Jesus, the Buddhist

[billwald]

from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/koan

Definition of KOAN

: a paradox to be meditated upon that is used to train Zen Buddhist monks to abandon ultimate dependence on reason and to force them into gaining sudden intuitive enlightenment
Origin of KOAN

Japanese kōan, from kō public + an proposition
First Known Use: 1945
-----------------------

See below for examples of koan. Are they not similar to Jesus' teaching?

http://www.ashidakim.com/zenkoans/zenindex.html

http://www.ibiblio.org/zen/cgi-bin/koan-index.pl

 

[The Biblicist]

from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/koan

Definition of KOAN

: a paradox to be meditated upon that is used to train Zen Buddhist monks to abandon ultimate dependence on reason and to force them into gaining sudden intuitive enlightenment
Origin of KOAN

Japanese kōan, from kō public + an proposition
First Known Use: 1945
-----------------------

See below for examples of koan. Are they not similar to Jesus' teaching?

http://www.ashidakim.com/zenkoans/zenindex.html

http://www.ibiblio.org/zen/cgi-bin/koan-index.pl

Bill, in Genesis, the book of origins, did the way of God precede or follow paganism?

According to your logic God is a copycat of paganism and thus paganism preceded God's way of worship.

However, if God's way (Gen. 3:15) preceded paganism then isn't paganism the copycat if there are any similarities???

 

[billwald]

>However, if God's way (Gen. 3:15) preceded paganism then isn't paganism the copycat if there are any similarities???

OK, AGREE! Truth is where you find it. If Christianity has lost a truth that has been preserved by Buddhists then we should recognize it as such.

Why else do Christians argue and kill each other over nit-picking Bible "facts" that are probably should be understood as koan?

 

[The Biblicist]

>However, if God's way (Gen. 3:15) preceded paganism then isn't paganism the copycat if there are any similarities???

OK, AGREE! Truth is where you find it. If Christianity has lost a truth that has been preserved by Buddhists then we should recognize it as such.

Why else do Christians argue and kill each other over nit-picking Bible "facts" that are probably should be understood as koan?

Christianity has "lost" a truth? Perhaps paganized Christianity has "lost" a truth but "Christianity" has not "lost" any truth.

 

[Yeshua1]

>However, if God's way (Gen. 3:15) preceded paganism then isn't paganism the copycat if there are any similarities???

OK, AGREE! Truth is where you find it. If Christianity has lost a truth that has been preserved by Buddhists then we should recognize it as such.

Why else do Christians argue and kill each other over nit-picking Bible "facts" that are probably should be understood as koan?

ONLY Christianity has the traditions and practices that God ordained for us to foolow though!

next you will be saying jesus was another buddah, or else Buddah was another christ!

 

[billwald]

Siddartha never claimed to be a god and technically Buddhism might not be a religion, depending on who you ask.

In this world of religious crazies including some BB members this country could use a big dose of "middle way" teaching e.g. Calvin's teachings.

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha

Gautama Buddha or Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम बुद्ध; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent [note 1], on whose teachings Buddhism was founded.[6]

The word Buddha is a title for the first awakened being in an era. In most Buddhist traditions, Siddhartha Gautama is regarded as the Supreme Buddha (P. sammāsambuddha, S. samyaksaṃbuddha) of our age, "Buddha" meaning "awakened one" or "the enlightened one." [note 2] Gautama Buddha may also be referred to as Śākyamuni (Sanskrit: शाक्यमुनि "Sage of the Śākyas").

Gautama taught a Middle Way compared to the severe asceticism found in the Sramana (renunciation) movement [7] common in his region. He later taught throughout regions of eastern India such as Magadha and Kośala.[8][9]

 

[Yeshua1]

Siddartha never claimed to be a god and technically Buddhism might not be a religion, depending on who you ask.

In this world of religious crazies including some BB members this country could use a big dose of "middle way" teaching e.g. Calvin's teachings.

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha

Gautama Buddha or Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम बुद्ध; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent [note 1], on whose teachings Buddhism was founded.[6]

The word Buddha is a title for the first awakened being in an era. In most Buddhist traditions, Siddhartha Gautama is regarded as the Supreme Buddha (P. sammāsambuddha, S. samyaksaṃbuddha) of our age, "Buddha" meaning "awakened one" or "the enlightened one." [note 2] Gautama Buddha may also be referred to as Śākyamuni (Sanskrit: शाक्यमुनि "Sage of the Śākyas").

