I am writing this to share with you what I learned about Buddhism through my travels in SE Asia. Specifically what I learned after I met a man named Alan in Vietnam. Alan talked to two of our teams about something he’s been passionate about for a while. Buddhist. God’s given him a heart for them and that’s what he feels his calling is. Building relationships with Buddhist and sharing the Good News.
Thus far in my journey I had believed my only experience with Buddhism was Monk Chat in Thailand. My team met a wonderful man named Sadat and we talked a lot about Buddhism and Christianity. However this was not my only experience with Buddhist. I had consciously forgotten that, likely, every person I talked to in SE Asia was Buddhist. It’s the predominate religion in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, as well as China, but I mostly worked with MKs there
Sadat taught me that there are just as many sects of Buddhism as there are Christianity. And much of it has merged with Hinduism (not him of course, he was intent of following Buddhist traditions only). He had grown up Buddhist in India and moved to Thailand to study and practice Buddhism at the same place his master did.
While I’m sure Alan worked with monks like Sadat, he also worked with everyday people. He would strike up conversations anywhere, asking about their faith and sharing his own. He said, what to me seems like the most important part, to get past where most people get stuck. “I’m Buddhist” “I’m Christian.” People can think this signified the end of the conversation. When really its off to a great beginning. If you don’t get past this then you didn’t really HAVE a conversation about faith.
Alan learned a lot of what he talks about, and HOW he talks, from a book called “From Buddha to Jesus” by Steve Cioccolanti. Now don’t run off just yet. Don’t assume the sole purpose of this book is to be a How-To Manuel for Christians to convert Buddhist. It’s not a Tract. Its a way to build bridges (Perhaps that scares you more than when you thought I was giving you a tract). You, the (likely) Christian reader learn much more about Buddhism and how it is similar/different to Christianity, and learn that the best way to talk to someone different to you isn’t “I’m right, you’re wrong”.
What Buddhist Believe
I want to start by letting you know a little bit about what most Buddhist believe. While there are a few different sects of Buddhism, and while much of it has merged with Hinduism, I’m going to focus on generalities. One thing to keep in mind is that, to the average Buddhist practice overrides doctrine. Buddhism doesn’t have a creation story or talk about end times. It focuses on how to live your life so you don’t accumulate karma, and how to try and atone for the karma you do have.
Karma, is something all of us have heard of, but many don’t know what it is. Westerners see karma as another word for the Golden Rule. If you do good deeds then good things will be done to you, and same with bad. This is NOT karma. Karma is only the bad. Karma is like a Buddhist word for sin. It’s all of the bad you do in your life. And because Buddhism does not have a savior, they have to spend their entire lives trying to make up for their sins.
“We referred to the Thai dictionary and under the word karma (or gum), we found 3 definitions: (1) gum is “an action that sends evil to the present and continues into the future”; (2) gum is “sin”; (3) gum “can also mean death”. I love this third definition the most – sin is another word for death!” Ch 8
“The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23
*Green Quotes: From Buddha to Jesus; Blue Quotes: Bible*
These two concepts are very closely related. This is a good thing. It is one of many ways we can relate to each other with understanding. Without knowing how karma is viewed by those who pratice Buddhism, many people may have the wrong idea of what life can be like for Buddhist. Karma being similar to sin (especially since sin is the second definition) helps Christians relate. Many of us at one point have had a hard time understanding how Jesus could have paid for all the bad stuff we do. Just imagine if you didn’t know Jesus; if you thought you had to carry all the sin yourself.
“Our belief is that karma always follows us. It will follow us forever until somehow it is paid for…The self-blame, the fear of karmic revenge, the hopelessness of never being set free from a curse, all add stress and uncertainty to a Buddhist life. Please don’t think that the typical Buddhist is living in harmony with nature or floating on a cloud of peace and that they don’t need to hear the Gospel that you have to share with them. The doctrine of karma does not usually produce compassion, but condemnation. When sincere Buddhists try to purify themselves of their own karma, and keep all 227 laws of Buddha (for men), they realize they cannot do it. This produces even more condemnation.” Ch 2
One of the other beliefs that most Westerners have heard of is the 4 noble truths and the eightfold path. Both commonly taught in world religion classrooms in the west. But seeing as how your average Buddhist doesn’t know the eightfold path, we won’t be discussing that. Our focus now is solely on the 4 noble truths.
