Buddhist/Christianity?

[freebie]

Recently I have been reading a book called "The teaching of Buddha" (The Buddhist Bible). I am amazed at the similarities between Buddhism scriptures and the Christian scriptures. I have also searched the web about this topic and found a lot of
people seem to agree. My question is does anyone here agree or disagree with the similarities? Than ???k you!

[mccoist]

I am what i call a novice buddhist and i also noticed simialarities in christian beliefs with buddhism
so really i agree with you
i just like to say you have prompted me on which book to seek out next

[markings]

While they may look similar on the surface they are very different in their fundamentals. IMO, the difference is so great that one cannot be a Buddhist and a Christian at the same time. The Christian churches seem to concur, and where one can clearly see a fallout is the position taken with regards to Reiki which not so long ago was rejected as a healing practice by the American Catholic Bishops.
While one might write this off as another quirk by the Catholic church it is my opinion that ANY traditional Christian church would have to come to a similar conclusion.
Christianity and Buddhism, as well as Hinduism, Daoism, Shamanism are incompatible belief systems in their core beliefs.

[artstone]

IMO, Christ never wanted to be worshiped, as a man.
From what I've read about Buddha, he didn't either.

God gives wisdom and insight to those who seek it. Other men come along and exalt the human, making him an idol to be worshiped. Then they exalt and worship the writings, as though they have some holiness in and of themselves.

I believe Christ and Buddha (and probably Krishna and the rest) all received inspiration and truth from the same source. Their message was just brought to different groups of people.
Christ plainly stated that He was called and sent to the Jews.

I believe Buddha was sent to the Asian peoples, and other prophets to other peoples.
They all came from one source and their message is open to all.

Christ is in me. Buddha is in me. Krishna is in me. God is in Me.

I know most Christians would disagree with me. I was raised in a traditional fundamental Christian church. I know the Bible quite well. I believe it is very misunderstood.

I found that many things I was taught growing up brought tremendous fear, guilt and self-hatred into my mind.
I decided to throw out everything I had been taught, and re-study the bible from a perspective of "I don't know anything, Lord, please teach me".
The things that the Spirit revealed to me were drastically different than what I had been taught.

I found peace and joy returned to my life, and I love myself now.

I wouldn't go backward for anything.

~ Peace to all

[jesusrose]

Yes!!! to everything you just said. We all are one and as such, so are our messengers.

Love and light
xx
Rose

[protobill]

The belief that people need to care for the poor and suffering are shared by Christianity and Buddhism. But some notable differences follow:
Christianity requires a belief in God. Buddhism says not to worry about the existence of God and just strive for enlightenment.
Christianity believes human nature is sinful, but people have a chance because Jesus died for our sins. Buddhism says that human beings act bad because they are suffering. Buddha studied many spiritual techniques and found a way out of suffering. He taught that people do not have souls but a certain energy continues to be reborn again and again. But Buddhists believe people have a Buddha nature that can be awakened with practice and learning.
Christianity points to an apocalypse at the end of human history that will divide everyone into eternal reward or punishment. Buddhism says that the world is a long chain of cause and effect, with people being reborn endlessly unless they seek enlightenment.
The biggest difference I see is that Christianity is often very evangelistic. It is required of it's followers to spread the gospel and teach the Christian worldview and the Christian story. Buddhism is concerned more with encouraging people to think about suffering. The Buddha is sometimes quoted as saying, if you find a teaching useful, use it. If you don't find it useful, discard it.

[elrick]

I am fascinated by the diversity of views on Buddha and Buddhism by the members of this forum.

My perception on the subjects is that Buddha was much better than Buddhism. Buddha was a great man, even a prophet to his people, but he was an orphan prophet; by that I mean that he early lost sight of his spiritual Source, the Centre of Beingness. His experience was tragic. He tried to live and teach as a messenger of God, but without God. Buddha guided his ship of 'salvation' right up to the safe harbor, right up to the entrance to the 'haven of mortal salvation', and there, because of faulty charts of navigation, the good ship ran aground.

There it has rested these many generations, motionless and almost hopelessly stranded. And thereon have many of Buddhist people remained all these years. They live within hailing distance of the safe waters of rest, but they refuse to enter because the noble craft of the good Buddha met the misfortune of grounding just outside the harbor. And the Buddhist peoples never will enter this harbor unless they abandon the philosophic craft of their prophet and seize upon his noble spirit. Had the Buddhist people remained true to the spirit of Buddha, they would have long since entered their haven of spirit tranquillity, soul rest, and 'assurance of salvation', just as Christianity if they would have followed the teachings of Jesus rather than the religion "about" Jesus.

