CAMBODIA IS 93% BUDDHIST AND 2% CHRISTIAN
IT'S INTERESTING TO ME HOW SIMILIAR BUDDHA'S "ENLIGHTENMENT" WAS TO THE GOSPEL, BUT HE LEFT OUT ONE "TINY" DETAIL……
JESUS
IT'S INTERESTING TO ME HOW SIMILIAR BUDDHA'S "ENLIGHTENMENT" WAS TO THE GOSPEL, BUT HE LEFT OUT ONE "TINY" DETAIL……
JESUS
BUDDHISM
SIDDHARTHA GUATAMA (560-480 BC) GREW UP AS A RICH PRINCE WHO WAS PROTECTED FROM SEEING ANY SUFFERING BECAUSE OF A
PROPHECY THAT SAID HE WOULD TURN AWAY FROM BECOMING A GREAT RULER IF HE SAW SUFFERING. WHEN HE WAS 29, HE LEFT HIS PALACE
AND SAW AN OLD MAN, A SICK MAN, A DEAD MAN, AND A BEGGING MONK. AFTER SEEING THESE SIGNS OF SUFFERING, HE BECAME DISILLUSIONED AND LEFT HIS FAMILY TO FIND A WAY TO END SUFFERING HE FOLLOWED MONKS AND THEIR PRACTICES OF TRADITIONAL HINDUI METHODS. HE TRIED TO GIVE HIMSELF EVERYTHING HE DESRIED, BUT THAT WASN'T THE ANSWER. HE DENIED HIMSELF EVERYTHING, AND THAT WASN'T THE SOLUTION EITHER. SO HE SAT DOWN AND DECIDED TO MEDITATE UNTIL THE ANSWERS CAME. DAYS LATER, HE REACHED ENLIGHTENMENT AND BECAME THE BUDDHA. HE BEGAN TO PREACH THE MIDDLE WAY OF LIVING A LIFESTYLE IN WHICH A PERSON MEETS HIS NEEDS WITHOUT EXCESS OR DENIAL.
HE ALSO PREACHED THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS.
1.) EVERYONE EXPERIENCES SUFFERING MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND PHYSICALLY.
2.) THE CAUSE OF SUFFERING IS OUR DESIRE FOR PLEASURE. LIFE, AND MATERIAL THINGS THAT WILL NOT LAST OR STAY THE SAME. BECAUSE THESE
THINGS NEVER BRING LASTING SATISFACTION, WE BEGIN TO SUFFER.
3.) SUFFERING CAN BE ELIMINATED IF WE CAN END OUR DESIRES.
4.) BY FOLLOWING THE EIGHT FOLD PATH, WE CAN END OUR DESIRES.
THE EIGHT FOLD PATH SEEKS TO SET ONES THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS ON THE RIGHT IDEALS THAT WILL LEAD TO AN END OF ALL DESIRES. THESE ARE:
1.) RIGHT VIEWS; ACCEPTING THE 4 NOBLE TRUTHS
2.) RIGHT INTENTIONS; BEING FREE FROM ILL WILL, LUST, CRUELTY, AND TRUTHFULLNESS
3.) RIGHT SPEECH; NO LYING, SLANDER, ABUSE OR IDLE TALK
4.) RIGHT BEHAVIOR: NO KILLING, STEALING, OR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
5.) RIGHT OCCUPATION: EARM YOUR LIVELIHOOD IN AN HONEST WAY
6.) RIGHT EFFORT: AVOID AND OVERCOME EVIL THOUGHTS, MAINTAIN GOOD THOUGHTS
7.) RIGHT CONTEMPLATION: BE OBSERVANT, ALERT, FREE OF DESIRE OR SORROW…..(REMAIN WATCHFUL, SOBER MINDED,
8.) RIGHT CONCENTRATION: FOCUSING OF THE MIND ON MEDITATION
KARMA IS THE RESULT OF ALL THE DESIRES AND ACTIONS PEOPLE HAVE DONE IN THEIR LIVES. THE MORE GOOD YOU HAVE DONE, THEBETTER YOUR KARMA WILL BE. YOUR BAD ACTIONS WILL CREATE BAD KARMA. THEREFORE, THE QUALITY OF YOUR NEXT LIFE WILL BE DECIDED BY WHAT KIND OF KARMA YOU CREATED IN THIS LIFE. ONCE A PERSON DIES, THEIR KARMA CONTINUES AND CREATES A NEW PERSON. BEFORE THIS NEW PERSON CAN BE BORN , THE SPIRIT OF THE DEAD PERSON MUST SUFFER IN HELL OR BE BLESSED IN HEAVEN FOR THE ACTIONS OF THE PREVIOUS LIFE. IF SOMEONE ATTAINS ENLIGHTENMENT, THAT PERSON DESTROYS THEIR KARMA. WHEN THAT PERSON DIES, THEY CAN'T BE REBORN BECAUSE THERE IS NO MORE KARMA SO THEY ENTER NIRVANA.