First: Tuk. Tuk means suffering. Everyone who has ever lived and who will ever live will suffer in their life.
Second: Samuthai. This refers to the origin of suffering. People suffer because of their karma, or their sin.
Third: Nirod. This asks how to get rid of Tuk. The summation of Buddha’s teachings is that the goal is escaping your karma.
Forth: Mak. There must be a way to escape.
Buddha taught Buddhist to try and discipline the flesh. The last noble truth inspired the 227 laws (for men) to help curb the sins of the flesh and help people not accumulate karma. A similar thing happened to the Jews. God gave Moses 613 commandments. Approximately 2000 years ago found out that there was no way to accomplish this. Thus the sacrifices and this is the time God sent his Son. Similar to the Jews 2000 years ago, Buddhist are coming to this realization now.
“There is a densely populated area called South East Asia full of people who are fast coming to the self-realization, “I can’t get away from sexual lust, I can’t get away from anger, I can’t get away from lying in business, I can’t get away from all of these sins. According to Buddha, I am going to suffer, I am going to pay for all this, I am in big trouble!” That was the same sentiment many Jews felt when Jesus appeared in Israel 2000 years ago… And that is why so many Buddhists are embracing and believing in Jesus Christ. We are able to follow the precepts of Buddha much better when we have Christ in our hearts. When we become born again Christians, we are no longer trying to discipline our flesh, but are granted a new nature with new desires in our hearts. The Holy Spirit who comes to live in us will help us, and we won’t have to try to be better on our own. We simply can’t do it.” Ch 8
“The laws of Moses and the precepts of Buddha were meant to bring us to our knees and a humble realization of our desperate need for help.” Ch 8
While Buddhist have 227-331 laws (girls have more), not all of these are followed, or even known by most Buddhist, these are mostly followed by monks. Because the average person doesn’t want to memorize (or follow) 200+ laws, the monks condensed them. The average Buddhist has to follow these 5 Commandments of Buddha (Thai: seen ha).
Number 1: Bana tipa-ta veramani! Do not kill.
Number 2: Atin-na ta-na veramani! Do not steal.
Number 3: Garmay sumitcha jara veramani! Do not commit sexual immorality.
Number 4: Musa wa-ta veramani! Do not lie or speak any evil.
Number 5: Sura may-ra-ya majjapama tat-tana veramani! Do not use any addictive substance.
“The five commandments of Buddha are nearly identical to the Ten Commandments of Moses. It would not be surprising if the Buddhist five were based on the original Mosaic Ten, since Moses was a thousand years older than Buddha and God’s laws to Moses were revolutionary and would have been well known to all civilized people.” Ch 12
While Moses was 1000 years before Buddha, Buddha was 500 years before Jesus.
Buddha
Before I start, I want to remind people that Buddhism is similar to Christianity in the sense that there is more than one sect (denominations). Buddhism has two main denominations, Mahayana and Hinayana. While they believe slightly different things, Buddha’s life is basically agreed upon.
Siddhartha Gautama was an Indian prince who lived about 500 B.C. The story goes that when he left his palace he saw four people. One old, one sick, one dead, and the last a priest. He realized everyone suffered, and no one could escape. It saddened him that no matter how you lived in life, everyone got sick and died. He wanted to find a way out of this “wheel of suffering”.
“The true purpose of life is to escape the cycle of suffering. The only way to escape the cycle of suffering is to be liberated from the cycle of life.” Ch 5
He then became a Hindu monk, but did not believe this held the answer. So he left Hinduism to find the answer to the end of suffering. He went to the forest with 5 disciples and lived a mostly solitary life of very little food and lots of prayer, but after 6 years he gave this up. It is said that he sat under a fig tree until he became enlightened, and at 35 he did. This is where Hinduism and Buddhism officially split, Siddhartha Gautama was 35 years old and began a new religion. He first taught 5 men who had been with him in the forest, and these men went out and taught the world.
One thing that can be confusing for Westerners to understand is hearing about the reincarnation and how that plays into Buddhism. Once someone achieves enlightenment, such as Siddhartha Gautama, shouldn’t they have escaped the cycle of suffering? How can there be a Dalai Lama? And why do some Buddhist believe in a Maitriya (an End Times Buddha)? Many Christians would be surprised to learn that many Buddhist speak as much about being reincarnated as they do about Heaven and Hell. This is something where I believe practice and tradition are more important to Buddhist, it honestly isn’t thought about that these things may contradict each other.
