RELIGION OF BUDDHISM

buddha

A way of living based on the teachings of Siddartha Gautama, the Buddha. Buddhism focuses on personal spiritual development. Buddhists strive for a deep insight into the true nature of life. They do not worship gods or deities.

The essence of Buddhism may be summarized as listed below:

The Three Jewels

· I go to the Buddha for refuge.

· I go to the Dhamma for refuge.

· I go to the Samgha for refuge.

The Four Noble Truths

· Life is disappointing and full of suffering.

· Suffering is the result of one's desire to pleasure, power, continued existence.

· To stop suffering one must stop desiring.

· The way to stop desiring is the noble eightfold path.

The Noble Eightfold Path of Right Understanding

· Right thought/attitude

· Right intention

· Right speech

· Right conduct/action

· Right livelihood/occupation

· Right effort

· Right awareness

· Right concentration

The Ten Precepts

· I observe the precepts not to kill any sentient being.

· I observe the precept not to steal the ungiven things.

· I observe the precept not to indulge in unnoble sexual pleasures.

· I observe the precept not to tell falsehood.

· I observe the precept not to be intoxicated with narcotics, drugs and alcoholic drinks.

· I observe the precept not to take any food after noon.

· I observe the precept not to enjoy any dancing, singing or playing of musical instruments.

· I observe the precept not to indulge in the use of flowers, perfumes, or any other cosmetics.

· I observe the precept not to use high and grand seats and beds.

· I observe the precept not to engage in monetary matters and handling of silver and gold.

The path to Enlightenment or Buddhahood is through the practice and development of morality, meditation, and wisdom. The Buddha was not a god and Buddhism does not embrace a theistic worldview. Buddha’s teachings aim to liberate us from suffering.

Doctrinal Comparison – Buddhism vs. the Word of God

What Buddhism teach	What the Bible teaches	Supporting Scripture References
Reincarnation Buddhists believe in rebirth and reincarnation. Buddhism teaches that consciousness continues after death, and finds expression in a future life. Buddha preached that the soul goes through many incarnations before it finally sheds all its karma and is reunited to its pure state. Buddha called this state Nirvana.	The Scriptures reject reincarnation. We die once, and them the judgment. We do not return as another person or in some other form.	And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, (Hebrews 9:27) "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.' "Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.' " (Luke 16:19-31)
Nirvana Nirvana is the highest happiness. The Dhammapada 204 Nirvana is beyond time, so there is no movement and so no aging or dying there. It is the state that all Buddhists aspire to, where one is completely free from suffering.	The Scriptures are very clear on this subject. There is no such thing as a Nirvana. Those who die having put their trust in Jesus Christ shall inherit eternal life with Him. Those who reject His salvation will spend an eternity in Hell, separated from God. There is no other future. Nirvana is a man-made invention and has led people astray by the millions.	And He (Jesus) said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." (John 8:23-24) Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life (having rejected Christ's salvation) was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)
Belief in God Buddhism does not teach the concept of a personal creator or God. Buddha did not deny God’s existence, and he did teach that the universe is governed by a Supreme Power. Buddha said that this Supreme Power did not have a name or form. He said that there was no need to believe in God. The Buddha says: Gripped by fear men go to the sacred mountains, sacred groves, sacred trees and shrines. The Dhammapada 188	God created the heavens and the earth and He created man from His own image. God is a personal, loving God who love us but hates our sin. That is why He sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die for our sins. Jesus shed His blood on the cross to atone for our sins, and those who by faith put their trust in Jesus' payment for their sins will find forgiveness. Scripture tells us all men are aware of God's existence. As is the nature of all sinners, Buddha rejected Him. As all leaders of false religions, Buddha could not bring himself to say three simple, life changing words ... 'I have sinned'.	For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:5) God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24) For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; (Colossians 2:9) But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)

Buddha and Biblical Truth Compared

Buddha	Truth	Supporting Scripture
Never claimed to be God	Jesus claimed to be God. He was God incarnate. His name 'Immanuel' means 'God with us'. He created Buddha.	Jesus said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." (Revelation 22:13) Speaking in reference to Jesus’ birth, "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which is translated, "God with us." (Matthew 1:23) Speaking of Jesus, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4)
Never prophesied	Jesus did many prophecies because He is a Prophet, Priest, and King.
Performed no miracles	Jesus performed dozens of miracles. As a matter of fact, John tells us that if all were recorded, the world could not contain the volumes.	And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. (John 21:25)
Died as was cremated	Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected to life on the third day. He is victory over death	... 'The Son of Man (Jesus) must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' " (Luke 24:7) ... Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
There is no personal God, not even a creator God. The world exists by natural laws.	God created the world and everything in it. He is a personal God who desires all to come to Him through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.	In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) All things were made through Him (Jesus Christ), and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:3) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)
There is no such thing as sinning against a supreme being.	Everyone is guilty of sinning against God. We all have a sin nature. We all must confess and repent of our sins before Christ, without which we can never be saved. Without Christ's saving grace, we will die in our sins.	... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23) As it is written: "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS; THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS AFTER GOD. THEY HAVE ALL TURNED ASIDE; THEY HAVE TOGETHER BECOME UNPROFITABLE; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NO, NOT ONE." (Romans 3:10-12)
People have only a temporary existence, and are not worth anything in themselves.	Human beings were created by God in His image, and are of infinite worth. They live forever, some to everlasting life with Christ, others to everlasting condemnation in Hell.	So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27) ... for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth-- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:28-29)