World Religions Buddhism Reaching out to a Buddhist friend Reaching out to a Buddhist friend Week...

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World Religions World Religions Buddhism Buddhism Reaching out to a Buddhist Reaching out to a Buddhist friend friend Week 16, 4/27/2011 Week 16, 4/27/2011 Gene Wright, [email protected] Gene Wright, [email protected]

Transcript of World Religions Buddhism Reaching out to a Buddhist friend Reaching out to a Buddhist friend Week...

World ReligionsWorld ReligionsWorld ReligionsWorld Religions

BuddhismBuddhism

• Reaching out to a Buddhist friendReaching out to a Buddhist friend

• Week 16, 4/27/2011Week 16, 4/27/2011• Gene Wright, [email protected] Wright, [email protected]

World Religions - BuddhismWorld Religions - BuddhismWorld Religions - BuddhismWorld Religions - Buddhism

Spring 2011Spring 2011Crieve Hall church of ChristCrieve Hall church of Christ

World Religions - BuddhismWorld Religions - BuddhismWorld Religions - BuddhismWorld Religions - Buddhism

Spring 2011Spring 2011Crieve Hall church of ChristCrieve Hall church of Christ

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Bodh Gaya is the holiest site Bodh Gaya is the holiest site in the Buddhist world. It was in the Buddhist world. It was here the Buddha was here the Buddha was enlightened under the bodhi enlightened under the bodhi tree. He spent the next seven tree. He spent the next seven weeks here before heading weeks here before heading off to Sarnath to begin his off to Sarnath to begin his teaching. One outstanding teaching. One outstanding feature of Bodh Gaya is the feature of Bodh Gaya is the famous Mahabodhi ('Great famous Mahabodhi ('Great Enlightenment') Temple, Enlightenment') Temple, which is a UNESCO World which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Heritage Site.

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Pilgrims still come from all over to Pilgrims still come from all over to study and meditatestudy and meditate

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• A comparison between Buddhism and ChristianityA comparison between Buddhism and ChristianityTheravadaBuddhism

Mahayana Buddhism

Christianity

God Nirvana, an abstract void

Nirvana, an abstract void, but also an undifferentiated Buddha essence

A personal God who is self-existent and changeless

Humanity An impermanent collection of aggregates

An impermanent collection of aggregates, but for some, personal existence continues for a while in the Pure Land

Made in God’s image. Personal existence has value. Continue to exist after death.

Problem? We suffer because we desire that which is temporary, which causes us …

…to continue in the illusion of the existence of the individual self.

We suffer because of our sin and our separation from God.

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• A comparison between Buddhism and ChristianityA comparison between Buddhism and ChristianityTheravadaBuddhism

Mahayana Buddhism

Christianity

Solution? To cease all desire in order to realize the non existence of self

To become aware of the Buddha nature within

To be forgiven by and reconciled to God.

Means? Self-reliance. Follow the Middle Path and accrue Karmic merit.

Self-reliance. Following the Eightfold Path, to emptying the mind, to accruing merit, to realizing the Buddha within.

Reliance on God. John 3:16

Outcome? To enter Nirvana where the ego is extinguished

Varies from returning as a bodhisattva to guide others, to entering Nirvana, to living in a Pure Land from which one can enter Nirvana.

Our existence survives death and we are fulfilled in eternal fellowship with a loving and personal God.

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• Things to do when reaching outThings to do when reaching out• Acknowledge and affirm common groundAcknowledge and affirm common ground• Desire can cause sufferingDesire can cause suffering• Best to live a moral lifeBest to live a moral life• Compassion is a virtue to be nurturedCompassion is a virtue to be nurtured

• Focus on the issue of desireFocus on the issue of desire• Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and

thirst after righteousness”. Right desire.thirst after righteousness”. Right desire.• Be open about faith in a Be open about faith in a personalpersonal God God• He loves us. He hears us. He empathizes with our He loves us. He hears us. He empathizes with our

suffering. A void cannot do this.suffering. A void cannot do this.

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• Things to do when reaching outThings to do when reaching out• Point to God’s permanencePoint to God’s permanence• God is changeless. God is faithful.God is changeless. God is faithful.