As for what Buddhist taught on reincarnation, he didn’t. Buddha never taught that people are reincarnated. He used reincarnation examples to explain things to the people he was preaching to.
“Buddha continued, “I myself have left all my princely inheritance, abandoned lust and became a monk. I esteem that my good deeds are not few. I hold onto the 8 commandments, even up to 100,000. If I could do this and give away everything I have for 10 lives, yet I still cannot get over one of my sins.” Buddha understood the problem of sin. He found the problem in his spirit, and simply tried to explain it in his own words to the people living at that time…It’s important to note here that Buddhists commonly claim that Siddhartha Gautama is the 10th reincarnation of the same person. But Buddha did not say that he was the 10th reincarnation, he only said that even if he could live sacrificially for 10 lives, he still could not erase his sins.” Ch 22
Buddha was using reincarnation as an example that people in India at that time would understand. Paul did similar things when he preached in other countries. He would quote things the locals would know, something they could relate to. When Paul was in Athens he quoted a Greek philosopher, Epiminedes.
“For in Him we live and move and exist. As one of your own poets says, ‘we are also his offspring.'” Acts 17: 28-29
Paul also quoted a pagan, Aratus, a native of Crete; when he wrote to Titus.
“One of them, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts and lazy gluttons.’” Titus 1: 12-13
“Paul was not anti-Epiminedes or anti-Aratus; Paul was pro-Gospel and pro-local culture. We are not to be anti-Buddha or anti-Buddhism, but pro-Jesus and pro-local culture. There is nothing unbiblical about using local wisdom to communicate a point about God. If we look hard enough, I believe we will find that God has left some truth pointing towards His Son in every culture.” Ch 30
Buddha also told his followers to avoid meat. Siddhartha Gautama personally didn’t have anything against meat, he didn’t think being a vegetarian would bring him closer to enlightenment. But he wanted to be sensitive to the Hindu culture he and his followers lived in. Again we see a parallel in the Bible.
“Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” 1 Corinthians 8:13
“Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.” Romans 14:19-21
“We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself.” Romans 15:1-3
If eating certain meats, or any meats would make your Jewish or Hindu brother stumble, then don’t. It only adds another barrier between people. Being aware of the culture your living in doesn’t mean you change your religion. Cultural sensitivity is important in life, especially for racers. Every time we get to a new country the first thing we learn is the customs and what’s appropriate. Everything from men don’t wear shorts to not eating with your left hand (the hardest thing for some of my squad mates, a few are left handed!) Being on the Fusion Squad means a blending of cultures 24/7. I’ve learned new words and new ways to do things and talk to people from my fusion sister and brothers. It’s something I wouldn’t trade for the world.
The last thing I want to mention on Buddha is about his last words:
- “Appa-mano! Do not make idols nor worship and bow down to them.
- Jata-rako! Seek the Holy One who is always living.
- Appama-pana-sumba-taypa! Watch your heart. Don’t be careless, but be ready all the time.
- Vi-mut-ti! Let all of you search for the way to escape your sinful nature, or else eternal ruin will come to all of you.” Ch 22
Who is this Holy One? Who is Buddha talking about? Remember when I talked about the End Times Buddha? The Maitriya? To Buddhist this End Times Holy One is common knowledge. He is believed to be a ruler and teacher. He will put an end to death on earth! Why would Buddha predict this person if he believed he already had the answer? If he thought it was possible to follow all the laws and never accumulate Karma? For if you do it would take lifetimes to pay for. Buddha told his followers to be on the lookout for someone else, someone that held the answer. We know someone else who did this. Someone who pointed to a man coming later who was greater than himself! John the Baptist pointed to Jesus many years after Buddha did.
Now I want to tell you a story. A story from Cambodia about Buddha and his talk with a Brahman (Hindu Priest). He wanted to know what he had to do to have his Karma taken away, to become free from his sin.