CAMBODIANS GIVE OFFERINGS TO BUDDHA TO BUILD MERIT OR SEEK ADVICE. THESE OFFERINGS CAN BE MONEY, LOTUS FLOWERS, INCENSE,
FOOD, OR CANDLES.
CHRISTIANITY: THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
JESUS CHRIST (5 AD. ALIVE TODAY SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD) GREW UP AS A CARPENTER WHO DID NOTHING OUT OF THE WILL OF HIS FATHER IN HEAVEN. THERE ARE OVER 300 PROPHESIES JUST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ABOUT HIS COMING. THE PROPHET ISAIAH PROPHESIED ABOUT HIM 700 YEARS BEFORE HE WAS EVEN BORN -ISAIAH 53:1-12 WHEN HE WAS 30 YEARS OLD HE BEGAN HIS MINISTRY. HE PREACHED OF A COMING KINGDOM WHERE GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH US, AND WE WILL BE HIS PEOPLE. HE WILL WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR FROM OUR EYES, AND DEATH SHALL BE NO MORE, NEITHER SHALL THERE BE MOURNING, NOR CRYING, NOR PAIN ANYMORE, FOR THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY. (REVELATION 21:3-4) WHEN JESUS SAW SUFFERING HE HAD COMPASSION ON THE PEOPLE. THE LAME WALKED, HE HEALED THE SICK, GAVE SIGHT TO THE BLIND, AND RAISED THE DEAD. JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES HE WAS GOING AWAY, BUT IT WAS FOR THEIR GOOD THAT HE LEAVE, FOR HE WOULD SEND THEM THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LIVE INSIDE OF THEM, AND LEAD THEM INTO ALL TRUTH.
JESUS, WHOM THOUGH HE WAS IN THE FORM OF GOD, DID NOT COUNT EQUALITY WITH GOD A THING TO BE GRASPED, MADE HIMSELF NOTHING, TAKING THE FORM OF A SERVANT, AND HUMBLED HIMSELF BY DENYING HIS OWN LIFE AND BECOMING OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH ON A CROSS. (PHILIPPIANS 2:6-8)
3 DAYS LATER; DEATH WAS SWALLOWED UP WHEN GOD ROSE JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD AND SEATED HIM AT HIS RIGHT HAND.
GRACE AND SALVATION CAME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
1.) EVERYONE EXPERIENCES SUFFERING MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY. JESUS SUFFERED; WE WILL SUFFER.
