Christianity Vs. Buddhism

The Origin

What does Buddhism mean?

“Enlightened One or Awakened One”

Where did Buddhism Originate?

Siddhartha Gautama (480 BC - 563)

What Does the Bible say about this time period?

Esther became queen 479

Nehemiah rebuilt the wall 444

Malachi prophecies 450-430

When was Buddhism’s first official Written account?

Not written during his life time - 200 BC and AD - 200 -400 years after he died

“Historians and even buddhist scholars are convinced that many legendary and mythological aspects have crept into Buddhist teachings” (Charlie Campbell”

How was Buddhism created?

Siddhartha grew up in a palace

chose one day to leave the palace and see the outside world

Noticed 4 troubling Images

Hunched over man - old age

Sick man - Sickness and suffering

Funeral Procession - Death

Monk Begging for food - Poverty

Siddhartha leaves his wife and newborn son to live the rest of his life in search of enlightenment

6 years into his search Siddhartha finally achieves enlightenment

Teachings

What does Buddhism say about God?

very little

Siddhartha was agnostic

most teachings deny any deity

however, many buddhists have turned Siddhartha into a deity and worship him

What are the 4 Noble Truths?

the Buddhist philosophy on how to reach Enlightenment

Life Consists of suffering

How Does the Bible differ in its teaching of Suffering?

Suffering is in the world

suffering is due to sin

no one is immune

We dont believe that suffering is the only thing “permiates the whole world”

When asked, most people have a positive outlook on life

When we experience suffering, we rely on God, not ourselves

Rom 8:37

Rom 8:28

Rev 21

2 Cor 4:16-18

Suffering Comes from Desires

suffering comes from selfish desires and cravings

That leads us to awful things and results in Karma

Karma is the belief of recompense in the next life, “the sum of a persons actions in previous states of existence decide the future existences”

What does the Bible say about multiple lives?

Heb 9:27

only one life

Eliminate Suffering By Eliminating Desire

Buddhism teach that all desires are bad

so to end suffering, rid yourself of desires

What does the Bible teach about desires?

1 Cor 14:1

Phil 1:23

The Bible shows there are selfish desires and God honoring desires

we must choose between the two

Desire can be eliminated and Nirvana Achieved

WE can reach nirvana by forgoing all desires

this is achieved by way of the 8 fold or Middle path

Right View or Right Understanding: Insight into the true nature of realityRight Intention: The unselfish desire to realize enlightenment

Right Speech: Using speech compassionately

Right Action: Using ethical conduct to manifest compassion

Right Livelihood: Making a living through ethical and non harmful means

Right Effort: Cultivating wholesome qualities and releasing unwholesome qualities

Right Mindfulness: Whole body-and-mind awareness

Right Concentration: Meditation or some other dedicated, concentrated practice

You must walk the line between

Buddha achieved it, but most Buddhist teaching teach that it is nearly impossible