I agree also, in that it is almost impossible to understand a religion from the other side.PeterB wrote:Agreed. Each spring has be traced back to its own source...or left alone.
During my involvement with Buddhism it was my contention that the same applied to the Mahayana and Theravada too.They each needed to be subject to their own lights.
Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
Re: Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
"If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared."
Iti 26
Iti 26
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- Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2011 7:33 am
Re: Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
Please get yourself brainwashed by Dr Naik.Spiny Norman wrote:Now why does that idea sound familiar?barcsimalsi wrote:I think i will just follow the mainstream assertion that Jesus was a noble figure but the bible is corrupted.
I tried my best to find any professional debate between Buddhist Ajahns with Christian apologists but can't find any. Here's an amateur video i found that might be of interest:
Re: Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
Does this count? Mohottiwatte Gunaananda Thera and the Buddhist Re-awakening http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... ml#sect-33barcsimalsi wrote:Please get yourself brainwashed by Dr Naik.Spiny Norman wrote:Now why does that idea sound familiar?barcsimalsi wrote:I think i will just follow the mainstream assertion that Jesus was a noble figure but the bible is corrupted.
I tried my best to find any professional debate between Buddhist Ajahns with Christian apologists but can't find any. Here's an amateur video i found that might be of interest:
"It was at this time, about 1860, that a young Buddhist saamanera named Mohottiwatte Gunaananda appeared on the scene and challenged the Christian missionaries to meet him in open-debate. This young novice had obtained his early education in Christian schools and had thus studied the Christian scriptures and was also well versed in the Buddha's teachings...
The Christian clergy at first took no notice of the challenge of this monk, but later, quite confident of their success they accepted the challenge. This resulted in three public controversies, one at Udanvita in 1866, another at Gampola in 1871 and the last at Panadura in 1873.The Panadura controversy, which lasted for a week, was the most important of them all. It was the culmination of his efforts and it led to a Buddhist reawakening..."
Last edited by Kusala on Thu Jun 06, 2013 8:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
"He, the Blessed One, is indeed the Noble Lord, the Perfectly Enlightened One;
He is impeccable in conduct and understanding, the Serene One, the Knower of the Worlds;
He trains perfectly those who wish to be trained; he is Teacher of gods and men; he is Awake and Holy. "
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"The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One,
Apparent here and now, timeless, encouraging investigation,
Leading to liberation, to be experienced individually by the wise. "
He is impeccable in conduct and understanding, the Serene One, the Knower of the Worlds;
He trains perfectly those who wish to be trained; he is Teacher of gods and men; he is Awake and Holy. "
--------------------------------------------
"The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One,
Apparent here and now, timeless, encouraging investigation,
Leading to liberation, to be experienced individually by the wise. "
- tiltbillings
- Posts: 23046
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:25 am
Re: Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
Whose "mainstream?"barcsimalsi wrote:I think i will just follow the mainstream assertion that Jesus was a noble figure but the bible is corrupted.
There is not a thing of interest in this video. Why do you think that there is?I tried my best to find any professional debate between Buddhist Ajahns with Christian apologists but can't find any. Here's an amateur video i found that might be of interest:
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
Re: Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
Couldn't have said it any better...Kare wrote:If we study Buddhism from a Christian perspective, Christianity from a Buddhist perspective, Buddhism from a Hindu perspective .... etc. .... we are bound to get a distorted and lopsided view. We should rather study each religion partly from its own perspective, but mainly from the human perspective.
"He, the Blessed One, is indeed the Noble Lord, the Perfectly Enlightened One;
He is impeccable in conduct and understanding, the Serene One, the Knower of the Worlds;
He trains perfectly those who wish to be trained; he is Teacher of gods and men; he is Awake and Holy. "
--------------------------------------------
"The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One,
Apparent here and now, timeless, encouraging investigation,
Leading to liberation, to be experienced individually by the wise. "
He is impeccable in conduct and understanding, the Serene One, the Knower of the Worlds;
He trains perfectly those who wish to be trained; he is Teacher of gods and men; he is Awake and Holy. "
--------------------------------------------
"The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One,
Apparent here and now, timeless, encouraging investigation,
Leading to liberation, to be experienced individually by the wise. "
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- Posts: 385
- Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2011 7:33 am
Re: Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
Thanks.Kusala wrote: Does this count? Mohottiwatte Gunaananda Thera and the Buddhist Re-awakening http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... ml#sect-33
Buddhist, do we need to vote?tiltbillings wrote:Whose "mainstream?"barcsimalsi wrote:I think i will just follow the mainstream assertion that Jesus was a noble figure but the bible is corrupted.
Is it not to learn what an ex-buddhist is thinking when he decides to convert to Christianity?tiltbillings wrote:There is not a thing of interest in this video. Why do you think that there is?
Re: Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
What that tells you barcsimalsi is what an advocate of a particular form of protestant Christianity thinks. And one who shows a very shaky grasp of Buddhism, who thinks for example that Karma/kamma is a punishment.
As a former Buddhist who converted to Christianity I do not recognise his beliefs as representing any Christianity that I practice.
As a former Buddhist who converted to Christianity I do not recognise his beliefs as representing any Christianity that I practice.
Re: Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
I ran into this trouble; it seems no one is allowed to say anything is "for-sure" Xianity these days. It isn't even "followers of what Jesus taught, at minimum" because that isn't agreed upon, as trying to read the Gospels has shown. Denominations abound; Jesus is everything from the Son of Yahweh to Krishna to Buddhist to Taoist... there are definitely shades of New Age thinking everywhere, where once there wasn't.PeterB wrote:As a convert/... to Christianity I do not recognise his beliefs as representing any Christianity that I practice.
