How Buddhism differs from other religions
- Part 8 -

Thangjam Sanjoo Singh *

Wat (Buddhist Temple) from Thailand - 2016

Who is the real holy man?
– Whosoever does not harm to living creatures.
– Whosoever does not kill or participate in killing, is to be called a holy man.
– Whosoever is tolerant with the intolerant .
– Whosoever patiently tolerate punishment.
– Whosoever shows compassion to all creatures, is to be called a holy man. —Buddha

Real holy man

A holy man is one who never considers himself superior to any single creatures on earth and who has renounced all the pleasures of life. —Mahatma Gandhi

Hunting ground for missionaries

Ignorance and poverty are very successful hunting ground for missionaries.

Conversion is meaningless

For inward satisfaction and growth, people change their religions. I am against modern methods of conversion that people perform as if doing some business. —Mahatma Gandhi

Religions are not all the same but their aim is same

In spite of some similarities amongst religions, it is intellectual hypocrisy or a well-meaning lie, to say that all religions are same. It would be more correct to say that the aim of all religions is the same: that is, to find peace, eternal bliss, or salvation. But the methods adopted to achieve that aim by various religions are not the same and some and some may even be controversial.

Cows are of many colours but the colours of the milk is always the same. Therefore, the aim of religion is the same as the colour of milk.

Who should punish an offender?

When Jesus Christ met a group of people who were about to stone a woman to death for misbehaviour, he said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Where religions originate

All the religions begin in heaven and descend to earth, like the stalactite.

Buddhism begins on earth and ascends up to heaven, like the stalagmite.

Comparison between Buddhism and Christianity
– Christianity is theocentric, as it is centred around the concept of God; while Buddhism is anthropocentric, as it is centred around the concept of man.

– For the Christian, religion has come down from Heaven to fulfil the purpose of the Creator; for the Buddhist, religion has grown up on earth to fulfil a human need, to solve a human problem.

– For the Christian, man is the image of God in imperfect form, which God creates and attempts to perfect through the practice of religion; for the Buddhist, God is the image of man in perfect form, which man conceives and attempts to realise, through the practice of religion.

– For the Christian, Christ is God become man, the ‘Anthropomorphic God’; for the Buddhist, the Buddha is man become God (Brahma bhuto), the ‘Theo psychic Man’.

– For the Christian, the practice of religion is co-operation with God to satisfy hid divine purpose; for the Buddhist , the practice of religion is the fulfilment of a human need to overcome evil , suffering ad ignorance, by transcending human weakness.

– For the Christian, the practice is on the belief in God and his plan; for the Buddhist, the practice is based on an understanding of the problem of human existence and its solution through an inner transformation. —Rev M Punnaji

Religion and materialism

The main reason why materialism has grown to be so powerful and influential in the modern world is because science has proven that many of those concepts maintained as religious beliefs are unacceptable.

Therefore, there are very educated and intelligent people who can wholeheartedly subscribe to such beliefs. Some people still uphold them but only as part of their traditions or culture.

On the other hand, some people modify these concept by using their common sense and give new interpretations to age-old practices.

Communism and Religion

Some countries attempt to oust religion and introduce communism or socialism. Today their people are turning back to religion.

Science and Religion

Science without religion is lame.
Religion without science is blind.
—Albert Einstein

The things that science cannot do

Today, so many people are plagued with fear, restlessness, and insecurity. Yet, Science fails to rescue them. Science is unable to teach the common man to control is mind when he is driven by the animal nature that burns within him.

Science is unable to provide a meaningful life and purpose for life. It cannot provide man a clear reason for his living. In fact, science is thoroughly secularin nature and unconcerned with man.

Duty of science and religion

Science asks what the world is and religion asks what mankind and society should become. —Albert Einstein

To be continued....