Why I believe Buddhism and Buddhist belief are false.
1. What
is Buddhism.
2. Who is Buddha.
3. What is karma and
reincarnation.
4. Theory explains phenomena.
5. Reincarnation is a theory
6. Reincarnation contradicts the
phenomenon of mediums invoking the spirit of the dead.
7. Spirit possession theory explains all these phenomena.
8. Demon possession.
9. Deception.
10. Works versus grace.
11. Conclusion.
1. What
is Buddhism.
Buddhism
is a
widespread Asian
religion or
philosophy founded
by Siddartha
Gautama (Buddha;c.563-c.460
BC) in
north east
India in
the 5th
century BC,
which teaches
that elimination
of the
self and
earthly desires
is the
route to
enlightenment.
There
are two main schools of thought in Buddhism,
the Theravada and the Mahanyana,
Theravada
Buddhists believe they must personally eradicate their mental defilements and
develop all the great virtues in
order to gain their final salvation by following the method and example
prescribed by the Buddha. They
respect
Bodhisattvas but do not regard them as saviors.
In
the Mahayana school of thought, the Bodhisattvas play an important role by
showing others the path to attain Nibbana. A Bodhisattva is a
person who is able to be
released from Samsara and reaching Nibbana but delays doing so through
compassion for suffering beings.
The practice of Buddhism has been modified
by local customs, producing distinct varieties of worship. They include the Indian, Tibetan, Ceylonese (Sri
Lankan), Burmese, Thai, Cambodian, Chinese and Japanese varieties.
It is
claimed that the
Siddartha
Gautama's way of life and doctrine were substantially different from the Hindu
(Vedic and Brahmanic) believing people in India.
Yet he embraced the Hindu beliefs of Karma
and rebirth explaining it as a natural law of cause and effect.
Hence Buddhism is often considered as an off-shoot
of Hinduism because it shares with Hinduism its core beliefs of Karma and
reincarnation. It
also shares many common terms, some of which are: Dharma, Samsara, Mantra,
Samadhi and Aum.
What distinguishes it
from Hinduism is that it does not invoke the existence of gods.
Although claiming to be non theistic,
yet the practice of Buddhism involves worship of the statue or image of
Siddartha Gautama. Buddhists claim is that these images are not idols but are symbolic
representations of his great qualities
One
of his original concepts is that of dependent origination. It
claims that that life or the world is built on a set of relations, in which the
arising and cessation of factors depend on some other factors which condition
them so that all phenomena in this universe are relative, conditioned states and
do not arise independently of supportive conditions. Hence Buddhism does not
support the concept of a creator or first cause. Since
everything is conditioned, relative, and interdependent, there is nothing in
this world which could be regarded as a permanent entity, variously regarded as
an ego or an eternal soul.
This provided the basis for another
original concept called
the Anatta doctrine, interpreted as the
absence of a distinct soul, self and ego for each person.
Yet he was of the opinion that the
sum total of the Karma in the form of a consciousness for each person is
distinct and continues after bodily death by reincarnating in another body.
He
introduced the idea of the Four Noble Truths, Suffering,
the Arising of Suffering, the ceasing of Suffering, and the approach to the
ceasing of Suffering.
Another original concept
introduced is The Eightfold path of a righteous life consisting of
Right Speech, Sila Right Action
Morality, Right Livelihood, Right
Effort, Samadhi Right Mindfulness Mental culture, Right Concentration, Right
Understanding, Panna Right Thoughts Wisdom.
The adherence to this path
would bring a Buddhist devotee closer to the salvation called Nibbana.
In
Buddhism, there
is no such thing as sin as explained by other religions.
Sin is merely unskillful or unwholesome action resulting in further suffering in
the present life or future lives.
His rejection of the caste system appealed especially to the untouchables.
2. Who is Buddha.
A Buddhist apologist, K.Sri Dhammananda
describes Buddha as follows:
Gautama Buddha, the founder of what came to be known as Buddhism, lived in
Northern India in the 6th century B.C. His personal name was
Siddhartha, and family name Gotama. The name 'Buddha' was given to Him after He
attained Enlightenment and realized the Truth. It means the 'Awakened' or the
'Enlightened One'. He generally called Himself the Tathagata, while His
followers called Him Bhagava, the Blessed One. Others spoke of Him as Gotama or
Sakyamuni.
He was born a prince who seemed to
have everything. He had a luxurious upbringing and His family was of pure
descent on both sides. He was the heir to the throne, extremely handsome,
inspiring trust, stately and gifted with great beauty of complexion and fine
presence. At sixteen He married His cousin named Yasodhara who bore Him a son
whom they called Rahula. His wife was majestic, cheerful day and night, and full
of dignity and grace.