“Buddha told him, “Let all of you do a good deed and seek for another Holy One who will come and save the world. He will rescue you in the near future.” The old Brahman asked, “This Holy One who will come and rescue the world in the near future, what does he look like?” Buddha replied, “The Holy One who will rescue the world in the near future will have scars in his hands and scars in his feet like the shape of a gongjak. In His side, there is a stab wound. His forehead is full of blemish and scars. The Holy Person will be like a golden vessel, a very large one, that will carry you across the cycle of suffering until you pass over to Heaven Nippan.” Ch 22
Sound familiar? Even a little? This is 500BC! This is 500 years before Jesus is even born! And Buddha see a man with scars in his hands, feet and side! Compare this to what it says in John.
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors Locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them HIS HANDS and HIS SIDE. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Pease be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “RECEIVE the HOLY SPIRIT.”” John 20:19-22
How wonderful! Look how amazing our God is! We always look to the Middle East to see what God was doing in those times, what He was doing with His people. But look at what He was doing just countries away! This is something I was never taught in the West. It is something I am sure all of you have never heard, I know I hadn’t! And that’s why I want to share it with you.
“I love all those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” Proverbs 8:17
Ministry
I learned so much from this book and from working in Asia. One thing that’s been emphasized so much is relationships and just being real with people.
Emmi, our host in Thailand (literally, she owned the hostel we stayed at), was very passionate that we understand how important relationships are. That we should really invest in people. Its about the quality of your relationship that can help bring people together and lead people to Christ. She emphasized not even mentioning her and what she does (help getting people out of the bars) until after you know them better. This wasn’t heartless of her, its not that she didn’t have TIME, it was that she knew the girls wouldn’t tell you the truth on the first meeting. How honest are you the first time you meet someone? Do you tell your hopes and fears to complete strangers? or friends? Once they’ve decided truly decided to leave this life, then she will help them get out. But they have to decide THEMSELVES first! We can’t decide for them, and neither can Emmi. No one can help until they choose it for themselves.
Bringing people to Christ is the same. Emmi’s met people that ask her who Jesus is, after they’ve prayed an acceptance prayer a few times. This happens when missionaries don’t truly explain what it’s all about. Or if you don’t know that some of Asian culture includes being non-confrontational. So if you bring up this prayer thing a few times, you unintentionally pressure people into it. I fear that once the ‘mark’ prayed the prayer, they never saw the good meaning missionaries again.
This is something I want to call awareness too. And something I want to make people aware of. The individual has to CHOOSE in their heart to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. OR it doesn’t mean anything. I can’t tell you if they would go to Heaven or not, tho I doubt they would if they don’t truly know who Jesus is. Saying words you don’t mean or understand has no affect. Once someone truly understands that they have sinned and need to be saved, then their life can be radically changed.
Not one of the disciples went up to people and said “You need Jesus and then everything bad you ever did will go away and you’ll get to live happily in Heaven.” This isn’t how they talked to people, and it’s not how Jesus taught them to. Jesus convicted people of their wrong doing. He showed them what sins they’ve committed and WHY they need a savior. God taught the same way. He FIRST gave the law. Moses received the 10 commandments, along with many other laws (Leviticus is usually attributed to him), about 4000 years ago. Then, after His people knew the laws, knew the standard they were being held to, God sent His son. God sent Jesus and with Him the Holy Spirit. This is when God introduced Grace. After convicting people. After setting the standard. After people realized, “wow, I can’t do this on my own. No matter how hard I try I still mess up and sin.” Then God let them know they would be forgiven for it. Because they knew they were doing wrong. Because they knew they couldn’t do it on their own. And not before. God could have sent Jesus with Moses, could have let His people know when they got to the Promised Land. But He didn’t. That wasn’t part of His plan. I don’t know all of Gods plan and why He does the things He does. None of us do. But this is something He’s put on my heart. This is something He’s shown me through two books and life experiences.
“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” John 1: 17
For someone to truly accept Jesus and enter the Kingdom of Heaven, to us to help grow the Kingdom and the body of Christ. First they must understand why they need a savior, why they can’t do it on their own. Only then will all of us truly repent and mean it when we ask God to forgive our sins.
I hope you enjoyed learning about Buddhism and a bit about what I learned in Asia on Evangelism. For those of you who read it all (trust me I know its long, it took a month to write) I would love to talk to you more and answer any questions. I also encourage you to go to the source. Pray to God, and read the Bible and From Buddha to Jesus if you want to know more.