-MORE THAN THAT WE REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS, KNOWING THAT SUFFERING PRODUCES ENDURANCE, AND ENDURANCE PRODUCES CHARACTER, AND CHARACTER PRODUCES HOPE, AND HOPE DOES NOT PUT US TO SHAME, BECAUSE GODS LOVE HAS BEEN POURED INTO OUR HEARTS. (ROMANS 5:3-5)
-THEREFORE LET THOSE WHO SUFFER ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL ENTRUST THEIR SOULS TO A FAITHFUL CREATOR WHILE DOING GOOD. (1 PETER 4:19)
2.) ONE CAUSE OF OUR SUFFERING IS WHEN WE DESIRE TO FIND SATISFACTION IN THINGS THAT DON'T LAST OR STAY THE SAME. WE CLING TO THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD THAT CAN NEVER SATISFY US. THIS WORLD HAS NOTHING TO OFFER. -DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD. FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD-THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH AND THE DESIRES OF THE EYES AND PRIDE IN POSSESSIONS-IS NOT FROM THE FATHER BUT IS FROM THE WORLD. AND THE WORLD IS PASSING AWAY ALONG WITH ITS DESIRES, BUT WHOEVER DOES THE WILL OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER. (1 JOHN 2:15-17)
-SEE TO IT THAT NO ONE TAKES YOU CAPTIVE BY PHILOSOPHY AND EMPTY DECEIT, ACCORDING TO HUMAN TRADITION, ACCORDING TO THE ELEMENTAL SPIRITS OF THE WORLD, AND NOT ACCORDING TO CHRIST. (COLOSSIANS 2:8)
3.) SUFFERING IN THIS WORLD WILL NEVER END, BUT OUR DESIRES WILL BEGIN TO CHANGE. -AFTER YOU HAVE SUFFERED A LITTLE WHILE, THE GOD OF ALL GRACE, WHO HAS CALLED YOU TO HIS ETERNAL GLORY IN CHRIST, WILL HIMSELF RESTORE, CONFIRM, STRENGTHEN, AND ESTABLISH YOU- (1 PETER 5:10)
4.) BY FOLLOWING THE NARROW PATH THAT LEADS TO LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST WE CAN END OUR EARTHLY DESIRES.
THE NARROW PATH LEADS TO LIFE, AND ONLY FEW FIND IT. THE LIFE WE NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH WE LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR US.
DYING TO ONE SELF IS A BATTLE WE WILL FIGHT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
1.) RIGHT VIEWS: ACCEPTING THE 1 TRUTH: JESUS IS THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT BY HIM. (JOHN 14:6) -THERE IS SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED- (ACTS 4:12)
2.) RIGHT INTENTIONS: "WHEN WE LIVE FOR ANYTHING ELSE WE DO SO TO GAIN ACCEPTANCE, BUT WHEN WE LIVE FOR GOD WE DO SO BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY ACCEPTED. "WHEN YOU ARE FREE TO LOSE, IT ENABLES YOU TO LIVE A LIFE OF UNBOUNDED COURAGE, SACRIFICE, AND GENEROSITY." "WE CAN SPEND OUR LIFE GOING TO THE BACK INSTEAD OF TRYING TO GET TO THE FRONT." -TULLIAN TCHIVIDJIAN-
3.) RIGHT SPEECH: OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKS, -LET YOUR SPEECH ALWAYS BE GRACIOUS, SEASONED WITH SALT, SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW HOW YOU OUGHT TO ANSWER EACH PERSON- (COLOSSIANS 4:6)
4.) RIGHT BEHAVIOR: -THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL; THOSE WHO BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES. (GALATIANS 5:22-24)
5.) RIGHT OCCUPATION: -WHATEVER YOU DO, WORK HEARTILY, AS FOR THE LORD AND NOT FOR MEN, KNOWING THAT FROM THE LORD YOU WILL RECIEVE THE INHERITANCE AS YOUR REWARD. YOU ARE SERVING THE LORD CHRIST- (COLOSSIANS 3:23-25)
6.) RIGHT EFFORT: BUT GOD, BEING RICH IN MERCY, BECAUSE OF THE GREAT LOVE WITH WHICH HE LOVED US, EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN OUR SIN, HE MADE US ALIVE TOGETHER WITH HIM-BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED. FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED AND THIS IS NOT YOUR OWN DOING; IT IS A GIFT OF GOD, NOT A RESULT OF WORKS, SO THAT NO ONE CAN BOAST. (EPHESIANS 2:4-5,8-9)
