Definitely didn't write this but it explains my position so well
Jesus
& Buddha
Brett
Schopen
Western
Traditions 201
10/29/94
Disciple?:
I have heard that you are two of the wisest men in the land and so I
have
come to you in hopes of advise. I am scared for my future and for the
future
of my newborn
daughter. Can you tell me what is in store for us or
give
me an assurance me that we
will be all right? Jesus: Do not worry
about
your life. Do not worry about food, drink, the body. Life is
more than
these
things. Believe in your heavenly Father. He knows what you need
and will
provide
you with it if you practice and have faith in his teachings. Strive
for
the
kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be
given to
you
as well. Buddha: No. Comfort in the present and future must
come from
inside
the self , not from
a God. In meditation you will find the truth of
life
that will set you free from worry.
Don't chase after
the past,
Don't seek the
future;
The past is gone
The future hasn't
come
But see clearly on
the spot
That object which is
now,
While finding and
living in
A
still, unmoving state of mind.
This focus on the
present is the beginning of the path to enlightenment
which
is comfort
through understanding. When you are able to keep your
mind
focused on the present
in a 'still, unmoving state of mind' you have
reached
enlightenment, where you will be beyond all emotion including
suffering
and worry.
Jesus:
That is not so. A search for the entire true of life can never
make you
content
in
your life because you can never know everything there is. That
is
for God alone to know. To enter the kingdom of heaven you must
have
faith
in our Father. You must trust in His wisdom even in hard times.
For
to know all and understand all you would be a god. And
putting
yourself
on a platform with God is disrespectful and
blasphemous. But if you
follow
His laws your suffering will end in the hereafter.
Buddha:
Truth is available to all people not just gods. For truth is in
all
things
in the
universe. We only have to learn not to react with emotion to
see
it. If you can master
not reacting through meditation you will see the
true
nature of the universe that lies
behind the illusion of emotion. In this
truth
you will see the cause and effect relationship of all things
and
in
that an order which will bring you understanding and comfort.
Disciple?:
What are the truths and teachings you speak of?
Jesus:
In everything do to others as you would have them do to you.
Always
live
by this rule and respect your Father and you will one day be
allowed
to walk beside Him in the kingdom of heaven.
Buddha:
In this we do not much differ. The most fundamental truth is to
have
compassion
for all creatures. Without this you can never end suffering .
"If
a man foolishly does me wrong, I will return to him the protection of
my
ungrudging love. In
trying to cause another anguish you only hurt
yourself.
A wicked man who spits at heaven spoils not the heaven, but
defiles
himself when the spittle comes back on him."
Disciple?:
But how can I know who is right?
Jesus:
You can know I speak the truth because I am our Father's Son and I
carry
his
word. "Blessed are
the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed
are
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be
filled.
Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see
God."
Disciple?:
That seems fair. But if I believe in God I cannot be saved because I
have
already gone against these without even knowing it.
Jesus:
You can still be saved my son. For I am the Son of God and I am here
to
heal
you
and absolve your sins.
Disciple?:
You even have the power to cleanse my rotted leg?
Jesus:
Yes I do. Be made clean!
Disciple?:
OH MY?! My eyes deceive my mind! How can this be?!?
Jesus:
The power of God my son.
Buddha:
My dear boy do you not see that no matter what power he might have he
cannot
truly free you from suffering? In your reaction to his healing
you
started again the cycle that leads to suffering but he leaves you no way
to
end it. Suffering is "any craving that is unsatisfied."
If you are never
allowed
to find out how this can be, because you can't question, you will
always
suffer from your desire. To destroy this suffering you must free
the
self from the thirst of desire. But you can never do that if
you're
eyes
are fighting with your mind, if you are fighting with yourself.
There is
an eight fold path which
leads to the destruction of sorrow. Right
understanding 1
and thought 2, that lead to wisdom. Right speech 3, action 4,
and
livelihood 5, that lead to morality. Right effort 6,
mindfulness 7, and
concentration 8,
that lead to concentration. But accepting his power on faith
as
unexplainable keeps you from the first step on the
path, understanding. As
does reacting favorably to the laws he states because they
"seem" fair. If
you
react to them as fair and take them as true because "He"
says so, you give
up
your power to be enlightened in your search for the truth.
Without that to
end
your suffering you will go to his heaven with your desires numbed or
constantly
filled, but never quenched, and you will never truly be happy
Disciple?:
I am still thoroughly confused. Is there no definite answer!?
Buddha:
Not that we can give you. It is a question of faith in what
could be
or
proof in what is.
Jesus:
Whether you trust in yourself or in the Almighty.
Buddha:
Whether you think comfort comes from the process of learning or
simply
having
the answer.
Jesus:
It is a question of right and wrong.
Buddha:
It is a question of what you know in your heart of hearts.
Disciple?:
Thank you Jesus and Buddha. Although I am still deeply confused
I
know
that only I have the answer. So I will be off to find out who and
what,
I believe.