Despite all this, He felt trapped
amidst the luxury like a bird in a golden cage. During a visit to the city one
day, He saw what is known as the 'Four Sights', that is , an old man, a sick
man, a dead man, and a holy recluse. When He saw the sights, one after another,
the realization came to Him that, 'it is subject to age and death'. He asked,
'Where is the realm of life in which there is neither age nor death?' The sight
of the recluse, who was calm for having given up the craving for material life,
gave him the clue that the first step in His search for Truth was Renunciation.
Determined to find the way out of
these universal sufferings, He decided to leave home to find the cure not for
Himself only, but for all mankind. One night in His twenty-ninth year, He bade
His sleeping wife and son a silent farewell, saddled His great white horse, and
rode off toward the forest.
His renunciation is unprecedented in
history. He left at the height of youth, from pleasures to difficulties, from
certainty of material security to uncertainty, from a position of wealth and
power to that of a wandering ascetic who took shelter in the cave and forest,
with His ragged robe as the only protection against the blazing sun, rain and
winter winds. He renounced His position, wealth, promise of prestige and power,
and a life filled with love and hope in exchange for the search for Truth which
no one had found.
For six long years, He labored to
find the Truth. He studied under the foremost masters of the day, and learned
all these religious teachers could teach Him. When He could not find what He was
looking for, He joined a band of ascetics and tortured His body so as to break
its power and crush its interference, since it was believed that Truth could be
found this way. A man of enormous energy and will power, He outdid other
ascetics in every austerity they proposed. While fasting, He ate so little that
when He took hold of the skin of His stomach, He actually touched His spine. He
pushed Himself to the extent that no man had done and yet lived. He, too, would
have certainly died had He not realized the futility of self-mortification, and
decided to practise moderation instead.
On the full moon night of the month
of Vesakha, He sat under the Bodhi tree at Gaya, wrapped in deep meditation. It
was then that His mind burst the bubble of the universe and realized the true
nature of all life and all things. At the age of 35 years, He was transformed
from an earnest truth seeker into the Buddha, the Enlightened One.
For nearly half a century, the Buddha
walked on the dusty paths of India Teaching the Dhamma so that those who heard
and practised could be ennobled and free. He founded an order of monks and nuns,
challenged the caste system, raised the status of women, taught religious
freedom and free inquiry, opened the gates of deliverance to all, in every
condition of life, high or low, saint or sinner, and ennobled the lives of
criminals like Angulimala and courtesans like Ambapali.
He was towering in wisdom and
intellect. Every problem was analyzed in component parts and then reassembled in
logical order with the meaning made clear. None could defeat Him in dialogue. An
unequaled teacher, He still is the foremost analyst of the mind and phenomena
even up to the present day. For the first time in history, He gave men the power
to think for themselves, raised the worth of mankind, and showed that man can
reach to the highest knowledge and supreme Enlightenment by his own efforts.
Despite His peerless wisdom and royal
lineage, He was never removed from the simple villager. Surface distinctions of
class and caste meant little to Him. No one was too little or low for Him to
help. Often when an outcast, or poor and dejected came to Him, his self-respect
was restored and he turned from the ignoble life to that of a noble being.
The Buddha was full of
compassion(karuna)and wisdom(panna), knowing how and what to teach each
individual for his own benefit according to his level and capabilities. He was
known to have walked long distances to help one single person.
He was affectionate and devoted to
His disciples, always inquiring after their well-being and progress. When
staying at the monastery, He paid daily visits to the sick wards. His compassion
for the sick can be seen from His advice, 'He who attends the sick, attends on
me.' The Buddha kept order and discipline on the basis of mutual respect. King
Pasenadi could not understand how the Buddha maintained such order and
discipline in the community of monks, when he as a king with the power to
punish, could not maintain it as well in his court.
The Buddha did not claim to have
'created' worldly conditions, universal phenomena, or the Universal Law which we
call the 'Dhamma'. Although described as lokavidu or 'knower of the worlds', He
was not regarded as the sole custodian of the Universal Laws. He freely
acknowledge that the Dhamma, together with the working of the cosmos, is
timeless, it has no creator and is independent in the absolute sense. Every
conditioned thing that exists in the cosmos is subject to the operation of
Dhamma. What the Buddha did (like all the other Buddhas before Him) was to
rediscover this infallible Truth and make it known to mankind. In discovering
the Truth, He also found the means whereby one could ultimately free oneself
from being subjected to the endless cycle of conditioning, with its attendant
evils of unsatisfactoriness.
After forty-five years of ministry,
the Buddha passed away at the age of eighty at kusinara, leaving behind
thousands of followers, monks and nuns, and a vast treasure store of Dhamma
Teaching. The impact of His great love and dedication is still felt today.
