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.