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

[minx]

>But then in nirvana or fully conscious of the truth of self and nature - one may also understand that what sin is is all that is false, not god, untrue, a lie. In that sense in enlightenment one understands that sin is the universal condition of every human and that only god/Jesus and all that God is, can liberate anyone from thier false consciousness, unconsciousness, or and wrong identifications with all that is not God or Jesus Christ.

You are in grave error.

The very attestation of your faith in your lengthy comment, which your Spirit (presently impure will) brought out of itself, and into this claim, is a mere ideation and excellent revelation of its own residual ignorance (in what I presume has been a rather extensive search for absolute truth) from not only this conscious existence, but many before it.

Where you in your comment basically claim an absolute sovereign existence or (omniscient) presence of GOD, or a God, there is NONE but a mere ideation; one transferred by a temporal collective of many deluded minds before you, and received and accepted by you as a spiritual substitute of your own SELF-ignorance, e.g. your lack of spiritual presence in the One Mind of your own TRUE SELF.

This is a common mistake among neo-christians, but not among those who understand the very Gnostic origin of the Maha-Bodhisattva Jeshua, or Jesus Christ (not a Buddha).

Your God of Abraham, a mere mahaBrahma in the Rupa-Loka, is an incomplete and spiritually immature Brahma, with a considerable array of flaws, all carefully witnessed and brought forth in the very testament of his horrendeous adharma found in the Old testament and scriptural re-trial (and spiritual testament) known as the Koran.

This adharma was later reinforced and presented to ignorant sentients through the conditioned minds of a power-hungry priesthood, that affected the history of Humanity in a most negative way. Yet the contemporary effectuation of their defiled legacy is even worse, and today fully bloomed with devastating secterial wars, confusion, pain, spiritual division and many other horrifying acts in the name of said flawed Brahma whom despite its own attested omniscience failed to calculate or even predict the outcome of its own “divine will” it made in its own image.

A Buddha has no such flaws and make no such mistakes.

Though I could, I won´t even touch the origin of this Abrahamistic deity (the very same of both Islam and neo-Christianity), as it is rather simple to google it up for those interested in such highly ideated Hagiography.

Finally; To even compare the Nirvana of a Buddha Like Sakhyamuni (not to forget the six before him) and all Maha Bodhisattvas and Mind sages aligned with the Buddhadharma provided by the afore-menitoned, is rather ridiculous, as a Buddha is a teacher of not only ordinary sentients but also spiritually immature GODS (Devas, Brahmas and mahaBrahmas), of which your god is but one of many (including your Jeshua or jesus Christ).

I could go on pointing out your flawed comment that probably finds a ground of approval in any neo-Christian forum (or church), but I think you get the point ;)

[smith]

christains dont wait for Jesus Christ to return. What defines them as Christians is their faith that only god can absolve the sin or corrupted nature of every single human being since adam. Once accepting and beliveing in this faith - which Jesus himself proclaimed the truth - then you recive the holy spirit, which is god within you. The holy spirit within a Chrristain can be expereinced as fully transcendent nature of God. Which may be the same as nirvana - But then in nirvana or fully conscious of the truth of self and nature - one may also understand that what sin is is all that is false, not god, untrue, a lie. In that sense in enlightenment one understands that sin is the universal condition of every human and that only god/Jesus and all that God is, can liberate anyone from thier false consciousness, unconsciousness, or and wrong identifications with all that is not God or Jesus Christ. Just as true buddhists are seeking God/nirvana, so to true Christians are seeking God through and in Jesus Christ. But, whereas neither true disciple is conflicted or affected by that which is false or those who are false in their claimed discipleship. As to all religions being or seeking God : I completely disagree. For example, islam has no holy spirit in it, it claims that god will weigh good and bad deeds later and determine whether worthy of God and heaven or not. It teaches violence, jihad, and murder, etc. There is no truth at all in such a religion as that.

[M]

"Fundamentally, all religions are in one way or another an expression of this light."

One word rebuttal: Scientology