The Buddha a Catholic Saint...

Terrence said:
Here's the thing, I'll give yout the really quick answer (kinda busy). All the OT saints where saved the same way as the NT saints: Faith in the Messiah. The OT trusted in the promise to come (Jesus) and the NT saints trusted in the one that came (Jesus). We're saved by grace through faith, remember? Jesus is the key here. He Himself said that many came before Him, but they were all false and the wrong paths/way. He is the only way to eternal life and God. As for where they saints was? I dont understand what you mean..
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Perhaps it helps to be Catholic, or to familiarize oneself with the qualifications for sainthood. Easy to fix; we can learn online.

As for faith as the path to salvation, you've already opened Pandora's Box. Many Christians will say that one needs faith + works. And I tend to go the opposite direction. Your faith and a buck fifty .... err, nevermind. If it keeps you smiling, then it's a good thing. :)

andrew
 
taijasi said:
Perhaps it helps to be Catholic, or to familiarize oneself with the qualifications for sainthood. Easy to fix; we can learn online.

As for faith as the path to salvation, you've already opened Pandora's Box. Many Christians will say that one needs faith + works. And I tend to go the opposite direction. Your faith and a buck fifty .... err, nevermind. If it keeps you smiling, then it's a good thing. :)

andrew
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If that is the opposite direction, what is the direction that says: faith = works directed by another? What does Buddha say?
 
cyberpi said:
If that is the opposite direction, what is the direction that says: faith = works directed by another? What does Buddha say?
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Hmmm, I'm not sure I understand what you mean? As for what the Buddha says, you might try looking at the thread on the Dhammapada. I think that clears it up. "All we are, is the result of what we have thought." Or as my good (Christian) friend puts it, What we do today determines our tomorrow.

My friend has also been known to say, "If you want potatoes, ya gotta pick up the hoe." Some great, if simple, wisdom in that ... with a world of application! ;)

Then again, next thing we know, St. Peter won't be a Saint, an Apostle, or even a Christian. Damn, the jury may convict him yet! :rolleyes:

Forgive my meandering, let's get back to the topic at hand. Thanks for the nudge, wil. :eek:

Namaskar,

taijasi
 
taijasi said:
Perhaps it helps to be Catholic, or to familiarize oneself with the qualifications for sainthood. Easy to fix; we can learn online.

As for faith as the path to salvation, you've already opened Pandora's Box. Many Christians will say that one needs faith + works. And I tend to go the opposite direction. Your faith and a buck fifty .... err, nevermind. If it keeps you smiling, then it's a good thing. :)

andrew
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So you're a catholic? You have some special remedy to become a saint other than what the bible teaches? Again, the bible calls anyone who have repented and placed their trust in Jesus, a saint. As for faith and works. Lets not suppose what we think or believe but instead go by what scriptures teach. There are 2 wings that will fly us to the God. They are 1. Repentence and 2. Faith. When we have true faith (that which God gaves to those He wills) you will have works as a fruit or byproduct, that will prove you have true saving faith. True faith cannot exist without works, they go hand in hand. This is not to say that we work to prove our faith or gain salvation. Rather, works results from true faith and is not used to gain salvation, but instead used to Glorify God. In essence: We are saved for Good works and not by good works.
 
Lol! No Terrence, I am not a Catholic. Nor am I a Protestant. Definitely not a Calvinist ... although my parents are Lutheran. I attended Lutheran churches for 13 years or so, but that was only until I began asking questions. After finding my own answers, I've decided I'm not interested in being in the "member's only" club.

Predestination is nonsense to me. I do agree with your penultimate statement from the previous post. But that's about it. And you can't say things like "the Bible says" and expect that to stick. Which version, after which revision and edits? That's a rhetorical question, btw ... ;)

Nevermind this though, let's get back on topic. I find it fascinating that the Catholic Church accidentally canonized the Buddha! :D Maybe there's hope (for us die-hard ecumenists) after all!

Then again, it's about time!!! Buddhism, Hinduism, and other Eastern traditions have accepted Jesus as a Saint, even as an enlightened Bodhisattva (by some classifications) ... for AGES! The least Christianity could do would be to reciprocate. I mean this quite seriously.

One way to think about it, would be to imagine, what if Christ met Buddha? Anyone who things an argument would ensue ... might just have a screw loose. Then again, for those who have witnessed the Tibetan monks debating, such as those of Drepung, Ganden or SeraJe monasteries, I think an exchange between Christ and the Buddha would be rather lively! And if you haven't seen Tibetan monks debating - you're missing out! :p

cheers,

taijasa
 
Predestination is nonsense to me. I do agree with your penultimate statement from the previous post. But that's about it. And you can't say things like "the Bible says" and expect that to stick. Which version, after which revision and edits? That's a rhetorical question, btw ... ;)
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In my opinion, the bible isn't credible in it's current status because it has been translated from Hebrew, Greek, and Latin to English or whatever other language. When I am in spanish class every other day, the teacher (Dr. Gill) tells us some words cannot be translated from Spanish to English. Same must be true for all languages. But I'm a Buddhist, I don't read the bible anyway...

