Buddhism Workshop

For tonight's Twelve2one, we invited Wim - a missionary in Cambodia to share his experience and to talk about Buddhism. Holy Trinity has a sizable number of international student from Asia, particularly China, and most of them are Buddhist. Therefore it's a good opportunity to allow them to make a comparison between Christianity and Buddhism in a conducive environment.

We were given an outline of the topic to be discussed and to prepare any additional questions for Wim. The outline as follows:

Buddhism 101
From: Dean Halverson, ed. – The Compact Guide to Word Religions; J. Dickson – A Spectator’s Guide to Word Religions

CHARACTERISTICS:
A. The 4 Noble Truths
1. Suffering: existence is (marred by) suffering (dukkha)
2. The origin of suffering is ‘desire’/ craving
3. The end of suffering is by eradicating desire. This will bring the realisation of Nirvana
4. The path is to practise the eight habits of the Buddhist life (the eightfold path)

B. The Eightfold Path:
Right understanding, aim, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration

C. Theravada Buddhism (= Hinayana):
• = school of the elders = classical Buddhism
• Emphasises the historical man Gautama, and
• Tends to reject mystical speculation
• No gods or worship
• Small canon of scripture (Tipitaka)
• No outside help: salvation comes from within your own moral and mental powers
• Emphasises a distinction between the ordained monk and the layperson. Many believe that only monks can (in the course of this life) fully attain the detachment from craving which is necessary to realise Nirvana
Dominant in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.

D. Mahayana Buddhism:
• = ‘Large Vehicle’ (derogatory: too lenient acc. to Theravada)
• Has a larger canon (standard) of scripture
• Encourages devotion to the Buddha as a saviour-figure
• Emphasises the need to postpone Nirvana to save others from suffering before eventually becoming a Buddha yourself (Bodhisattva path)
Dominant in Tibet, China, Japan, Korea

ASSESSMENT:
1. The problem
- Theravada Buddhism: We suffer because we desire that which is temporary, which causes us to continue in the illusion of the existence of the individual self
- Christianity: We suffer because of the consequences of our sin. But we also suffer because, being made in the image of God, we are fulfilled only when we are in a relationship with our Creator God. [This is also a consequence of our sin.] Even though we are most fulfilled when in relationship with God, we have rebelled against Him, and are thus alienated from Him

2. The solution
- Theravada Buddhism: To cease all desire in order to realise the non-existence of the self, thus finding permanence
- Christianity: To be forgiven by and reconciled with God. We find permanence in the immutability of God.

3. The means
- Theravada Buddhism: Self-reliance. We must follow the Middle Path and build up merit (karma)
- Christianity: Reliance on God. We must repent of our sins and trust in the saving work of Jesus Christ

4. The outcome
- Theravada Buddhism: To enter Nirvana, where the ego is extinguished
- Christianity: Our existence as individuals survives death, and we are fulfilled as we are in eternal fellowship with a loving and personal God

5. Jesus and the Buddha
The Buddha did not claim to have a special relationship with God. Escaping suffering is nothing to do with God. Jesus did claim to have a special relationship with God – Jn 3: 16; 6: 44; 10: 30; 14: 6, 9
The Buddha claimed to point to the way. Jesus claimed to be the Way – Jn 14: 6; 5: 35
The Buddha taught that the way to eliminate suffering was by eliminating desire. Jesus taught that the solution to suffering is found not in eliminating desire but in having right desire – Mt 5: 6


DISCUSSION:
ad A.
• Is there any truth in “existence is suffering”?
• Has anyone ever eradicated (gotten rid of) desire?
• Why not?

ad B.
• What is missing in the 8 right things? (right heart! cf. mindfulness) Is any of these 8 things possible without a right heart? (heart is like a well-spring, cf. Pr 4: 23)
• In Christianity, is holiness done for us or done by us? Cf. 1 Co 1: 30. What has been done for us, could we have done that ourselves?

ad C.
• Which type of Buddhism is more practical, down to earth: Theravada, or Mahayana?
• Does Theravada Buddhism work in practice? Why? Does Christianity work?!
• Why is it so common for Buddhists to worship gods, spirits, etc.? (natural light, limits to our powers, we sense we need help, lay persons can’t keep the laws/ rituals)

ad D.
• Is Theravada right in saying Mahayana is too lenient?
• Did the Buddha ever want to be seen as a saviour-figure? What did he want?
• Why do you think the Mahayana type developed (came into existence)? (to cater for those who thought Theravada was too high for the common man)

ad 1.
• What is the difference between suffering and sin? Does it matter?
• Why does Buddhism not go deep enough? (the root is not suffering but the root of suffering: the rebellious heart)

ad 2.
• Can we cease all desire?
• Is there good desire?
• We should not cease all desire! Why not?
• Is Buddhism world-denying or world-affirming? What about Christianity?

ad 3.
• What happens if we rely on self, trying to gain merit?
• Is it humiliating to rely on some else? (humbling)
• Is there any repentance or faith in Buddhism (faith in Bodhisattva to save you)
• How come that in many houses in Cambodia there is a Buddha statue in the spirit house (animistic house altar)?
• How come that the monks in the temples teach how to observe animistic festivals like Pchum Ben to appease the spirits of the ancestors?

ad 4.
• Is there a soul in Buddhism? What do they believe instead?
• Is there reincarnation in Buddhism? What do they believe?
• Is Nirvana about the same as heaven? How are they similar and how different?
• Do Christianity and Buddhism have about the same goal?

ad 5.
• Did the Buddha claim to be a saviour? What did he claim? (signpost, not the Way)
• Why does the Christian worldview make more sense? (hard to deny the spirit world, existence of God, salvation through works (no peace), clergy - laity, Buddha wanted a reform of Hinduism but ended up with similar system, particularly in Mahayana Buddhism)
• What did Jesus teach about our desires? What should we do with them?


