Buddha and Jesus: Could Solomon Be the Missing Link? (51 page)

If we lay these options out in a table, we have some illuminating contrasts.

Both religions are similar in that, while humility is what was taught and modeled by their leaders,
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arrogance is often practiced instead, resulting in two extremes of non-exemplary behavior. Since arrogant Buddhist recluses are less harmful than arrogant Christian militants, many would argue that Buddhism is the better choice. However, neither style of arrogant living is what was originally taught, which is what should really be compared.

Even though true Christianity is a religion of faith, many Christians think and act as if it were one of works, thereby living out a churchianity quite contrary to the teachings of Jesus. In addition, some Christians try to make God their personal servant rather than trying to be a servant of God. A prime example of this is someone whose prayers are mostly for selfish desires.

God

Buddhism seeks to guide people in developing spiritually without having to submit to some Higher Power. This emphasis originated with Buddha’s efforts to liberate his own people from the oppressive aspects of Hinduism and its three-plus million gods. Today Buddhism continues to attract many people who for various reasons seek an alternative to religions that profess faith in a supreme being.

Regarding God as extraneous or irrelevant to the process of spiritual growth may not only be completely inaccurate, but also quite risky. Assume for the moment that a personal God exists who desires to relate to people individually, and who showers them with countless blessings, seeking to help people grow spiritually. When such a God encounters people who regard him as irrelevant, how will this supreme being react? Since a majority of mankind
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believes in such a God, this is a very reasonable question to ask.

Initially, God may withhold a broad array of blessings he would otherwise desire to impart, because people who choose not to acknowledge him do not want to be recipients of these gifts. God is not inclined to force himself on people who don’t want to have anything to do with him. So one cannot be led and guided by God if one deliberately rejects the leading and guidance of God. Further, one cannot experience being a conduit for the love of God if one rejects the love of God. The same goes for other blessings from God, such as peace, joy, and greater understanding of God’s grace and mercy. Many of these blessings are avenues of rapid, substantive spiritual growth. The withdrawal of God’s help and presence is crippling and debilitating spiritually.

At best, in the long run, such a God may simply grant Buddhists what they want for all of eternity: complete separation from him. The sacred texts of Jews, Christians, and Muslims characterize the fate of those who turn away from God in a myriad of ways, ranging from eternal discomfort to unending agony. So it is quite possible that the God-spurning Buddhist will be mired in the very state they have tried so hard to escape: endless suffering. This would be a
very high price to pay, especially since the option of relating to such a God while also being some kind of Buddhist might be feasible, though uncommon and unnatural. Meditation can be centered on God, rather than any of the other common subjects of mantras. And the ethics of Buddha are very similar to those of Jesus. However, a more serious obstacle is that Buddhists would naturally regard a personal god who has any desires to be very inferior to an impersonal god who is identical to the entire universe.
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One of the biggest appeals of Christianity is that it offers an interactive relationship with a personal God who is loving, gracious, and merciful and is intimately involved in one’s life. This can be very uplifting and empowering as long as one is willing to submit to such a relationship. Not uncommonly, however, people want to retain the right to engage in various pleasurable or profitable activities that are prohibited in the Bible without the specter of judgment from God. The all-too-human desire to “have it both ways” often results in hypocritical behavior by people claiming to be Christians.

Lesser Gods, Idol Worship, and the Occult

Christians believe that God created millions of angels and that many of them rebelled against God. These fallen angels became lesser “gods” (often called evil spirits or demons), and they seek to draw people away from loyalty to the one true God by attracting them to idols (i.e., anyone or anything other than God) or by harassing them. When someone receives Jesus as Lord and Savior, they also encounter subtle opposition from lesser gods, as well as persecution from opponents of Christianity. These can become serious impediments to realizing the positive benefits Christianity offers—unless the Christian willfully shuns idolatry and resists these lesser gods, commanding them to flee in the name (authority) of Jesus.

