Famed Buddhist tells West: 'Look to Jesus'

Originally posted by XxRagingxPandaxX

 

Maybe i'm mis understanding you. Because religions have been killing each other since they were founded, and thats not about to change. For example, Isreal and Palistine.

Religions havent been doing anything. People have.. Extreme belief-systems have. But this has settled down and the future conflict will be mainly between Religions, who will stick more together, and Atheists. Maybe not in the next ten years but in the next 100...Im talking long-term. If you look at the commonalities of Religions, thats my view of it.

Originally posted by whaaa
Watching Buddhist argue about what is truth and what makes the "right kind of Buddhist" somehow has a surreal edge that I can't quit wrap my head around.

It's interesting that many of the truly enlightened people from various faiths simply use their religion as a vehicle to keep people open and understanding to the concept of a higher reality. Many saints, swamis, yogis, and prophets probably wink towards one another, realizing they are all on the same page, regardless of what shape their hats and churches are.

They all realize how important the illusion is though.

There is nothing wrong with changing spiritual paths when one receives further light and knowledge. I disagree with him that if one is born a Christian they should stay on that path. The definition of Christian or Buddhist etc. it subjective anyway. The path one should follow IMO is truth where ever it may lead. Most religions and philosophies have truth and error some more then others. The key is to take the truth and discard the error. Many religions pressure you to take the whole package or nothing and to follow thier cultural nuances etc. or be ostracised or excommunicated.

Ridgid religions and disciplines are on thier way out and more people are embracing truth where ever it comes from. But still they have a strong hold on society and culture. So it will be a while before we see a major transformation.

reply to post by Skyfloating
I see. I disagree because only one can be right. But athiesm is definetely on the rise.

stared your response

Originally posted by XxRagingxPandaxX
I disagree because only one can be right.

Can only one be right? Or is there a downside and upside to every Religion / Non-Religion?

reply to post by Skyfloating
While many share the same qualities, and do have their good and bad qualities. Ultimately only one can be right. About our origins, about our end. etc. And although all preach tolerance, most following them are not tolerant. So they will never completely get along.

Originally posted by XxRagingxPandaxX

Ultimately only one can be right. About our origins, about our end. etc.

There are some teachings they all have in common. I try to focus on those. For example they all teach that something happens after death...thats one (of many) teachings they all have in common. Or that love and kindess are good things.

If you look at the real basic stuff, they're not that different.

Originally posted by XxRagingxPandaxX
reply to post by Skyfloating

 

While many share the same qualities, and do have their good and bad qualities. Ultimately only one can be right. About our origins, about our end. etc. And although all preach tolerance, most following them are not tolerant. So they will never completely get along.

Or they could all be wrong too... As one who has done some in depth study they all have much more in common then differences. Yet most focus on thier differences and who is supposedly right or the true religion etc. It is a shame really but it is slowly changing. People are coming out of the ridged boxes of religions and embracing truth where ever it may be found.

Originally posted by XxRagingxPandaxX
reply to post by Skyfloating

 

While many share the same qualities, and do have their good and bad qualities. Ultimately only one can be right. About our origins, about our end. etc. And although all preach tolerance, most following them are not tolerant. So they will never completely get along.

Religions are like guide books... or templates. When you go on a hike you take your own steps... and nobody who comes after you will be able to make the *exact* same steps as you because the environment will be different... however subtly.

Taken too literally... an out of date guidebook will lead you off a cliff or get you lost. However understood as "something that worked for someone else at a previous time" and paying attention to what is going on *now* in *your* immediate moment and environment gives a much better opportunity for success.

Think of it like this: There is a game where everyone on the planet must reach the same single point. Every single person will have started from a different point, and thus the path they will follow will all be singularly unique. Many will share similar paths and thus by working together can follow similar (but not identical) steps.

