Buddhism Beliefs

QUESTION: Buddhism beliefs - What are the basics?

ANSWER:

The basic practices and beliefs of Buddhism are credited to Siddhartha Guatama, born in Nepal in 563 B.C. Troubled by the suffering amongst the common people, Guatama departed from his Hindu studies and gods. He chose to live off of alms while devoting himself to extreme somberness.

This brought him to a weakened state of mind and body and not to the peace he had hoped for. He began intense meditation, claiming it brought him into a god-like state of "Nirvana." Though difficult to reach, Nirvana is said to be achieved by totally denying self, entering a state of illumination, joy, and harmony. However, it is said that to do so brings release from desires for self that causes all bodily pain and sorrow. By claiming to have done so, Guatama proclaimed himself to be an "enlightened one" or a Buddha. A Buddha is someone regarded as embodying divine wisdom and virtue, but not a god.

Buddhist beliefs and Christianity differ in many ways:

• Buddhists do not believe in a Divine being, therefore they have no concept of salvation and atonement for wrong doings. Compare those beliefs to Christianity, wherein God provided His Son Jesus as redemption for our sins.
• While Buddhism claims there is no beginning and end, we are shown through Christianity and Judaism the Creation and God's plan for our eternity.
• The philosophies of Buddha were written 400 years after his death. The Bible was written with numerous prophecies hundreds of years before Jesus was born.
• There are no directives or absolutes to the path of Nirvana. Yet Jesus taught that while our physical bodies will die, our soul will ascend to be with the Lord in Heaven. We must simply accept His gift of salvation to be redeemed for this assurance. Buddhists contend that people do not have individual souls and hold to the belief that achievements in life will continue on and on into your next bodily form, striving to get it right (reincarnation). In Buddhism, there is no forgiveness or mercy from a loving God.

Buddhist beliefs - Where is the hope? In Buddhism, there is no hope for eternal safety. In Christianity, however, Jesus gave us directives and absolutes. Eternal joy is achievable through accepting Him. He tells us in John 10:9a (KJV), "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved. . ." and Romans 10:9-13, "That if you confess with your mouth,'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that your believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.' For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile -- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'"