Curious - Any Christian-turned-Buddhist converts here?

last SG · 2005-09-22T21:20:41+00:00

Yes, that is very good. I believe you will become a Buddhist and I'll congratulate you before hand! Many Buddhists converted to Buddhism because they agreed...

An Eternal Now SG

There is one thing to note though.... Buddhists do not consider Buddha as a god, or an incarnation of a god or God - although right before his birth on planet Earth, he was the teacher of the gods in Tushita heaven. (Maitreya Bodhisattva took over his 'seat' after Shakyamuni Buddha came down to attain Buddhahood)

Why is this so? Because gods do not necessarily mean they are liberated from Samsara... or are enlightened. Meaning... after millions/billions of years, they will still have to undergo rebirth. There are Brahmas who think otherwise that they enjoy eternal life, but such Brahmas are disillusioned after speaking to the Buddha. One of them is the Maha Brahma (there are many other Brahmas with illusion of being the highest/eternal): http://buddhism.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=141185

bohiruci SG

actually ur belief is ur own belief , dun impose on other

like u like bah ku teh , ur friend like laksa

u cannot force ur fren to like bah ku teh lor

each have their preference

Wink Wink Wink Wink Wink

shade343 SG

Yup that is correct. The other statues are the sages or the other celestial beings. In christianity, the other celestial beings are the angels and the archangels. Each different religion has so many celestial beings and sages.

So dont condemn other religion.

An Eternal Now SG

I keep forgetting that everytime i type T U S H I T A , the word gets filtered.

shade343 SG

well....I think the reason why we worship and pray to God is because we all need guidiance from them.

An Eternal Now SG

Are you sure you are a Buddhist and not a IC-Buddhist or a Chinese folks practitioner? Many people claim to worship gods but yet claim that they are Buddhists. This is not true. To be a Buddhist you must at least take refuge in the Three Treasures: Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.

An Eternal Now SG

Hmm... but that is not part of the Buddhist practice. Generally we do not worship worldly deities... we only pay respect/reverence to them. In fact we do not worship anyone... we just take refuge in the Three Treasures, and learn from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and practise to attain Enlightenment. Smile

shade343 SG

If Im not wrong, Gautama Bhudda is a Higly Enlightened Soul but not a god. He has acheived the highest level of enlightenment which man can acheived. But If not wrong, he is almost Godlike...note that I use the word almost.

shade343 SG

Are you sure? Im a bit puzzled now...Bhuddist dont pray to Gods? Hmm...this is puzzling...nvm...I shall ask and find out more before replying to you on this statement...

maggot SG

Correct. Cool

An Eternal Now SG

Because of the widespread folks practise in Singapore, somehow people have the perceptions that Buddhists do pray to gods... it is not true though.

It'll be good that you find out more Smile

An Eternal Now SG

Enlightenment surpasses all realms of existences, because all realms of existences even up to the Heavens still belong to Samsara.

There are plenty of terms for Buddha, like Thus Come One (Ru Lai), Tathagatha, World Honoured One, one of the terms is "Teacher of Gods and Men" (Tian Ren Zhi Shi).

shade343 SG

Does that mean If one becomes enlightened up to the stage og Gautama budhha, he becomes higher than a God?

An Eternal Now SG

Buddha would no longer be bothered by higher or lower because he is completely liberated from Samsara.

But in conventional sense, I would say yes. And even the Brahmas/Devas take refuge in the Three Treasures seeking for enlightenment. He had been incarnated as a Maha Brahma before, also as a Celestial teacher in T U S H I T A (avoiding filter) Heaven before he came down to Earth to attain Buddhahood and be our teacher. Why human realm? Because human realm is still the best place for cultivation! Heavenly realms are too joyful... not necessarily most suitable for practise.

surfbabe SG

I am a new Christian but I can't seem to accept what's being preached to me nor what is written in the bible. I converted because I spoke to the Creator when I was down and I believe He may have healed me. But my beliefs and moral values are strangely inclined towards Buddhism. Even now, when I attend church, cell group and bible class, I can't seem to take it all in. Used to attend CHC but can't take the atmosphere there - music makes it feel like a rock concert instead of a holy event and ppl praying as if in a trance and speaking gibberish (like in a cult). That's why I avoid going to cell group now, even though I still attend church and bible class. But I don't go to CHC anymore, even though my bf does.

Think I am one big confused soul, hanging between Christianity and Buddhism. Both Jesus Christ and Buddha are probably unhappy with me now...

shade343 SG

What makes you say that? All Gods in Heaven work as a team. SOmetimes when you pray to Jesus, Jesus may ask bhuddha to help you out instead and vice versa. All religion is the same and teaches good. Its just that you need to open your eyes to discern what are man-made rules and God's rules.

sinweiy SG

haha..you know i think both Jesus and Buddha will always 'love' and accept you if you truely change/repent from this spot. But for a True Buddhist, we don't even condemn Mara, Devil, Hitler or Lucifer let alone you. They suffer as we do. We pity them and hope they can change. Like His Holyness DaliaLama once said, Buddhism is a religion of compassion.
Cool

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surfbabe SG

I used to think that our Creator just appears to each and every one of us in different forms, so that He/She can earn our trust and faith in Him/Her. But not everyone agrees with my view. It's non-Buddhist and non-Christian way of thinking.

I can't seem to accept it when I'm told again and again by Christians that good works don't earn you a place in heaven and Christianity is not about doing good. What is expected of Christians is unquestionable faith and obedience to Him, and constant prayers to Him to praise Him and honour His presence. And in return, He promises to give you a good life. That makes God appear to be so self-centred and egoistic. And He turns away those who are not Christians...so virtuous non-Christians will go to hell. That means majority of the world's population will end up in hell, doesn't it?

shade343 SG

What those Christians told you about non believers going to hell is complete rubbish and utter nonsense. Does it make logical sense for a good person to be condemn by God just because he did not believe in Jesus? I tell you, a person who has love and spend his time doing good deeds is better of than a person who sins and prays to jesus continuously for forgiveness.

What is expected from everybody by all religions is Love. Its is that simple. Do good and be Good. This is what is expected from christianity.... NOT going around preaching that Non believers will be condemn to hell....You think Jesus is happy with the christians who do that?

sinweiy SG

yes, this is due to mix of folk believes that Buddhism changed in thousand of years. the ORIGINAL Buddhist don't.that's why i said, i used to be a 'superstitious Buddhist (or people anyhow give name)' . i used to think like you. it's a misconception of truth. real Buddhist are more practical and theoretical than we think we know. Buddha came from a country India 2500 (500 earlier than Christ) which people in 62 religions already have enough worship of god(s). Why would He add one more? No point right? Buddha found something(Dharma) that transcend religions, science, philosophy, psychology, even quantum physic!

can go through this detail explaination:
http://www.geocities.com/sinweiy/enlight/budrelig.pdf

when u understand what Buddhism is about, you can even understand what Chirst/All religion is all about. Wink

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