Thread: Jesus--Christianity?, Buddha--Buddhism?

Originally Posted by sephiroth clock

so just some thoughts on current religions etc. Not really meant to be an argument about whether religion/spirituality/god etc is valid..

All great masters live by the dao, the way.

Jesus, Buddha and all great masters have attained enlightenment by doing so.
But the followers of the religions of Christianity and Buddhism, now worship Jesus and Buddha, instead of following the way that they taught--the dao.

The highest gift is to them is to follow their teachings, not to worship them. Honor them because the follow the way with perfection.

Seems like many religions, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, have become more obsessed with the man and the myths than the teachings. This is what separates religions. The teachings of the great masters are universal and always the same. Religions are separated because they worship the myths and the man rather than the teaching.

Haha, we think alike.

The way is the illusion.

are you saying that people worship their gods instead of what their religions teach them? as in what's good and bad and all that jazz? no christian lives by the teachings or there would be no christian crime.

It's TAO, not dao. It's PRONOUNCED dao, spelled tao, I'm sure you got it by now. Couldn't resist correcting, it's an easy mistake to make

But if the teaching is "thou shalt have no other Gods before me" - then surley by following the teaching you would worship the God.

The teachings aren't the same at all. There's no evidence for that. Sure, if you presume that all religious leaders meant to say something deeply taoistic when in fact they didn't then they're all the same. I'm pretty sure I could find a way to square Scientology beliefs with all major religions if I attempted to, and find proof that Jesus is in fact the Messiah of Hubbard. However, that would be bullshit. Jesus was a carpenter who talked too much and tried to rip people off with crap magic tricks only to get X'ed by Jews for his swindle. And Muhammad was a megalomaniac pedophile who wrote a crap book and pushed it on everybody else with violence. They didn't "follow the way with perfection", they were everyday average guys who got away with lies and crookery.

Originally Posted by NickKanieval

It's TAO, not dao. It's PRONOUNCED dao, spelled tao, I'm sure you got it by now. Couldn't resist correcting, it's an easy mistake to make

I've seen it spelled both ways, I don't think it really matters

Originally Posted by sephiroth clock

Seems like many religions, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, have become more obsessed with the man and the myths than the teachings. This is what separates religions. The teachings of the great masters are universal and always the same. Religions are separated because they worship the myths and the man rather than the teaching.

I definately dissagree Jesus taught the people to worship God. What Jesus Christ taught wasn't from himself. He taught what the Father requested.

Originally Posted by Dizko

But if the teaching is "thou shalt have no other Gods before me" - then surley by following the teaching you would worship the God.

How do you worship God?

Originally Posted by Serkat

The teachings aren't the same at all. There's no evidence for that. Sure, if you presume that all religious leaders meant to say something deeply taoistic when in fact they didn't then they're all the same. I'm pretty sure I could find a way to square Scientology beliefs with all major religions if I attempted to, and find proof that Jesus is in fact the Messiah of Hubbard. However, that would be bullshit. Jesus was a carpenter who talked too much and tried to rip people off with crap magic tricks only to get X'ed by Jews for his swindle. And Muhammad was a megalomaniac pedophile who wrote a crap book and pushed it on everybody else with violence. They didn't "follow the way with perfection", they were everyday average guys who got away with lies and crookery.

Each teaching is tailored to the culture and customs of the society that the master was living in. Jesus teaches not to sin, Buddha teaches not to accrue bad karma. I think masters teach with varying aims, But the teachings are the the way, the dao (or tao--spelling : P ).

Well, historically it is difficult to prove much about the masters--even if they actually existed. I would agree that just because they are masters doesn't mean that they always act perfectly. They are still human. Jesus wasn't a magician... Magician's don't have legacies that affect the entire course of human history. I think he knew what he was doing. Have you ever read the bible? I don't think that is a good interpretation of the biblical Jesus. Of course there are many other gospels that are left out of the Bible that would be good perspective on Jesus.

As for muhammed, I think his writings in the Koran were good teachings. The Koran has also had a huge impact on the world. But I think that he may have become "fallen" later in his life. I think there's enough history to show he was corrupted. Have you ever read the Koran!?

Tricksters and Crazy people don't have such huge impacts on the future. Their work stands the test of time.

Originally Posted by Ne-yo

I definately dissagree Jesus taught the people to worship God. What Jesus Christ taught wasn't from himself. He taught what the Father requested.

How do you worship God? So what did he teach through the father?

Originally Posted by sephiroth clock

How do you worship God? So what did he teach through the father?

I asked that same question when I was younger, so I picked up the Bible and received my answer. It's all in the scriptures my friend.

Originally Posted by Dizko

But if the teaching is "thou shalt have no other Gods before me" - then surley by following the teaching you would worship the God.

Open your mind.. When you pray to God you give yourself to a higher power. This method is used by Buddhists, they meditate to reach a state of Nirvana.

When I pray I meditate.. Its sad to see that some people just ask for things then stop praying. A real prayer is at least half an hour..

The only problem I see with what you are saying is that according to all existing evidence of Jesus' teachings, he didn't teach any 'way' except through acceptance of him and worship of his father.

Also, the way he lived may have had some similarities to daoism but was far from being exactly the same.



Also, whoever questioned the spelling, its actually spelled

Originally Posted by Xaqaria

The only problem I see with what you are saying is that according to all existing evidence of Jesus' teachings, he didn't teach any 'way' except through acceptance of him and worship of his father.

Also, the way he lived may have had some similarities to daoism but was far from being exactly the same.



Also, whoever questioned the spelling, its actually spelled

Huh?

“What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul.”

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Luke 18:25)”

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.”

“Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence. Love others as well as you love yourself.”