As more and more people get closer and closer to the singular point they are working towards... many patterns will start to emerge of similarity and difference. Those who started in arctic areas will have a vastly different one from those who started in desert or island. As they share their own journey's up to the point of meeting, they will discover that many of the things needed along the journey are shared (the need for fresh water)... and many will find they used similar techniques to get fresh water... but they will also discover techniques they hadn't thought of or witnessed thus far. Some will be more efficient, others will be less. When a person who is from the arctic finds themselves crossing a desert... they are probably better suited to paying attention to and listening to those who have successfully navigated a desert (and vice versa). Neither method of getting water is "right" or "wrong"... but one may be more appropriate for the context or individual at that moment.

Once everyone reaches this point... all will discover they were crossing the one singular ball... but each one had a unique path that has similarities and differences to every single other one.

Religion/Philosophy as a "one of them must be right" mindset is akin to assuming there is *one* right way to navigate the globe. There is no one right religion... there is only the path that works for you and helps you move forward toward your destination... and guess what... that path might change as the road ahead of you changes or as you yourself change (and discover a greater destination).

Some think the journey to the one meeting place is a competition though... and intentionally give others incorrect guide books. This helps their path, but doesn't help yours. Neither is right or wrong (though one is cruel and the other is gullible). But no matter... if you get off path you just have to adjust your path.

Tolerance includes understanding that while All Are Ultimately One... that there are as many paths to The One as there are individuals choosing to take the journey back and trying to find the "One size fits All" solution doesn't actually fit The All.

Namaste.

I am presently reading and studing a wonderful book on Christian Gnosticism called

"Living Gnosis, a Practical Guide to Gnostic Christianity" by Tau Malachi

www.amazon.ca...

Most of it I am finding to be utterly extraordinary, astounding, and highly informative, revealing that the true nature of what it really means to be Christian, is to be involved in a continual process of psychic and spiritual transformation of an evolutionary mystical (experiencial) variety aka via Gnosis, who's quest it is to rediscover our true self at all levels.

Unbelievers and atheists are going to increasingly have a more difficult time refuting the validity of Christian belief and experience based solely on a refutation of orthdoxy and conservative fundamentalism which many are increasingly recognizing is already an outdated and outmoded POV having little to do with the spirit and teachings of Yeshua Messiah as master and teacher, who was himself initiated into the sacred mysteries by John the Baptist.

Let the revolution begin..

Originally posted by XxRagingxPandaxX
reply to post by Skyfloating

 

While many share the same qualities, and do have their good and bad qualities. Ultimately only one can be right. About our origins, about our end. etc. And although all preach tolerance, most following them are not tolerant. So they will never completely get along.

Who says any are right? Perhaps my question is redundant as I'm sure it's already been asked. It is my hope and aspiration that one day we'll live in a world free of religion. Where people find common ground not under the roof of some deity but their own free thinking and reason.

Obviously, no one can say for a fact the world will be better off without religion. But I am inclined to think that primitive religious thought has held us back from our true potential for too long already.

Originally posted by acapablemind


Who says any are right?

THEY say they are right. Panda is right. It will never be, "A mob of religions against the atheists" for two reasons. One, they hate each other more than they hate the atheists. Part of the meme for Christians and Muslims is exclusivity of the "truth." In other words, they are right, and everyone else is wrong. And they have both been, historically and currently, pretty aggressive in their little turf war for the souls and dollars and numbers of followers. They arent going to gang up any time soon.

Second reason, too much "good stuff" in terms of technology and science comes from the secular. In the past, the Church was more than willing to kill Scientists and philosophers for matters of principle. Nowdays, even the religious recognize the value of technology.

The only way there will ever be a war of the religious against the secular is after the religions winnow it down to one. THEN thats a reasonable prediction. Until then, they will use the secular to fight their religious battle for supremacy.

The 20th Century may be considered the "Century of the Self", but the 21st Century shall become the "Century of the Human Being" and in that regard, Christianity most assuredly has a "chip in play" (to quote Terrance McKenna) in particular, an Evolutionary Christian Mysticism or Gnosticism. Since the human being, including Jesus himself, is not an isolate phenomenon, within the evolutionary (or involutionary) framework of the relativity of all human being, Christian spirituality may very well operate as a catalyst for the "cosmogenesis of the noosphere" (Tielhard de Chardin) or for the "Second Coming" at last "grokked" in the fullness of time and history, both individually, and collectively.

