Buddhism
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[edit] What is the origin of Buddhism?
Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism can point to an individual founder and look back to a date for its beginning—Siddhartha Gautama, a Hindu born about 560 B.C. at Lumbini near the border of India in what is now Nepal. His father, a raja or minor king of that area, tried to isolate him from the harsh realities of life, raising him in the luxurious surroundings of his palace, preparing him to rule. He was married and had a son but eventually at age 29 left the palace and saw a sick person, an aging man, and a corpse—impressing him deeply with the suffering of this life. At the same time, he saw a monk and became aware of the “wandering life”. He determined to solve the riddle of life and immediately left the palace, his wife and son seeking the truth to the human predicament.
[edit] Who is the Buddha?
He began by becoming a wondering monk, wearing a yellow robe and shaving his head. He studied the Upanishads under the finest teachers. then finally tried self-denial, starving himself until he was little more than a skeleton. At last, after sitting under a tree 40 days and nights, he claimed to have experienced the highest degree of God-consciousness—nirvana—literally, the “blowing out” of the flame of desire and the negation of suffering. From this experience, Gautama felt he had found “salvation” and from that time onward became known as the Buddha, or “the enlightened one.”
[edit] How does Buddhism compare to Hinduism?
A daughter of Hinduism, Buddhism came from Hinduism, but Buddha’s teachings were rejected as heresies by the dominant teachers of Hinduism, the Brahmin priests. He denied that the Vedas and the Upanishads were divine writings, saying there were of no use in finding nirvana. He denied that man had an atman (soul) and that this present world is maya (unreal). Buddha rejected the Brahmin priesthood and the entire Hindu sacrificial sytems, instead emphasizing ethics over ritual. The caste system was rejected and he taught that anyone could reach enlightenment, not only Brahmin males. Finally, he challenged all the indifferent Hindu gods and goddesses, saying they were essentially unimportant in the quest for enlightenment. But, Buddha accepted Hindu ideas of samsara—the endless cycles of birth, death and rebirth to which one is bound by his karma—one’s action and the result of that action that inexorably determines one’s fate in life and beyond. The only way to escape this endless cycle was though the dharma, or the teaching of the Buddha which leads, through right insight and effort, to nirvana. He incorporated yoga and meditation into his teaching—skills that had been highly-developed in Hinduism.
[edit] Teachings
[edit] The Four Noble Truths
Buddha taught that: 1) life is suffering, unsatisfactoriness, illusion and, 2) the cause of that suffering is man’s craving for wrong things, even for life itself. 3) Suffering can only be escaped through man’s own insight and effort—4)through the Noble Eight-fold Path.
[edit] The Noble Eight-fold Path
The first two deal with understanding the problem and setting out: 1)Right views, understanding; and, 2)Right attitude, purpose. The next three have to do with practical morality on the way so as not to interfere with the ultimate goal: 3)Right speech; 4)Right conduct; and, 5) Right livelihood, occupation. The last three deal with being serious about pursuing the goal with intensity and meditation: 6) Right endeavor, effort; 7) Right awareness, mindfulness; and, 8) Right meditation.
[edit] How widespread is Buddhism today?
The world’s fourth largest organized religion, Buddhism is a missionary faith, aggressively seeking to spread its tenets globally. Over 1.38 billion people in the world currently live under the worldview of Buddhist beliefs, according to Todd Johnson recently. Buddhism abides in symbiotic relationship with folk religions and spirit worship as well as even Islam and Christianity it seems. Much like a chameleon, it takes on the look of the belief systems upon which it rests. Buddhism has flourished, especially in the West—a phenomenon of the last half century and the interlacing of Buddhism and Christianity seems to be a fashionable trend, actively advertised through the media by prominent figures such as Stephen Siegal, Harrison Ford, Richard Gere, and Goldy Hawn as well as others. Known of generally as a religion of tolerance and peace, it is led by international figures such as the Dalai Lama of Tibet, believed by many to be the living incarnation of the Buddha and hero to many as he fights for the independence of his people. Buddhism is also the faith of the Zen masters with their techniques of meditation that have been popularized in the West in yoga, TM and other means as well as in the Star Wars films.
[edit] What are the major streams of Buddhism?