“Let one who has become wealthy reign, and let one who has power renounce”

The whole point of Jesus was that his "kingdom from another world" (future humanity), would look back and see how a perfect man led a road of suffering. To be looked back as an example, to know the world has hated first. Taoism lacks a central figure to look up too. Also the fact that the Bible is almost all metaphoric. The main flaw with Christianity is after time things in the bible make no sense, and aren't possible. Many people hold on to what the bible says and are in the mind state of 100 A.D. So Christianity although widespread, has a huge flaw.

I'm sorry, but I don't see how what you quoted really has anything to do with what I posted; or at least I can't tell what specifically you are responding to, but if you want to quote scripture, I'll try to respond the best I can.

Ephesians
2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 2:5 even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you are saved! 2:6 and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 2:7 to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 2:9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.

Mathew 10:32 “Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

Romans 10:9 because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Jesus' teachings from the bible says the the one and only way to get to heaven is to accept christ. There are things that he says to do as a good person, but none of them will bring you closer to god. Only accepting Jesus (according to him) will do that, and it is by far the most stressed part of his 'message'.

Get jiggy wit det.

Originally Posted by Xaqaria

I'm sorry, but I don't see how what you quoted really has anything to do with what I posted; or at least I can't tell what specifically you are responding to, but if you want to quote scripture, I'll try to respond the best I can.



Jesus' teachings from the bible says the the one and only way to get to heaven is to accept christ. There are things that he says to do as a good person, but none of them will bring you closer to god. Only accepting Jesus (according to him) will do that, and it is by far the most stressed part of his 'message'.

But isn't the way to get closer to God, the same message?

Originally Posted by Dreamworld

But isn't the way to get closer to God, the same message?

Lol way to play semantics again. The way to his grace "God" is through Jebus. Jebus says only through me.

Originally Posted by Dreamworld

But isn't the way to get closer to God, the same message?

The same as what? Daoism? The OP claimed that people worship their leader instead of following their teachings, but Christianity's teaching is to worship the leader, or in other words; accept Jesus Christ as your savior. According to Christianity, you can do all the nice things that Jesus says you should, but if you don't worship Jesus you aren't going to heaven. This is what Jesus said, by all records we have of his words, and therefore it doesn't really fit the theory that Jesus was preaching daoism and christians have merely lost their way. The whole point of Christianity is that nothing you do will save you and only Jesus alone can save you if you let him.

Just to correct something, Buddhists don't worship Buddha at all.

Anyway i think relegion is alot like a game of Telephone. You have the first person in the game of Telephone who whispers in the other's ear a word and eventually the message gets so diluted the person on the far end gets a completely different word then what the first person said. You get me? I think relegion is alot like that.

In a book by Paulo Coalho (sp?) it said something like "If only Jesus could see the institution that was built around his words"

Which i take to mean The people are too focused around the Dogmas and Traditions that were built around the words of Christ rather teachings and principles themselves...You guys get me?

Originally Posted by dragonoverlord

Just to correct something, Buddhists don't worship Buddha at all.

Anyway i think relegion is alot like a game of Telephone. You have the first person in the game of Telephone who whispers in the other's ear a word and eventually the message gets so diluted the person on the far end gets a completely different word then what the first person said. You get me? I think relegion is alot like that.

In a book by Paulo Coalho (sp?) it said something like "If only Jesus could see the institutionthat was built around his words"

Which i take to mean The people are too focused around the Dogmas and Traditions that were built around the words of Christ rather teachings and principles themselves...You guys get me?

Most buddhists do worship the Buddha



The religion doesn't preach worshipping buddha but that doesn't change the fact that it happens.

Originally Posted by Xaqaria

Most buddhists do worship the Buddha



The religion doesn't preach worshipping buddha but that doesn't change the fact that it happens.

I suppose its just human nature eh?

"edit"

Buddhists do not worhip anyone or anything. The Buddha himself said that he was not a god nor should he be worshipped. However, you may see people bowing to a statue of the Buddha; this is merely showing respect in the same way that one might bow to a King or Queen or salute the flag.

Buddhism is not a religion in the Western sense but is a philosophy of living as a way to improve your life and the lives of those around you.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_do_Buddhists_worship

According to this source most buddhists don't worship Buddha although im sure it does happen (Sects and what not)

Originally Posted by Sandform

Lol way to play semantics again. The way to his grace "God" is through Jebus. Jebus says only through me.

This post is to Xaqaria as well.

Semantics come in play, because the bible means something very different when taken metaphorically. How many times must I say that word? The bible was not meant to be taken literally. If God was so perfect, all the problems that arisen from the bible only make sense when taken metaphorically.

This is the point folks.

What does Jesus represent? What does God represent? How do you grace God through Jesus using the analogy? What did the bible mean when it said he cured the blind? You are thinking of the bible as a story, but you are not analyzing it. Do you even know what Jesus dieing for our sins means? Answer these questions, and perhaps I can see if your perspective of the bible is correct.

Think of it like this you have one person who follows Taoism. He decides to read the bible. He obviously will think its all bullshit, but he will soon realize that the path of God is the path to humility, and moral advancement. Could you also tell me where the concept of praying came from?

P.S: Has anyone here ever taken a theology class?

Originally Posted by Dreamworld

Answer these questions, and perhaps I can see if your perspective of the bible is correct.

There is no such thing as a correct perspective of the bible. It is the big book of multiple choice. Any point you want to get accross you can find a passage in it, or twist the words, or decide to look at it "metaphorically." So which parts are Metaphors Dream. Is Jesus a metaphor and he doesn't really exist? Is God a metaphor?

I personally agree with you it is all made up and anything with a point to it had to have been a metaphor.

Direct statements by the people about what you must do in life however are allowed to be taken literal.

Well you didn't answer anything.. I think I added that part after you posted.