Subject: Re: Would b most interested to read your thoughts on: Living Buddha, Living Christ.
Vinnie,
I think very highly of that book. However, the last time I read it was in 2002, I believe. And so I don't remember specifics.
But I do remember a sense of enlightenment and confirmation that there is truth in all things.
Yes, I whole-heartedly agree. In fact I very often say that 80% of all religion is BS, and the trick is to distill the creative & usable 20% that actually works toward building indestructible-HAPPINESS. It is in the 80% that religions differ & fight & kill. In the 20% they agree (though they may be using different verbiage to explain it, and though little-brains insist upon emphasizing differences). As time progresses, little-brains pile-up their 80%-destructive-BS on top of the constructive-20% until one has a difficult time even seeing the 20%. JC had to deal with that:
Matthew 23:13 (NIV)
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the world of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
Joseph Smith had to deal with that in the Restoration. Nichiren had to deal with that, and on & on.
Statement of the First Presidency of LDS 15Feb1978:
"Great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God's light.Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals."
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I picked it up around the time I was taking a class in world religions for college credit.
I remember keying in to Buddhism (and some of Hinduism) the most.
I figured if I didn't know of Christ, I'd be Buddhist.
Ready for a surprise? Ever wonder why it was that,
though JC quoted lots of Old-Testament scriptures,
his teachings were so foreign to the ears of his hearers (even disciples)?
John 3 (VV)
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the Enlightened-world of God
unless they are born-again [enlightened, awakened, illuminated].”
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?
11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen,
but still you people do not accept the testimony of our experience.
12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe;
how then will you believe if I speak of Enlightenment?
17 God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
19 This is the verdict: Enlightenment has come into the world,
but people loved darkness instead of Enlightenment because their deeds were evil.
20 Everyone who does evil hates Enlightenment,
and will not come into Enlightenment for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into Enlightenment [Buddhism],
so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
An LDS Video: Our Heavenly Father’s Plan (segment: 03:00–03:35)
says that “the main purpose of life is to learn to live HAPPILY.”
I happen to agree strongly with that statement.
In studying the words of Jesus Christ carefully,
one can see clear references to some curious-concepts overlooked by most Christians:
born-again = new-creature = awake = enlightened = illuminated = enlightened-buddha-nature
1 Peter 1:23
Being born-again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God,
which liveth and abideth for ever.
John 3:7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born-again.
John 3:3
Jesus said, Except a man be born-again, he cannot see the enlightened-world-of-God.
Nichiren:
“Never seek this Gohonzon-focusing-scroll outside yourself.”
old illusions are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 6:15-16
For in Christ Jesus neither avails anything, but a new-creature.
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them.
Romans 13:11
Now it is high time to awake out of sleep.
1 Corinthians 15:34
Awake to righteousness, and stop with stupidity; for some have not the knowledge of God:
I speak this to your shame.
Ephesians 5:14
Awake you that sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you Enlightenment.
Ephesians 1:18-19
Eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling,
and riches of glory.
Hebrews 10:32
Think back on those early days when you were first illuminated.
Remember how you remained full of Absolute-PASSIONate-Determination (faith).
And why did Jesus teach so many Buddhist concepts which had no precedent
in the tribal blood-sacrificial-cult of Israelites?
Because he spent at least a decade of his life studying, practicing & teaching among Buddhists.
"Jesus was a Buddhist":
only the portion from 40:37-to-41:50 is relevant
Relevant segment = 24:19—28:09
Relevant segments = 1:39—6:10; 7:50—9:14
About the years of Jesus that are not written about in the Gospels.
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But finding that book was very fortuitous. It was great making some connections between the two. Thick Nhat Hanh has a keen understanding of the attributes of Christ - more so than many Christians, I believe. I will say The Infinite Atonement by McCallister tops the list of bringing my mind and soul closer to Christ, butBuddhism helps quiet my mind and soul in a way that helps me receive the teachings of the Holy Ghost. I think the teachings of Buddha were, and are, one of the Lord's tender mercies for the people who know not of Christ.
Very interesting statement:
"Buddhism helps ... me receive the teachings of the Holy Ghost."
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Anyway, those are a few thoughts. Time and recollection prevent me from going into more detail.
Now is a good time in my life to re-read Living Buddha, Living Christ. And so I will.
Summer
From what I could read on Amazon.com sample-pages,
I also think very highly of that book.
It seems to point out congruity of the teachings of
Shakya--muni--buddha (ShakyaClan--sage--enlightenedOne)
and
Y'shua--meshiah-christos (Jesus--anointed-enlightened=buddha)
and their alike teachings toward:
ability to resolve-harmoniously what appear to be unsolvable-contradictions,
indestructible-HAPPINESS not-influenced by external-conditions,
serenity-of-beingness, &
wise-compassion;
my very goals in life.
Would b most interested in reading/hearing your new insights as you re-read it.