7.) RIGHT CONTEMPLATION: BE SOBER-MINDED; BE WATCHFUL. YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION, SEEKING SOMEONE TO DEVOUR. RESIST HIM, FIRM IN YOUR FAITH- (1 PETER 5:8-9) -BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND THE STRENGTH OF HIS MIGHT. PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL. (EPHESIANS 6:10-11)
8.) RIGHT CONCENTRATION: -PRAYING AT ALL TIMES IN THE SPIRIT, WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION. TO THAT END KEEP ALERT WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE, MAKING SUPPLICATION FOR ALL THE SAINTS.- (EPHESIANS 6:18) -PRAY WITHOUT CEASING (1 THESSALONIANS 5:17)
SIN IS THE RESULT OF ALL THE EVIL DESIRES AND ACTIONS PEOPLE HAVE DONE IN THEIR LIVES. SIN SEPERATES US FROM A HOLY GOD. YOUR GOOD DOES NOT OUT WEIGH YOUR BAD. GOD DOESN'T WANT GOOD PEOPLE HE WANTS PERFECT PEOPLE. JESUS WAS THE PERFECT SACRIFICE. JESUS WHO KNEW NO SIN BECAME OUR SIN. JESUS'S DEATH ON THE CROSS SATISFIED GOD'S WRATH TOWARDS SINNERS. WHEN YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED (ROMANS 10:9) YOU ARE BORN AGAIN. YOU ARE A NEW CREATION, THE OLD IS GONE THE NEW HAS COME (2 CORINTHIANS 5:17)
CONSEQUENTLY, WHEN CHRIST CAME INTO THE WORLD, HE SAID, "SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY HAVE YOU PREPARED FOR ME; IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SIN OFFERINGS YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE.
THEN I SAID, "BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD, AS IT IS WRITTEN OF ME IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK."EVERY PRIEST STANDS DAILY AT HIS SERVICE, OFFERING REPEATEDLY THE SAME SACRIFICES, WHICH CAN NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS. BUT WHEN CHRIST HAD OFFERED FOR ALL TIME A SINGLE SACRIFICE FOR SINS, HE SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, WAITING FROM THAT TIME UNTIL HIS ENIMIES SHOULD BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. FOR BY A SINGLE OFFERING HE HAS PERFECTED FOR ALL TIME THOSE WHO ARE BEING SANCTIFIED. AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ALSO BEARS WITNESS TO US; FOR AFTER SAYING "THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, DECLARES THE LORD; I WILL PUT MY LAWS ON THEIR HEARTS, AND WRITE THEM ON THEIR MINDS,"
THEN I SAID, "BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD, AS IT IS WRITTEN OF ME IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK."EVERY PRIEST STANDS DAILY AT HIS SERVICE, OFFERING REPEATEDLY THE SAME SACRIFICES, WHICH CAN NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS. BUT WHEN CHRIST HAD OFFERED FOR ALL TIME A SINGLE SACRIFICE FOR SINS, HE SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, WAITING FROM THAT TIME UNTIL HIS ENIMIES SHOULD BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. FOR BY A SINGLE OFFERING HE HAS PERFECTED FOR ALL TIME THOSE WHO ARE BEING SANCTIFIED. AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ALSO BEARS WITNESS TO US; FOR AFTER SAYING "THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, DECLARES THE LORD; I WILL PUT MY LAWS ON THEIR HEARTS, AND WRITE THEM ON THEIR MINDS,"
THEN HE ADDS, I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS NO MORE." WHERE THERE IS FORGIVENESS OF THESE, THERE IS NO LONGER ANY OFFERING FOR SIN.
(HEBREWS 10:5-7,11-18)
JESUS IS PREPARING A PLACE FOR US; HE IS COMING BACK FOR HIS CHURCH, AND HE WILL HAVE HIS VENGANCE ON THIS EARTH. HE WILL SET UP A NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH AND RESTORE ALL THINGS BACK TO HIMSELF.
GOD HAS HIGHLY EXALTED HIM AND BESTOWED ON HIM THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, SO THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
