequent this forum may guess
who are the more 'enlightened'. Enlightenment or awakening is
totally possible, and the aim of every Buddhist is of course to
attain Enlightenment. That is why we practise Buddhism. If
Enlightenment is an impossibility and Shakyamuni Buddha was the
only one having attained enlightenment, what's the point of
practising and learning Buddhism... in Buddhism, every single
person will eventually attain Buddhahood and our Buddha Nature is
already wholly complete, only that we have yet to realise it. It is
like a clear bright mirror which is obscured due to a layer of dust
- of mental defilements. Practising Buddhism is like using a cloth
and wipe the mirror of the dust to reveal the clear shining mirror
beneath... our Buddha Nature.
Since everything in the world is an indirect result of human
desires, how do we know that the bible is not written by some phony
holy? How do we know that the Buddha scripts is not fabricated by
some rabble rouser? How do we know that the teachings in sacrament
relics are not just an audicious attempt to take possession of
people's minds?
Again I am not in a position to comment on other religions.. but
in Buddhism, our teachings are compiled at the witness of 500
Enlightened Disciples 3 weeks after the passing of the Buddha - any
errors would be immediately known and corrected by the others. Plus
the Buddha have like tens of thousands of disciples at that time,
or even more, so if someone made up some teachings everyone else
would have known. Under such conditions it ensures the authenticity
of Buddha's teachings.
Secondly the Buddhist teachings does not encourage any blind faith
whatsoever, so there is no reason why people in Buddhism should try
to change the scripture to gain more blind faith. This is
contradictory to Buddhism and is completely unnecessary. What in
Buddhism is important is that the dharma is pure and can lead
people to liberation, enlightenment.
No
fanaticism
Of Buddhism alone can it be affirmed it is free from all
fanaticism. Its aim being to produce in every man a thorough
internal transforming by self-conquest, how can it have recourse to
might or money or even persuasion for effecting conversion? The
Buddha has only shown the way to salvation, and it is left to each
individual to decide for himself if he would follow it.
- Prof. Lakshmi Narasu, "The Essence of Buddhism"
Politically, economically, socially, the presense of a religion
in guiding the unsettle minds of human beings is so essential that
the lack of one among people would seems unimaginable... Wars would
break out.. Destructive behavious would prevail and the path to
self extermination would seems almost imimnent... Are we lost souls
or are we a result of a santimonious evildoer?
Is faith something that we can forever not grasp? Is it forever
that hazy? i guess not to the devoted... One word, faith, Can drive
people to commit to things unimaginable... One word faith, can
influence souls and determine actions...
Are we just playing mind games among ourselves?
Please share your opinions..
What you said here is blind faith which is discouraged in
Buddhism... anyway I think longchen's reply is very good 