Modern thinking about Xianity is all over the map, it seems. "Xian" is (almost?) a meaningless term. It seems to mean monotheist inspired by Jesus and Pals.
- "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting oneself one protects others? By the pursuit, development, and cultivation of the four establishments of mindfulness. It is in such a way that by protecting oneself one protects others.
"And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.
- Sedaka Sutta [SN 47.19]
Re: Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
What made you convert from Buddhism to Christianity old friend?PeterB wrote:Agreed. Each spring has be traced back to its own source...or left alone.
During my involvement with Buddhism it was my contention that the same applied to the Mahayana and Theravada too.They each needed to be subject to their own lights.
"For a disciple who has conviction in the Teacher's message & lives to penetrate it, what accords with the Dhamma is this:
'The Blessed One is the Teacher, I am a disciple. He is the one who knows, not I." - MN. 70 Kitagiri Sutta
Path Press - Ñāṇavīra Thera Dhamma Page - Ajahn Nyanamoli's Dhamma talks
'The Blessed One is the Teacher, I am a disciple. He is the one who knows, not I." - MN. 70 Kitagiri Sutta
Path Press - Ñāṇavīra Thera Dhamma Page - Ajahn Nyanamoli's Dhamma talks
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Re: Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
I agree with you about the guy who doesn't really understand buddhism while i'll be impatient to hear what was your thoughts(particularly about Christianity) that led you to convert.PeterB wrote:What that tells you barcsimalsi is what an advocate of a particular form of protestant Christianity thinks. And one who shows a very shaky grasp of Buddhism, who thinks for example that Karma/kamma is a punishment.
As a former Buddhist who converted to Christianity I do not recognise his beliefs as representing any Christianity that I practice.
Re: Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
I am trying to walk a fine line here. To correct obvious distortions while not losing sight of the fact that this is a Buddhist forum and I am a guest.
So apart from reiterating my agreement with the view that systems of spiritual thought can only be understood on their own terms, I have no desire to promulgate my views.
So apart from reiterating my agreement with the view that systems of spiritual thought can only be understood on their own terms, I have no desire to promulgate my views.
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- Location: Andromeda looks nice
Re: Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
I think the same applies to "God", it seems to mean whatever people want it to mean.daverupa wrote: Modern thinking about Xianity is all over the map, it seems. "Xian" is (almost?) a meaningless term.
Buddha save me from new-agers!
Re: Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
You are absolutely right, but I think that something similar could be said about Buddhism. Even on this one Theravadan site, there are such profound differences of opinion as to the meaning and importance of particular ideas that they are identified by code words. I'm not sure whether this is due to the fact that we are dealing with huge and diverse religious and cultural traditions that have developed over thousands of years; or whether it is because we are applying a critical and restless western mindset to them.daverupa wrote:I ran into this trouble; it seems no one is allowed to say anything is "for-sure" Xianity these days. It isn't even "followers of what Jesus taught, at minimum" because that isn't agreed upon, as trying to read the Gospels has shown. Denominations abound; Jesus is everything from the Son of Yahweh to Krishna to Buddhist to Taoist... there are definitely shades of New Age thinking everywhere, where once there wasn't.PeterB wrote:As a convert/... to Christianity I do not recognise his beliefs as representing any Christianity that I practice.
Modern thinking about Xianity is all over the map, it seems. "Xian" is (almost?) a meaningless term. It seems to mean monotheist inspired by Jesus and Pals.
- Dhammanando
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- Location: Mae Wang Huai Rin, Li District, Lamphun
Re: Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
For my part I think that it requires a "Holy Willie" mindset, consisting in a strong conviction that one is not oneself one of the hell-bound, a thankfulness that this is so, and a strong stomach. I doubt any beast could be so vicious.binocular wrote:To me, being at peace with the idea that some people will suffer in hell for all eternity, with no chance of redemption, and that this is good and just, requires a bestial mindset.
- Holy Willie's Prayer
by Robert Burns
O Thou, who in the heavens does dwell,
Who, as it pleases best Thysel',
Sends one to heaven and ten to hell,
All for Thy glory,
And not for ony good or ill
They've done afore Thee!
I bless and praise Thy matchless might,
When thousands Thou hast left in night,
That I am here afore Thy sight,
For gifts and grace
A burning and a shining light
To all this place.
What was I, or my generation,
That I should get such exaltation,
I who deserve most just damnation
For broken laws,
Five thousand years ere my creation,
Through Adam's cause?
When from my mother's womb I fell,
Thou might have plunged me deep in hell,
To gnash my gums, to weep and wail,
In burning lakes,
Where damned devils roar and yell,
Chained to their stakes.
Yet I am here a chosen sample,
To show thy grace is great and ample;
I'm here a pillar of Thy temple,
Strong as a rock,
A guide, a buckler, and example,
To all Thy flock.
(etc. etc. for another twelve verses)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/robertburns/w ... es_prayer/
Yena yena hi maññanti,
tato taṃ hoti aññathā.
In whatever way they conceive it,
It turns out otherwise.
(Sn. 588)
tato taṃ hoti aññathā.
In whatever way they conceive it,
It turns out otherwise.
(Sn. 588)
- Dhammanando
- Posts: 6494
- Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:44 pm
- Location: Mae Wang Huai Rin, Li District, Lamphun
Re: Christianity, from a Buddhist perspective
P.S.
To Peter B. and any other Scotsmen here... my apologies for the englishing of the Burns extract. I just didn't think there'd be too many who'd know what 'ane', 'guid', 'wha', 'sic', 'frae', etc. mean.
Yena yena hi maññanti,
tato taṃ hoti aññathā.
In whatever way they conceive it,
It turns out otherwise.
(Sn. 588)
tato taṃ hoti aññathā.
In whatever way they conceive it,
It turns out otherwise.
(Sn. 588)