Buddhism has many forms throughout the world without sacrificing its basic doctrinal foundations. There are two major schools: the conservative Theravada, also known as Southern Buddhism and accounting for about 150 million people worldwide, and the liberal Mahayana, also known as Northern and Eastern Buddhism and accounting for 850 million, including.around 16 million followers of Tantric Tibetan Buddhism (also known as Lamaism, Vajrayana, or Matrayana). It is this last group—Tibetan Buddhism—that claims as its leader the Dalai Lama as its visible head. Other branches of the Mahayana school of Buddhism include Zen, Pure Land, Nichiren, Soka Gakkai, the falun Gong cult in China, and many others.
[edit] Theravada Buddhism
Operating best in societies that are culturally-Buddhist, laymen are engaged in earning merit and form support around the Sangha (the brotherhood of monks studying the dharma and seeking nirvana). Theravadan societies often include spirit worship, astrology, mediums, and divination. Strong ties to family and society contrast with the religion depending on self works and denial but make it hard for individuals to accept the gospel of the grace of God. Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia are the “heartlands” of this stream of Buddhism.
[edit] Mahayana Buddhism
This stream is considered the “Greater Vehicle” and is generally understood to be the easier, more seeker-friendly form of Buddhism, pointing outside the person to bodhisattvas (enlightened individuals who postpone nirvana to help the masses attain it) for help. Some schools say that a person can attain nirvana in one lifetime through the Mahayana practices, promising “pure lands” reached by faith in these helpers where one can easily move on to nirvana. This stream began in India but matured in China and today is found in many countries influenced by it such as Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singpaore.
[edit] Tantric or Tibetan Buddhism
In the thousand years between the death of Buddha and the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet in 640AD, much incorporation of beliefs from other religions had taken place. The tantric Buddhist world of over 8 million presided over by the Dalai Lama is quite different still than these other two, though considered part of the Mahayana stream. A pantheon of deities, spirits, and demons, including additional “Buddhas” and multiple bodhisattvas were added as well as complex esoteric practices meant to be a short cut to nirvana. In tantric practices, the seeker submits himself to a lama who serves as a spirit guide through complex and powerful meditations and authorizes him to address a selected yi-dam (deity or holy being) and to use a secret mantra (chanted phrase) and to visualize the mandala (a sacred diagram of the yi-dam’s world). Through these means they aim to gain enlightenment. Mantras, mandalas, and dorji (magical thunderbolts) came to be employed because the intrinsic power of words and symbols came to be felt superior to that of good deeds for affecting a good rebirth. The practice of yoga is an attempt through various mental and physical devices and positions to attain ecstatic union with the universal spirit. This form of Buddhism is particularly growing in the Western world as films such as Little Buddha, Kundun, Seven Years in Tibet and others will attest. Most tantric Buddhists live in the Autonomous Region of Tibet and neighboring regions such as Northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, and several groups are found as well in Siberia.
[edit] Special streams of Buddhism
[edit] Shingon Buddhism
[edit] Hindu-Buddhist groups
- Hindu-Buddhist groups have made remarkable inroads among young people in the West — some gurus gaining large followings. Many lives have been damaged by aberrant practices — use of drugs, promiscuous sex and exposure to demonic influences.
[edit] Hare Krishna movement
- The Hare Krishna (ISKON) movement has rapidly gained a large following in former Soviet states since the ending of Communist rule.
[edit] What makes it hard for a Buddhist to receive the gospel?
In Buddhism, there is no Infinite Personal Creator to whom they are responsible and who reaches out to them. The Buddhist believes that the ultimate origin of the chain of causes and effects that brings about the illusion of life is avicca or ignorance, so if the Christian insists that God is the ultimate cause, then the Buddhist says, “He must be Ignorance.” It is very hard to communicate the simple Christian phrase, “God loves you” to a Buddhist. When a Christian uses the word God, he or she is thinking of the Lord God who created the world and everything in it. Buddha taught that there are no gods or supreme beings—everything is illusion. Christians believe God loved humanity and took initiative to reach out in the form of Jesus—Buddhists believe that desire is the root of all suffering and that a person receives what he or she deserves, nothing more or less. The concept of sin to the Buddhist is karma—“Do good, receive good; do evil, receive evil.” It is a religion of self-effort with no idea of how much effort is enough to satisfy the impersonal force of karma. Yet, there is no Personal Guarantor of that law—the God who judges sin as well as forgives it is not in their thinking. There is no clear basis for action, decision or growth because Buddhists believe that, although one must depend upon one’s self for “salvation”, yet self is anatta (non-self or illusion). There is no basis for all creation in God, no purpose in creation and no reflected “Image of God” to explain man. And the concept of salvation itself is almost diametrically opposed to the Christian view—to the Buddhist, the goal is emptiness and extinction of desire, if not of conscious life itself but to the Christian, the goal is fullness of life in the intimate presence of a loving Father.
