Buddhism and Christianity
-
Buddhism does not use violence to spread faith and deal with Buddhism opponents.Originally posted by laoda99:hmmm.....but i really cannot see any difference from the wars caused by Buddhism and Christianity.....
Well
There was never a RELIGIOUS CAUSE for violence caused by Buddhist.
It is always personal/political reasons.
Even in Crusades, the Pope has justified the war under the name of God, and that they were fighting for Christianity.
There was never a war under the name of Buddhism or Buddha.
In other words, there was no wars caused by BUDDHISM
See my previous post:Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
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" -
that's why Bush uses bombs and guns.Originally posted by laurence82:Wasnt Jesus the one who said, live by the sword, die by the sword?
Or i watch too much National Geographic?
-
Yup...Christ said thatOriginally posted by laurence82:Wasnt Jesus the one who said, live by the sword, die by the sword?
Or i watch too much National Geographic?
Think all never follow....haizzz -
Originally posted by Icemoon:that's why Bush uses bombs and guns.
-
I also wanted to say, of all religions, there was never violence caused by mystic and contemplatives - from Christian Mysticism, to Islamic Sufism, Taoism, Hinduism, Jewish Mysticism, New Age Mysticism, etc
Because all are contemplative traditions
It is always those scholarly kind of people who are attached to dogmas and ego that perpetuates these violence.
This is also evidence that through mysticism it is really possible to achieve the state of unity and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. Isn't that what Jesus taught? -
well, its always like that isnt it?Originally posted by laoda99:Yup...Christ said that
Think all never follow....haizzz
Since Christ is the authority for Christians, his words should be followed right? Then some other dudes will add some qualifications or exceptions, maciam like case law, you cannot do this, but under xxx and yy conditions you can etc etc -
Part in red I have a bit of reservation....as u have said....the pope has justified that they were fighting for Christianity....but are they really doing tat?Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Buddhism does not use violence to spread faith and deal with Buddhism opponents.
There was never a RELIGIOUS CAUSE for violence caused by Buddhist.
It is always personal/political reasons.
Even in Crusades, the Pope has justified the war under the name of God, and that they were fighting for Christianity.
There was never a war under the name of Buddhism or Buddha.
In other words, there was no wars caused by BUDDHISM
Did a bit of research myself and I concluded that's not the case. Not really out to defend the pope, but I think they fight not becoz they really believe in the faith, but becoz of politics (e.g the holy roman emperor ask for help and the pope sees this as a chance to raise his political powers). -
i almost spew out my green teaOriginally posted by Icemoon:that's why Bush uses bombs and guns.
its hot you know
-
You know, I wouldnt even have mentioned about Pope and Crusades if not for your BBC article!Originally posted by laoda99:Part in red I have a bit of reservation....as u have said....the pope has justified that they were fighting for Christianity....but are they really doing tat?
Did a bit of research myself and I concluded that's not the case. Not really out to defend the pope, but I think they fight not becoz they really believe in the faith, but becoz of politics (e.g the holy roman emperor ask for help and the pope sees this as a chance to raise his political powers).Originally posted by laoda99:
In any case, the Pope did justify this war under the name of God and religion..
[b]Not so glamourous past....always digged out by critics...haizzz....
BBC website http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/war/holywar.shtml#christianity
The Crusades
The great series of western holy wars were the Crusades, which lasted from 1095 until 1291 CE. The aim was to capture the sacred places in the Holy Land from the Muslims who lived there, so it was intended as a war to right wrongs done against Christianity.
The first Crusade was started by Pope Urban II in 1095. He raged at the capture of the holy places and the treatment given to Christians, and ordered a war to restore Christianity. He said that the war would have the support of God:
"Let this be your war-cry in combats, because this word is given to you by God. When an armed attack is made upon the enemy, let this one cry be raised by all the soldiers of God: It is the will of God! It is the will of God!"
"...Whoever shall determine upon this holy pilgrimage and shall make his vow to God to that effect and shall offer himself to Him as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, shall wear the sign of the cross of the Lord on his forehead or on his breast."
The pope also absolved all who took part in the crusade of all their sins.
The first Crusade captured Jerusalem after bitter fighting, and the residents of the city were brutalised and slaughtered by the Christian invaders. The invaders' conduct breached the principles of modern just war ethics, and the massacres still colour Islamic politics today.[/b] -
Haha...u would have anyway...so I just put there first!!!Originally posted by An Eternal Now:You know, I wouldnt even have mentioned about Pope and Crusades if not for your BBC article!
-
To add to this:Originally posted by An Eternal Now:I also wanted to say, of all religions, there was never violence caused by mystic and contemplatives - from Christian Mysticism, to Islamic Sufism, Taoist mystics, Hindu contemplatives (i.e Advaita Vedanta), Jewish Mysticism, New Age Mysticism, etc
Because all are contemplative traditions
It is always those scholarly kind of people who are attached to dogmas and ego that perpetuates these violence.
This is also evidence that through mysticism it is really possible to achieve the state of unity and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. Isn't that what Jesus taught?