You see, Buddha knew God in spirit but failed clearly to discover him in mind; the Jews discovered God in mind but largely failed to know him in spirit. Today, the Buddhists flounder about in a philosophy without God, while Christian people are piteously enslaved to the fear of a God without a saving philosophy of life and liberty. Buddhists have a philosophy without a God; the Christians have a God but are largely without a philosophy of living as related thereto. Buddha, failing to envision God as a spirit and as the Source, failed to provide in his teaching the moral energy and the spiritual driving power which a religion or a philosophy must possess if it is to change a person and exalt a society.

[freebie]

Thank you everyone for your comments.

[anando]

Hallo, maybe the christian churches can´t understand buddhist teaching, but Jesus was a buddhist.I know the New Testimonie and the Pali-Canon well enough to say that there are many parallels between what Jesus said and what Buddho said and all the circumstances of their genetic procucer, birth and death. Even the Old Katholics church means that are some influences. Why not?

[n1cky]

I was brought throughout my childhood with Catholicism and am now I guess generally Buddhist. I find very little difference between the two belief systems. Both are centred on compassion to your fellow man and the difficulties of overcoming the difficulties that exist in human life..be it suffering through karmic causes and conditions within samsara or sin. I think the negative interpretations and differences that are perceived stem from man's egoic interpretations..not from God, Buddha or the life source.

[Leon]

I see it simply Nicky, Buddhism speaks to the mind, whereas Christianity speaks to the heart, marry both philosophies together and you have learned how to become whole. There is no need for Religions to fight or argue. There is so much to be learned from listening to the wisdom that each teaches.

The heart needs teaching just as much as the mind does, we cannot grow unless both heart and mind is open to the truth, wherever that may come from.

[bluestarman1]

Leon,

What are your thoughts on Jesus teaching, among other things, that He was "The Way". Do you think that this had any correlation The Middle Way and was this giving us an avenue to break the Karmic wheel without all the rebirths?

[Leon]

I do not know if Jesus was trying to teach people how to break free of the karmic wheel of rebirth. But for me Jesus was one of the ways to salvation, not that I like that word I prefer enlightenment. Jesus taught like many masters of the body the way forwards, we should take note of anyone who speaks to our heart with wisdom.

[bluestarman1]

enlightenment=carrot

salvation=stick

I agree

[crystals]

I agree with Leon here, at my core and in my heart I love Jesus but was floundering about with the guilt that the church beset upon me. Have been a buddhist for a year now and can honestly say I have found the way to peace.

[crystals]

I recently lost a dear friend, he was a buddhist and before he died he gave me this wonderful piece of buddhist wisdom.
Neither fire nor wind, birth or death can erase our good deeds.
Fill your mind with compassion.
We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make our world.
Pay no attention to the faults of others, things done or left undone by others. Conder only what by oneself is done or left undone.
What we think we become.
Words have the power to heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
On life's journey Faith is nourishment,
Virtuous deeds are a shelter,
Wisdom is the light by dayand Right mindfulness is the protection by night.

[sparklekaz]

Dear Crystal,

It is so good to see you my friend, you have been missed.

I am very sorry to hear about your friend crystal, it is sad when we lose people we care about. He left you with some very wise words, they go to the core of what the Buddhist beliefs are. Indeed words that resonate with truth for us all. Though he is gone Crystal, a piece of him will stay with you echoed through his words.

I hope you are keeping well, don't be a stranger, come and say hello if you get the chance in our chat. We are open between 6pm - 8pm UK time. I will watch out for you.

Love and light
Kaz

[markings]

Those who are interested in the deeper incompatabilities between the two I suggest reading this analysis

www.seattlebetsuin.com/Is_Shin_Buddhism_the_same_as_Christianity.htm

IMO the desire to merge or align the two great faiths is misplaced and is based on the belief that more is better.
Chosing one over the other does not diminish or elevate either one. It is simply you chosen vehicle for now.
Christians and those who want to follow the Christian path would do far better to recover what has been lost. I don't mean the texts, amongst them the so called 'Lost gospels' but the practices. Many of them may still be alive, or more alive, in the Greek or Russian Orthodox Churches.