One way to think about it, would be to imagine, what if Christ met Buddha? Anyone who things an argument would ensue ... might just have a screw loose. Then again, for those who have witnessed the Tibetan monks debating, such as those of Drepung, Ganden or SeraJe monasteries, I think an exchange between Christ and the Buddha would be rather lively! And if you haven't seen Tibetan monks debating - you're missing out! :p
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If there are any Christians here who are interested in Buddhist Christian Dialogue, I have two books I am trying to give away. LIVING BUDDHA, LIVING CHRIST and GOING HOME, JESUS AND BUDDHA AS BROTHERS both by Thich Nhat Hanh. This is legite, I will mail the books free of charge and give them free of charge because I practise the buddhist form of Dana (charity), plus I have doubles of the books and wish to share. Both books are top ten bestsellers (or were in their day) and LIVING BUDDHA LIVING CHRIST is nominated as "One of the top ten books for educated people." If you do not believe I will mail these too you for free, private message toujour_333. I gave him three books. I only have these two left. So the first two people who message me (not in this discussion forum) I will give them too.

SABBE SATTA SUKHITO HONTU!

May all beings be Happy!
 
the desire to please god thru gods grace so the glory of god maybe manifested is alot different than man quest to perfect humanitarianism.
all things of man will end, but those things of the lord god will remain forever.
 
bodhi_mindisfree said:
If there are any Christians here who are interested in Buddhist Christian Dialogue, I have two books I am trying to give away. LIVING BUDDHA, LIVING CHRIST and GOING HOME, JESUS AND BUDDHA AS BROTHERS both by Thich Nhat Hanh. This is legite, I will mail the books free of charge and give them free of charge because I practise the buddhist form of Dana (charity), plus I have doubles of the books and wish to share. Both books are top ten bestsellers (or were in their day) and LIVING BUDDHA LIVING CHRIST is nominated as "One of the top ten books for educated people." If you do not believe I will mail these too you for free, private message toujour_333. I gave him three books. I only have these two left. So the first two people who message me (not in this discussion forum) I will give them too.

SABBE SATTA SUKHITO HONTU!

May all beings be Happy!
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Oh my goodness, I hadn't noticed which Dallas! I'm in Greensboro. We should meet for coffee or something! And if you have those wonderful books, I'd love to have them! I don't own copies, although I have quite a few of Thich Nhat Hanh's other books. He's the first Buddhist author I ever read ... about 17 years ago.

seattlegal said:
Oh, do you mean something like Liberation through mutual exorcism? That might be a bit too lively for CR. :eek:
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Oh, I dunno. I find that part of the Sacred Music, Sacred Dance tour the most enjoyable. It's the Purification of the Environment with dungchen (longhorns), and overtone chanting, that scares most people. :p

blaznfattyz said:
the desire to please god thru gods grace so the glory of god maybe manifested is alot different than man quest to perfect humanitarianism.
all things of man will end, but those things of the lord god will remain forever.
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Okay, but can you tie this in with the canonization of the Buddha as a Saint? ;)

Namaskar,

taijasi
 
taijasi said:
Oh my goodness, I hadn't noticed which Dallas! I'm in Greensboro. We should meet for coffee or something! And if you have those wonderful books, I'd love to have them! I don't own copies, although I have quite a few of Thich Nhat Hanh's other books. He's the first Buddhist author I ever read ... about 17 years ago.

Oh, I dunno. I find that part of the Sacred Music, Sacred Dance tour the most enjoyable. It's the Purification of the Environment with dungchen (longhorns), and overtone chanting, that scares most people. :p

Okay, but can you tie this in with the canonization of the Buddha as a Saint? ;)

Namaskar,

taijasi
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buddha as a saint is an invention of man, but because god has already come in the flesh there is nothing we should direct our attention to other than christ jesus.
 