Buddhists do not look to God for protection and help. Instead, they rely on self, looking to the Buddha as an inspiring example, to his writings as a source of guidance, and/or to monks for
instruction. Christians believe that people who do not turn to God will be under the subtle (or overt) influence of lesser gods and idols. This is, in fact, the case with most Buddhists, as noted by Madasamy Thirumalai, Ph.D., University of Calcutta:

Buddhism claims to be more a technique than a religion. People of any faith, or absence of faith, it says, can benefit from the techniques of meditation it encourages. But is Buddhist meditation a
universally beneficial practice, or does it presume various things spiritually? According to Mary Garden, who practiced Eastern mysticism, became disillusioned with it, and wrote about her experiences: “Eastern meditation techniques were never meant to be methods to reduce stress and bring about relaxation. They are essentially spiritual tools, designed to apparently ‘cleanse’ the mind of impurities and disturbances so as to progress toward
enlightenment.”
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To be sure, most forms of Buddhist meditation involve extensive repetition. Jesus warned against using “vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.”
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Christians often take this as a warning against repeated Christian prayers or long, wordy prayers to God. And yet, it is interesting to note that it could also apply to repeated mantras. It seems that Jesus would have opposed the repetitive practices of Eastern meditation.

When Jesus said, “as the heathen do,” perhaps he was referring to the use of heavy repetition as a way to instigate change. We might infer that from the fact that Jesus’ model prayer gave no credence to selfish motives. The Lord’s prayer is an expression of hopes that: (1) God will be revered, (2) God’s kingdom will be established, and (3) God’s will would be done. So, selfish desires are excluded.

Many heathens believe, as Buddha did, that intensive repetition of a mantra has the power to change reality. When Jesus referred to “vain repetition” he may have had in mind the confrontation between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal in their efforts to bring an end to a terrible drought.
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The prophets of Baal called on him from morning to evening in hopes that Baal would bring down fire on the bull sacrificed on an altar, yet nothing happened. When Elijah had the sacrificed bull doused with water three times, he uttered a short, pointed prayer to God, who sent lightning upon the altar and burned up the soaked offering. All of the repetitions of the prophets of Baal were worthless.

Only One Way?

Christianity is well known for its claims that Jesus is the only way to God. This claim is based on numerous biblical passages, including John 14:6b, where Jesus is quoted as saying:

What is less known is that one of Buddha’s own proverbs makes a similar assertion:

In Buddhism, if you don’t have purity of intelligence, then you are deluded and lost; so, in essence, Buddha was saying that his way was the only way.

Most people intuitively disagree with the notion that there is only one true way to God. Implicit in their thinking is the assumption that “good” people will go to heaven, regardless of their particular religion. That assumption feels logical and fair and helps to motivate good behavior. Yet this sensible notion is not without problems:

There are two types of religion that include belief in some kind of heaven:

If it is true that no person can be good enough to go to heaven on their own merits, then none of the religions in the first category provide a way to God. This then leaves Christianity as the only way to God, and its claim makes clear sense.

Many people, if pressed, might say that they are good because they obey the Ten Commandments. In other words, they don’t steal, murder, or commit adultery. And they may honor their mother and father, in general, not counting their teenage years. But while there’s a good chance they haven’t specifically violated some
commandments, are these people aware of the other commandments? Most “good” people tell the truth, most of the time, except for white lies, fudging on tax returns, and so forth. But have they never “coveted,” or desired someone else’s spouse or possessions? Have they never sworn? Have they always kept the Sabbath as a holy day? Have they never sought some idol (i.e., some person or thing other than God that they look to as their hope for happiness and satisfaction)? Everyone today pursues some kind of idol, whether it is money, prosperity, power, fame, or a comfortable retirement. These are all idols. Very few “good” people have kept more than three or four of the Ten Commandments.

The other problem many people have with Christianity’s claim to be the only way to God is the perceived behavior of Christians. If Christianity brings people into relationship with the one true God, it should make Christians very humble and compassionate toward people with different beliefs. Many Christians are like that, yet they are not the ones who are highlighted in the media. Instead, so-called Christians who judge people with other beliefs and treat them with disrespect are showcased by the media. A Mother Teresa might also be showcased, but the media rarely draws attention to common, humble Christians.