We had a great time discussing about Buddhism. I used to call myself Buddhist before I embraced Christianity. In this workshop, I realized that I didn't really know why I had called my Buddhist in the past since what I have been doing didn't actually reflect anything on Buddhism. I've got it mixed up with Animism. I've been an Animist for 25 years without realizing it, and mistaken the belief to be Buddhism. What an ignorant person am I in the past!

I'm grateful to GOD that He saves me from the disastrous belief on my ancestors that leads to death. And I'm forever grateful that my entire family members are Christian now. Thank you, LORD.

Leading a Bible Study for the 1st Time in Adelaide

Today it's an interesting day. I'll be leading a bible study group in Holy Trinity for the very first time. We'll be embarking on the Book of Jude using a method called The Swedish Method. This simple method was first attributed to Ada Lum, an IFES staff worker and Bible reading enthusiast of many decades. It was said that she named it in honor of the Swedish student group where she first saw it used.

The Swedish Method is pretty simple to use. There are four questions to be asked after reading a bible passage and given sufficient time to savor and explore the text.

The first question:

A light bulb: This should be something that 'shines' from the passage - whatever impacts most, or draws attention.


A question mark: Anything that is difficult to understand in the text, or a question the reader would like to ask the writer of the passage or God.



A central idea: What is the central idea of the passage? Sometimes it could be found in the text of the passage.


An arrow: A personal application for the reader's life.




May God helps me through the bible study and I ask God to speak through His words.

A Sad Day

An announcement was made during the church service today. A baby of a sister died while still in her womb. The baby, Edward, as named by his father suffered from Edward symptom in the womb. It was being anticipated that the baby will not survive in the womb, or even if he's born, will only live for hours.

As a parent, I knew exactly how they feel. The anticipation of a new life is an exciting event, imagination runs wild as to how the baby look like and their life journey. It's really heartbreaking to learn that their own flesh is not going to survive before having a look of this world.

May the Lord comforts them. May the Lord open their eyes that they may see wonderful things in every hurdles of their life.

7pm Weekend Away @ Victor Harbor SA (24 - 26 April 2009)

This is the first camp since I came back to Australia. Victor Harbor is not foreign to me. I have been to this place for many times since the first time I stepped on Australia's soil, and it's not my first camp in Victor Harbor. If I'm not wrong, this is already my third camp in Victor Harbor.

The theme for this camp is "Body-Building", speaks by James Harrick. Contrary to worldly view of "body-building", it is not about building up our muscle, but more to the building up of our spiritual body.

According to James, we already have the perfect body in Christ. We were dead in our transgression but because of God's great love, we were made alive. God has raised us up with Christ and seated us with him (Ephesians 2: 1-5). Therefore as a Christian, we already have a perfect body. Not just that we have a perfect body, we also belong to the perfect church body. However, we are not there yet. Since we have been raised with Christ, we have to set our hearts on things above, not on earthly things. Put to death whatever belongs to the earthly nature. Also we have to get rid of such things like anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from our lips (Col 3:1-10).

At this point, I was wondering when we already have a perfect body, why do we still have work on it? If it's perfect, means that it's without flaw. After becoming a Christian, it's obvious that many are still sinning in their own way, how could we be considered perfect when in fact are not?

On the second talk, James continued with how to keep our body in perfect condition. We will be hungry again when we feed on earthly things. The only solution is that we must feed on the "bread of life" - that's Christ. Effectively, if want to be full, 'eat' Christ! All other earthly thing such as new car, money, career , sex, victory, etc will only lead us into the destruction of our body and mind.

We got to be self-feeder. We can't for our entire life let others to feed us. Even if we let others to feed us, we got to make sure that the feeders are of decent value. Now, how to be a self-feeder? First of all, we have to believe in the Son of God (i.e Jesus Christ) that the the Almighty had sent to us 2000 years ago, and He is still living today. We pursue a personal relationship with Christ, and putting our hope in Him. That's the first step, and probably the hardest step for most non-Christian before they believe in Him. After that, as a Christian, we got to read the Bible, preferably everyday and pray to God the Almighty for all our need and also the people around us. We should abstain ourselves from feeding on rubbish from the world. Focus our sight on Christ alone.

Third talk: We are not individual. Our body is built as part of God's family. We often heard some Christian saying that they don't go for service but yet Christ is in their heart, so it doesn't really matter whether or not they go for service. Some even says that since God already died for us on the cross, all our sins are forgiven, and therefore we are not bounded by the law anymore (i.e. we can sin thereafter). However, the apostle John made it clear on 1 John 1:6 that "if we claim to have fellowship with him (Christ) yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth." It is in Him that we have fellowship with one another. Therefore we must love our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must accept them for who they are and forgive them of their wrong doings.

Apart from building our own body, we must help one another to build their body too. We must speak to one another truth in love (i.e. God's word). "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another." (Heb 10:25) These are the least that we can do for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

As apostle John put it, "let us not live with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." (1 John 3:18) As Christ laid down down his for us, we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters too. We got to be devoted to one another in brotherly love, honor one another above ourselves. We confess our sins to each other and pray for one another so that we may be healed.

We carry each other burdens as brothers and sisters to fulfill the law of Christ. We must love our neighbor as ourselves.

I pray to God that He may gives me the strength and the heart to my love my brothers and sisters as my own body regardless of their background. Amen.