BlaznFattyz said:
buddha as a saint is an invention of man, but because god has already come in the flesh there is nothing we should direct our attention to other than christ jesus.
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Yep. I think you've pretty well summarized the chief reason I'm not a Christian. :(

andrew
 
I would say Buddha is higher than a saint. A catholic saint is elected. Buddha is a realized being. The greatness of realized individuals is beyond description. They could be saints and they could have been rejected by the electorate which is not realized because they are free from the dark misery of the materialistic mind which is responsible for the cruelty in the system of things we are experiencing today. These realized saints are free because they are unattached and have never hardened their minds to the physical world. They do respond though without delay to the trembling nerves they might encounter and to all the problems and questions, spoken and unspoken. Their desire is to remove the causes of sorrow whether they are physical, mental or spiritual because they prevent the unfortunate people in this world from happiness. Compared with true bliss nothing is of any importance because fame, health and success are nothing compared to the happiness experienced in their higher minds. The happiness evoked in the higher layers of the Mind is not the same thing as excitement or pleasure experienced in the lower layers, it is a deep flowing calm, a satisfaction that mounts up at times into ecstasy and is to be shared with others.
http://thinkunity.com
 
soma said:
A catholic saint is elected. Buddha is a realized being.
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a christian saint is a follower of jesus christ. jesus being the way, the truth, and the life.
 
I never really understood Buddhism, even before when I liked it in my pre-Christian years. This religion (I know...I know, its not a "religion") seems to be narcissistic to me. I mean, its all about I in that relgion/way/path or whatever you want to call it. Look at me, I'm so humble, I dont eat animals, I love the earth, I meditate and wear nice robs and stay away from women and practice zen and ti chi. Sorry, but I must be honest. I believe the people who seek after buddhism are existentialist who do everything for themselves...even really good things. Here's my little Christian segway here: This is why the God of the Bible likens our good works "filthy mensration rags" - they're all done out of selfish motives and for the wrong reasons - they're never pure.
 
taijasi said:
Hmmm, I'm not sure I understand what you mean? As for what the Buddha says, you might try looking at the thread on the Dhammapada.
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I meant, I think faith = work directed by another person. I also meant I am ignorant of what Buddha says about faith. I'll review the thread.

taijasi said:
"All we are, is the result of what we have thought." Or as my good (Christian) friend puts it, What we do today determines our tomorrow.
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I reject the first because I place faith in others.

I reject the second because today I chose what to do and the people who called me also helped choose my day today. I have not decided or I don't know what will determine tomorrow. I can take clay and mold it, change its shape. Will its shape tomorrow be determined by its shape today? Maybe, or maybe tomorrow I'll just flatten it and start over... try something completely new. Yesterday did not determine today, and I haven't decided if I'll let today determine tomorrow. I'll let you know tomorrow though.

I hope those are not core principles of Buddhism.
taijasi said:
And if you haven't seen Tibetan monks debating - you're missing out! :p
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Where do I sign up?
 
Cyberpi,

Other people definitely influence our lives, and vice versa. However, this is part of the result (!) ... of our own (and others') earlier actions! When the person on the highway cuts you off, you are still in control - if you so choose. Even if that person causes you to swerve, and wreck, and become terribly hurt ... EVEN THEN, YOU are the one who determines your reaction/response. That person may have to pay the medical bills, but it's up to you to make him or her a sworn enemy, prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, or perhaps forgive them - and accept that it was not intentional. ;)

When the meteor falls and destroys your home, it's easy to say, "I'm a victim!" And in terms of natural disaster, yes. But what YOU DO NEXT, is up to you. :)

If you win the lottery, do you really think it's random? Did that really just happen because "they" drew your lucky number? And why did you decide to buy a ticket that day, when you NEVER play the lottery? Why did your friend decide to give you the ticket, since of course, you'd NEVER buy one for yourself. Or ... of all the HUNDREDS of lottery tickets you buy, why do you think it was THIS one, and not the first one, that was lucky? There are answers to these kind of questions. They are hypothetical, but life is not without meaning, purpose, order, guidance, rhythm, balance, and a beauty unto itself.

Buddhism is about Causality. Assert that the world we live in is random and arbitrary, and you negative the teachings of the Buddhas. Invoke the man in the sky, and start talking about reward and punishment, and all you've done is perpetuate the need to be taken care of ... and evaded ultimate responsibility for yourself. Can we in fact take, or claim such responsibility? Yes, we can. And that doesn't eliminate God, either. Nor does it mean we cease to be Christian. Just kinda depends on how narrowly we've come to define and understand the teachings of Christ. ;)

For Sacred Music, Sacred Dance (Mystical Arts of Tibet), consult this webpage. Schedule of performances is listed.

As for the answer to the thread topic, thanks soma. I believe you've pretty well summed it up! :)

Namaskar,

taijasi
 
One thing we can learn from Buddhist is they never put Christianity down to make themselves feel better. I have met Buddhist who are better Christians than the Christians in name only who condemn and are afraid.
 
soma said:
One thing we can learn from Buddhist is they never put Christianity down to make themselves feel better. I have met Buddhist who are better Christians than the Christians in name only who condemn and are afraid.
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Hold on, I've met Buddhists who have put down and sneered at Christianity.
 
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