The time for simplistic, immature and ignorant thinking in regards to these matters, is soon coming to an end, although it is certain to intensify as we approach the Omega Point of a new beginning or a New Age of Spirit and Truth. In this way, the rise of atheism is helpful for creating the needed tension for the evolution of our understanding, as more and more we seek our true place in the world and the cosmos, at all levels.

"As my father hath sent me, even so send I, you."
~ Yeshua Messiah aka Jesus Christ

Thanks for all of the insightful post everyone,

Originally posted by NewAgeMan
I am presently reading and studing a wonderful book on Christian Gnosticism called

"Living Gnosis, a Practical Guide to Gnostic Christianity" by Tau Malachi

www.amazon.ca...

Most of it I am finding to be utterly extraordinary, astounding, and highly informative, revealing that the true nature of what it really means to be Christian, is to be involved in a continual process of psychic and spiritual transformation of an evolutionary mystical (experiencial) variety aka via Gnosis, who's quest it is to rediscover our true self at all levels.

Unbelievers and atheists are going to increasingly have a more difficult time refuting the validity of Christian belief and experience based solely on a refutation of orthdoxy and conservative fundamentalism which many are increasingly recognizing is already an outdated and outmoded POV having little to do with the spirit and teachings of Yeshua Messiah as master and teacher, who was himself initiated into the sacred mysteries by John the Baptist.

Let the revolution begin..

Newageman, I will have to check that out.

All true religions are perfect created with the pure intention of enlightening man.

People argue that religion has been the source of conflict throughout history. The conflict stems from human kind's mind not religion, it is our minds that are corrupt and religion is the light to all that is.

Thich Nhat Hanh is a beautiful writer, and acknowledges that there are many paths to God. He frequently footnotes Thomas Merton (Christian monk). Both men are at the Spiritual forefront and considered revolutionaries (as Jesus was), in their inclusive beliefs. This extends over to Zen and D.T. Suzuki.

At the Heart of each man's writing, the key point is... LOVE is the only answer.

Combine this with Lao Tzu, and being at the center/the pivot...or better yet in a place of non-judgment, then the path to God and a peaceful world is far smoother.

Nonacceptance of others and coercive power that has been used in the past, will not work in the incoming age.

It is time to end war and separation among mankind!

Regards and Nameste,

-Chung

reply to post by Stormdancer777

Vietnamese Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh,...... doesn't want all North Americans to become Buddhists.

hasn't the web, and ATS in particular, been buzzing with word of project blue beam, the technology that can make images apear in the sky?

and haven't the idea that 'the powers that be' will use this technology to show images of powerful religious icons to get the masses to their knees and thus usher in the 'new world older' that much easier?

with so many religions, wouldn't it be easiest to show just jesus, rather than jesus over here and buddha over there, etc etc?

just throwing some thoughts out there if you can follow my line of thinking.

also, it is the revelations of the bible that i beleive the 'new world order' will try to use as a 'plan book' in staging their events. and that book tells of jesus coming.

Originally posted by XxRagingxPandaxX
In my opinion Zen is as a non sense religon, or philosophy which ever you prefer, as christianity. Threvada Buddhism is the truth in my opinion. Not sure if its 100% true, but it makes so much sense.

very interesting: S&F

edit on 30-6-2011 by XxRagingxPandaxX because: (no reason given)

Friend, I like to think of Zen being the deep Spiritual aspect of Buddhism as Gnosticism is to Christianity.

In the end of each day, I feel "ALL" are asking each of us, no matter what "discipline", that we are mindful and loving of God, self, and others.

Regards and Nameste,

-Chung

reply to post by indigothefish


Blue beam ushering in a false messiah, would , could make sense, the Bible says people will worship the false messiah first.

Many will be fooled, but the easy answer is the false Christ comes first,

But let's not go there.

reply to post by ChungTsuU

In the end of each day, I feel "ALL" are asking each of us, no matter what "discipline", that we are mindful and loving of God, self, and others.

I agree,

I had so many thoughts in my mind this morning, now I have forgotten most of them,