Where religious differences end

The religions of Buddhism and Christianity, if we compare them, both seem like systems of thought.  But even this is not quite true.  Although we approach Buddhism by our thoughts and likewise with Christianity, both  promise to take us beyond mere dreams and thoughts.  Buddhism takes us to the experience of nirvana, you could say, and Christianity, asks us to wait for a Messiah who will deliver us.  That these two religions claim to do this is where their differences become more pronounced.  

Buddhism can be depicted in meditation trying to realize nirvana whereas Christians are in the throes of internecine conflict with multiple interpretations of the Christian message.  In more simpler terms.  Buddhism turns inward where it believes the absolute is to be found which is covered by adventitious defilements.  Christianity, on the other hand, looks outward waiting for its Messiah.

We would expect Buddhism to appeal to those who wish to look inward for truth going beyond the reach of language and concepts.  Those who are Christians we would expect them to look outward, in the world, waiting for their Messiah whom they believe has the power to save the faithful multitudes.  These religions don't have that much in common except as systems of thought.  It is only when we look at so-called 'Christian gnosticism' do we find Buddhism and Christianity coming together because both turn inward and there, in the greatest of depths, find the light of life (in Mahayana Buddhism the "light of Mahayana").

When the Buddhist mystic and the Christian mystic meet they recognize each other by the very same light.  Fundamentally, all religions are in one way or another an expression of this light.  Shamans know of it as do the greatest of mystics.  While those bound down to the world of illusion know it not.  These are the ones who turn religion into systems of hatred which is something a psychopath might do.  These, I hate to say it, come from the ranks of average persons who do not see religion the way the mystics do; who lack even the most basic requirements such as an open mind.  

 

Comments

[n. yeti]

While the diseased ego-mind might rebel at the apparent bitterness of the medicine, once understood for what it is (the bitterness being nothing more than a reflection of the diseased ego-mind), a rebuke uttered with compassionate intent can be curative and restorative of spiritual power in imbalance. Of course this takes a degree of spiritual maturity to occur, and for the untamed mind there are far more reasons to protect the ego with ever more fortified barriers of delusion. Even the Buddha's teachings depend really on how well the hearer can achieve praxis, not on what is said. Ego is a rather cumbersome object to carry on that often arduous path. May all beings find the way in spite of every obstacle.

[minx]

Smith wrote:

To Minx:
lol.. a rambling mental masturbation - almost assuredly the mark of a marxist-corrupted-deluded mind, more than any wisdom. First- none of us are enlightened here at this moment.

You are still in error, albeit an amusing one.

Now you go and hug that bible and cross hard, you hear?! Dont let those marxist-corrupted-deluded unholy liberalinfested non-americans burst through that door and corrupt that god fearing mind of yours LOL

And above all...dont forget to pay your monthly membershipfee to Rednecks&NeoconsRus. ;)

[smith]

To Minx:
lol.. a rambling mental masturbation - almost assuredly the mark of a marxist-corrupted-deluded mind, more than any wisdom. First- none of us are enlightened here at this moment. So, your critique that an unlightened mind was speaking is a foolish point. That is and was a given, for me and for you and for everyone else as well. Regardless of whether you or I or anyone else here has experienced enlightenment before or not. But, clearly, you have not. And it is clear that you are not enlightened now as well. Enjoy the plank in your own eye. Second- it would be pointless to address your views of Jesus Christ and ot Christianity, since given your ramblings, you firstly have never truly studied, or analyzed, or become genuinely knowledgeable of Jesus Christ, the old and new testaments, etc. Instead, you fall back to a leftist-marxist-neo-intellectual-self-indulgent mind masturbation in which you ultimately define Jesus as it pleases you. Period. The end.

[Omar]

Saying another is far from the truth, does not bring one any closer to it.

[M]

There is strong evidence that Jesus' father was a Roman soldier named Pantera:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_Iulius_Abdes_Pantera

My guess is Mary had an escapade, a romance with that Roman soldier named Pantera (there is some inconclusive evidence for this) and out of fear of being excluded from her Jewish community, she explained her pregnancy with the story of the angel visiting her. Then later when Jesus was born, a very bright kid, perhaps one of the smartest humans to ever live (mix of Jewish and Aryan always seemed to produce exceptional individuals...) - so he heard this story himself, the story Mary made up to explain her pregnancy, and he believed it... that inflated his ego to the max and he believed he was the son of God, which triggered various spiritual developments in him that was very atypical. He suffered from a certain type of psychosis that at the same time made him brilliant, so brilliant that no human living before or after had such an impact on history.

Now China is rising and there are 250 mil. nominal Buddhists there and it's expanding, so perhaps Buddhism will have a renaissance and become a billion people religion.