Gautama taught a Middle Way compared to the severe asceticism found in the Sramana (renunciation) movement [7] common in his region. He later taught throughout regions of eastern India such as Magadha and Kośala.[8][9]

he denied a personal God, denied Sin as the bible teaches it, denied saved by grace, he did not even know if there was a life after death, held to reincarnation if there was etc

NOT of or from God, he was another like like Muhhamed who listened to and built theology upon demonic teachings!

 

[DHK]

Siddartha never claimed to be a god and technically Buddhism might not be a religion, depending on who you ask.

You don't really know what Buddhism teaches. No one does. There is no such thing as "sola scriptura," or anything that can come close to that concept. It is impossible to compare on verse to another in their scriptures. Here is what Josh McDowell said about the Buddhist Scriptures in his book "A Handbook of Today's Religions"

"A Mahayanist is one who reads Mahayana scriptures" is the definition given by one ancient Buddhist scholar. In contrast to the comparatively limited scope of the Pali canon used by Theravada Buddhists, Mahayana scriptures have multiplied to the point where standard editions of the Chinese canon encompass over 5,000 volumes. While the oldest scriptures are based on Sanskrit and contain much that is parallel to the Pali canon, other scriptures which have no Sanskrit prototypes have been written in Nepalese, Tibetan and Chinese.
Since there are no clear limits to the Mahayana "canon," comparatively recent works by later innovators are often given de facto canonical status in the sects which adhere to their teachings. As there are such a number and such a variety of scriptures, most Mahayana sects have chosen certain favourite ones to which they refer exclusively. The fact is that some such selection is necessary, for this extreme bulk and breadth of the scriptures make it impossible for believers to be acquainted with, let alone understand and practise, the often contradictory teachings found in them (Clark B. Offner, in The World's Religions, Sir Norman Anderson, ed., Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1976, p.181).

 

[billwald]

Neither do we have the autographs of Scripture. Further, every writing that appeared to contradict the doctrine Emperor Constantine's approved doctrine was destroyed.

 

[DHK]

Neither do we have the autographs of Scripture. Further, every writing that appeared to contradict the doctrine Emperor Constantine's approved doctrine was destroyed.

We have over 5,000 MSS now extant that testify to the veracity of Scripture. We have more proof of the authenticity of Scripture than we do of the writings of Shakespeare. The original MSS were inspired. But the promise of God to preserve His word throughout the ages still holds true. We can be confident today that indeed we do have the Word of God preserved for us.

 

[Yeshua1]

Neither do we have the autographs of Scripture. Further, every writing that appeared to contradict the doctrine Emperor Constantine's approved doctrine was destroyed.

Do you see the Bible than as being an inspired revealtion of God or not?

or is it JUST the Torah was and is?

 

[billwald]

>Do you see the Bible than as being an inspired revealtion of God or not?

Yes.

>or is it JUST the Torah was and is?

I see God closing the canon with Deut and following writings as non-conflicting inspired commentary.

 

[Melanie]

When I was following Buddhism, it was claimed that Christ had been to Thibet prior to his public life!!! It would have been an awesome walk but it is highly unlikely!!!

 

[Yeshua1]

>Do you see the Bible than as being an inspired revealtion of God or not?

Yes.

>or is it JUST the Torah was and is?

I see God closing the canon with Deut and following writings as non-conflicting inspired commentary.

So you do or don't see the NT writtings as being inspired SAME way the Torah was by God to us?

 

[Yeshua1]

When I was following Buddhism, it was claimed that Christ had been to Thibet prior to his public life!!! It would have been an awesome walk but it is highly unlikely!!!

Yes, for they claim that jesus was an ascended master/Avaitar that came to earth to bless us with insight and understanding!

Problem is that there is NO historial records that he even went out of the land of Bible, and also His teachings on God/Sin/Salavtion TOTALLY opposite of the Buddah! They both cant be right.....

 

[billwald]

>So you do or don't see the NT writtings as being inspired SAME way the Torah was by God to us?

I see God inspiring the NT to be used in a different way.

 

[Yeshua1]

>So you do or don't see the NT writtings as being inspired SAME way the Torah was by God to us?

I see God inspiring the NT to be used in a different way.

Are they JUST as inspired, a revelation of God to us as the Torah?