[edit] Keys to Sharing Christ in the Buddhist World
Begin by BEING a disciple or follower of Jesus. Make sure your faith is grounded in Scripture, is thoughtful and integrated into your own life under the lordship of Jesus. If you are truly living a conversational relationship with Jesus daily, it shows. Follow Jesus’ priority of loving God first and loving others as yourself second. Put yourself in others’ shoes and reach out with simple, practical acts of lovingkindness. Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit who will show you the keys to the heart of the one for whom you are praying and to whom you are ministering; it’s not a project—it’s a person made in God’s image loved and precious in His sight. Respond to objections with gentle kindness—you do not have to have all the answers. It is okay to say you do not know but to pray for God to make Himself known to them in just the right way. We are not arguing in a debate, we are introducing our best Friend! Understand what God has to teach us about His purposes for suffering and in appropriate ways share as He opens their hearts. Most of all, bathe your entire effort in loving prayer. You cannot save anyone—only God can do that. Trust Him for the results.
[edit] Resources
[edit] Audio-Visual Resources (OMF)
- Videos - highly recommended: a) Theravada Buddhism, b) Mahayana Buddhism,c) Tibetan Buddhism, d) One Billion Wait - Prayer Challenge.
- Teacher’s Resource Packet: Buddhism: O/Heads or PPT, VBS Lesson Plans, etc …
- Brochure: One Billion Wait: The Challenge of Buddhism
- Buddhism: Full Color Poster – 16” X 24”
- Book: Buddhism Through Christian Eyes – Alex G. Smith
- Order all above via OMF National Offices: or in USA 1-800-422-5330 www.us.omf.org
[edit] Books
- Lim, David and Steve Spaulding, editors. Sharing Jesus in the Buddhist World., Pasadena CA: William Carey Library, 2003. A collection of theological papers presented to the SEANET partnership in its first theological forum several years ago; excellent and well-written dealing with a wide range of issues related to ministry among Buddhists.
- Lim, David and Steve Spaulding, editors. Sharing Jesus Holistically with the Buddhist World. Pasadena CA: William Carey Library, 2005. The second edition of theological papers presented to SEANET focusing on sharing Jesus holistically in the Buddhist world.
- Ministry to Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and Hindus. Upper Darby, PA: InterServeUSA, 1997, 62 pp. A collection of articles reproduced from the InterServe/USA GOAL magazines: 1995, 1996, and 1997 editions to serve as practical guides to sharing Christ among people from these three faiths. Available from InterServeUSA: tel: 610-352-0581, fax 610-352-4394, website http://www.Interserve.org or by emailing InterServeUSA@xc.org .
- Ridenour, Fritz. So What’s the Difference? Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2001, 256 pp. A look at 20 worldviews, faiths and religions and how they compare to Christianity—includes Buddhism. Gives you non-judgmental, easy-to-understand answers to understand how orthodox biblical Christianity differs from these other faiths.
- Smith, Alex. G. Buddhism Through Christian Eyes.Littleton, CO: OMF International, 2001, 64pp. A helpful look at Buddhism on the move today, identifying current trends and concerns, finding and defining the Buddhist world and communicating with the Buddhist mind, as well as praying for and sharing life with Buddhist peoples, Dr. Smith presents some of the challenges of facing Buddhist cultures with the Gospel and helpful approaches for believers that are easy to understand and apply.
- Tsering, Marku. Sharing Christ in the Tibetan Buddhist World. Tibet Press, 1993.
An excellent primer to the world of Tibetan Buddhism, its challenges and points of contact for the gospel.