• Be clear about sin and opportunity for Be clear about sin and opportunity for forgivenessforgiveness• Buddhism views sin as something of Buddhism views sin as something of

ignorance and something we alone must deal ignorance and something we alone must deal with. No vertical dimension.with. No vertical dimension.

• Christianity has a vertical dimension that Christianity has a vertical dimension that requires an atonement. God is faithful and will requires an atonement. God is faithful and will forgive our sins (1 John 1:9)forgive our sins (1 John 1:9)

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• Potential hindrancesPotential hindrances• Totally different worldviewTotally different worldview• A God with emotions such as Love and Anger A God with emotions such as Love and Anger

may be viewed as negative by a Buddhistmay be viewed as negative by a Buddhist• A Christian hope for eternal life may conflict A Christian hope for eternal life may conflict

with Buddhist ideal of reaching Nirvana.with Buddhist ideal of reaching Nirvana.• If a Buddhist rejects your message, ask why.If a Buddhist rejects your message, ask why.• It might be due to a misunderstandingIt might be due to a misunderstanding• ““Most Buddhists have never heard the Gospel Most Buddhists have never heard the Gospel

because they have misheard it”because they have misheard it”

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• Potential objectionsPotential objections• ““There are many paths to God”There are many paths to God”• Emphasis implied here is human effort. That is Emphasis implied here is human effort. That is

not good news.not good news.• Consider using this story: Assume you have Consider using this story: Assume you have

broken a friendship because of something you broken a friendship because of something you did. How many ways are there to repair it?did. How many ways are there to repair it?

• The answer is really only one way, by The answer is really only one way, by confessing guilt/responsibility to your friend confessing guilt/responsibility to your friend and requesting your friend’s forgiveness.and requesting your friend’s forgiveness.

• In the same way, we have rebelled against God In the same way, we have rebelled against God and our salvation depends on being and our salvation depends on being reconciled to God.reconciled to God.

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• Potential objectionsPotential objections• ““Jesus is not unique”Jesus is not unique”• Jesus might be viewed as a spiritual master on Jesus might be viewed as a spiritual master on

the level with Buddha or as a bodhisattva..the level with Buddha or as a bodhisattva..• Encourage Buddhist friend to read John.Encourage Buddhist friend to read John.• Consider the differences as shown on charts Consider the differences as shown on charts

on next slides.on next slides.

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• Buddha and JesusBuddha and JesusTheravadaBuddhism

Christianity

Buddha did not claim to have a special relationship with God. Buddha did not even consider the matter of God’s existence to be important, because it did not pertain to issue of how to escape suffering.

Jesus did claim to have a special relationship with God.

Buddha claimed to point to the way by which we could escape suffering and attain enlightenment.

Jesus claimed to be the way by which we could receive salvation and eternal life.

Buddha taught the way to eliminate suffering was by eliminating desire.

Jesus taught the solution to suffering is not found in eliminating desire but in having the right desire.

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• Bodhisattvas and JesusBodhisattvas and JesusMahayanaBuddhism

Christianity

There are many bodhisattvas There has only been one incarnation of the Son of God.

Bodhisattvas are motivated out of a sense of their own compassion for the world. Their compassion, however, is not a reflection of the void’s feelings toward the world.

Jesus is the unique demonstration of God’s love for the world.

Bodhisattvas view the physical world as an illusion to be escaped.

The Bible says Jesus created the universe and that it was declared good.

Bodhisattvas had to overcome their sin (attachment to self and ignorance) during the process of going through numerous lifetimes.

Jesus was sinless from the very beginning. It did not take a process to make Him sinless.

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Compared to Hinduism, Buddhism rejects…Compared to Hinduism, Buddhism rejects…Authority of the ancient Vedic textsAuthority of the ancient Vedic textsThe Vedic caste systemThe Vedic caste systemThe Vedic and Hindu deitiesThe Vedic and Hindu deitiesThe efficacy of Vedic worship and ritualThe efficacy of Vedic worship and ritualThe concept of BrahmanThe concept of BrahmanMore about these starting next week!More about these starting next week!

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• So, remember let God’s love shine through us So, remember let God’s love shine through us to our Buddhist friends and neighbors.to our Buddhist friends and neighbors.

• Next week? We begin our study of Hinduism. Next week? We begin our study of Hinduism. See you then!See you then!