I have also posted in The Islam Forum -Originally posted by An Eternal Now:The true Jihad, is the Jihad against the Self.
http://www.uga.edu/islam/sufismstruggle.html
In this regard, the struggle with one's own nafs has been called the greater struggle or greater "holy war" (al-jihad al-akbar) in contrast to the lesser struggle (al-jihad al-asghar), which is against injustice and oppressors in this world. The concept derives from the popular hadith of the Prophet, in which he said to Muslims returning from a battle, "You have returned from the lesser struggle to the greater struggle." And he was asked, "What is the greater struggle?" He answered, "The struggle against one's self (nafs), which is between the two sides of your body." Needless to say, in Sufism these two struggles are mutually reinforcing and occur simultaneously. In particular, the practice of "engaged surrender" in the "greater" struggle with one's own nafs diminishes certain obstacles in the consciousness of the Sufi, obstacles that--if not stuggled against--will hinder the Sufi's capacity to engage in the "lesser" struggle in their life in the world.
And not unexpectedly, Islamic Sufism mystical tradition is also well-known as 'The Path of LOVE'Originally posted by An Eternal Now:...the greater Jihad is the inner struggle against the inner enemies, the Seven Deadly Sins ( lust, greed, anger, jealousy, sloth, covetousness & gluttony)...
Which again reinforces this statement - but this time, includes all the other religions' contemplatives and mystical traditions:Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
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" -
But I do have great respect for Pope John Paul II especially when he even apologised for the mistakes that Catholics did in the past.Originally posted by laoda99:Haha...u would have anyway...so I just put there first!!! -
u into mysticism? seems tat u post a lot on mysticism...Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
what is mysticism anyway? I still not very sure....
-
Buddhism has much in common with mysticism.Originally posted by laoda99:u into mysticism? seems tat u post a lot on mysticism...
what is mysticism anyway? I still not very sure.... -
yah .. it takes great courage to apologize .. especially when you are the head of millions and millions of believers.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:But I do have great respect for Pope John Paul II especially when he even apologised for the mistakes that Catholics did in the past. -
Mysticism is the core of all religions.Originally posted by laoda99:u into mysticism? seems tat u post a lot on mysticism...
what is mysticism anyway? I still not very sure....
Mystics are the core of all religions. For all great religion prophets are mystics that have united with God.
Look deeper into the scriptures of the religions and you'll see a deeper essence of what it teaches - the realm that is known as vast, unconditioned, and beyond the realm of thought. It cannot be named.
Did I sound like what Jesus said in the documentary?
But sorry, I don't consider Buddhism as a religion
By the way, there was a mystic - probably the only mystic that have posted in Eternal Hope before. He is also highly realised. You can search his name in sgforums. You will realise that you all have mistaken him as a 'new age hooey' guy Yes, he is into New Age mysticism, but what he said has nothing got to do with New Age at all. What he said is in fact, the essence of all religions and mysticism.
His name is Longchen.
P.s New Age on Psychic and Paganism is very different from New Age mysticism. Don't confuse these two.
Remember how Judas said, he that cannot be named?Originally posted by longchen:If God can be described, then it is not uncreated. If God can be percieved, then how can it be the One?
'God' can only be understood in non-duality, when there is no two. Even the term 'God' is the mind giving the uncreated a name.
In another word, what we call 'God' cannot be a thing or entity. -
can i say u believe buddha united with god?Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Remember how Judas said, he that cannot be named?
hmm...this one sounds like Harry Potter -
Buddha has awakened his Buddha Nature which is already complete.Originally posted by laoda99:can i say u believe buddha united with god?
Every single one of us have Buddha Nature which is already fully complete.
It is time for us to awaken to it. -
haha...u are like a lawyer..... =)Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Buddha has awakened his Buddha Nature which is already complete.
Every single one of us have Buddha Nature which is already fully complete.
It is time for us to awaken to it. -
How come?Originally posted by laoda99:haha...u are like a lawyer..... =) -
I believe all faiths to have flaws, Christianity, Buddhism etc...sometimes it is up to the person in the faith....u can have good or bad people who do different things...so not very accurate to say:"Ah...this faith is bad becoz XXX is bad"....Originally posted by Icemoon:yah .. it takes great courage to apologize .. especially when you are the head of millions and millions of believers.
same like "XXX never commit any violence".....doesn't mean nobody in the faith never commit any acts of violence....
u can have good or bad hats in a faith/religion/watever.....it all boils down to the person......
e.g. like wat I studied in History of Chinese Literature, Tibetan monks taught Tang Xuan Zong sex skills and partly resulted in the fall of Tang Dynasty...many tibetan monks also possess great wealth and have a lot of wives and lead a decadent lifestyle.....and this is why the poet Han Yu decided to reform the country's literature (back to confucianism) so as to fight the influx of Buddhism..... -
Ur style of answering questionsOriginally posted by An Eternal Now:How come?
U are a careful person -
To answer directly your question of 'united with God' - then I must say, not in the Old Testament sense.Originally posted by laoda99:Ur style of answering questions
U are a careful person -
christianity -> there is a god, he is three entities. noone else but him can be god, and only him alone do we get salvation into his kingdom, to overcome the world and accept the true nature of god; through faith and obedience.
buddhism -> everyone can be buddha, and we look upon inside to mature ourselves towards our true buddha nature, to understand the world and accept its true nature of our existence; through self-questioning and discovery.
correct? more or less. -
'Originally posted by An Eternal Now:To answer directly your question of 'united with God' - then I must say, not in the Old Testament sense.
but i tot u said buddhism dun believe in god?