3. What is karma and
reincarnation.
Karma is
the sum
of a
person’s actions
in this
and previous
states of
existence, viewed
as affecting
their future
fates. (ie the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in
his next incarnation)
The
origin of
this word
is from
the Sanskrit
karman which
means ‘action _
effect _ fate’.
Reincarnation
is
the rebirth
of a
soul in a
new body.
Incarnation
is a
spirit embodied
in a living human
from.
To
incarnate is
to be invested
in a bodily
form.
The
origin of this
word is
from the Latin
in- carn-
which means
‘into’ ‘flesh’.
Reincarnation is a necessary adjunct to Karma. This is
because incomplete punishment for a person’s evil deeds in this life will be
completed in future lives.
How else would punishment for the evil deeds of Pol Pot and
Idi Amin be justly meted out as these two persons died peacefully in ripe old
age.
It
is believed that
reincarnation takes
place at
conception or
when the
baby is
in the womb
or at
birth.
4. Theory explains phenomena.
A phenomenon is a
fact that is observed to exist or happen.
A theory
is a system of ideas intended to explain phenomena.
Consistency
is a harmonious
agreement amongst things or parts without contradictions.
If a phenomenon contradicts a theory, then the theory is
inconsistent and is probably false.
If this phenomenon is consistent with another theory, then
the second theory should replace the first theory.
5. Reincarnation is a theory to explain the phenomena of
persons
being able to recall events experienced
by individuals who have died.
The
strongest evidence
supporting the
theory of
reincarnation is from
the work
of Ian
Stevenson who
documented numerous
cases of
children ‘recalling’
historical events
and relatives
of deceased
individuals. Some of
these amazing
claims have
been corroborated.
(Ref: Old
Souls, the
scientific evidence
for past
lives by
Tom Shroder, published
by Simon &
Schuster, Rockefeller
Center, 1230,
Ave of the Americas, New
York, NY
10020. ISBN
0-684-85192-X ©1999.)
6. Reincarnation contradicts the
phenomenon of mediums invoking the spirit of the dead.
Reincarnation cannot explain how temple mediums are able to invoke the
spirits of the departed.
If the spirit of the departed has already reincarnated into another body, how
can it also appear in the temple medium?
7. Spirit possession theory explains all these phenomena.
To possess
is to
have complete
power over.
The origin
of this
word is
from the
Latin possidere
which means
‘occupy, hold’.
Spirit
possession is
the state of
being under
complete control
of a spirit.
Spirit
possession is
real ( Mark 1:23-25, 5:1-20, 7:24-30,
9:17-27).
Spirit
possession can
explain explain
how temple mediums are able to invoke the
spirits of the departed. It can also explain how some persons are able to accurately
recall events experienced by
individuals who have long since died.
A
definite case
of spirit
possession is
described by
Roy Stemman about
a Thai
Buddhist monk
who was
born one
day before his previous
body died.
This
case cannot
be explained
by reincarnation
because it
would mean
that the
baby was
born without
a spirit
and remained
without a
spirit for one
day.
The
logical explanation
is that
the baby
was already
born with
an original
spirit. One
day after birth, his body became
inhabited or possessed
by another
spirit.
(Reincarnation,
Amazing True
Cases From
Around The
World by
Roy Stemman (Editor
of Reincarnation
International), published
by Judy
Piatkus Ltd. Windmill
Street, London W1P 1HF. ISBN 0-7499-1708-3 hbk, ISBN
0-7499-1787-3 pbk ©1997
(Ref: in page
38))
I
believe the
spirit that
possesses the
body of
a person suppresses
the expression
of the
original spirit
of that
person. I believe
all possessing
spirits are
evil, otherwise
they would
not possess.
I
believe the
Holy Spirit
does not
possess. On
the contrary, the
Holy Spirit
renders a
person free
to choose.
A demon
is an evil spirit
or devil.
A person
is demon
possessed if
he is completely
controlled by
an evil spirit.
I believe
demons are
fallen angels,
Satan being
chief among
them.
A
medium is
a person
who claims
to be able to
communicate between
the dead
and the
living.
Temple mediums
appear to
be able
to summon
the spirit
of the
departed. They
go into
a trance,
as if
possessed,
before
they appear
to talk
like the
deceased person.
I believe
that the
demonic spirit
which has
possessed the
departed individual
was invited
by the medium to
speak through
the medium.
I
believe yoga
meditation, which
involves a
process of
emptying oneself
of logic
and reason,
is a
ploy by
Satan to
deceive the
devotee into
preparing himself
as fertile
ground for
demon possession.
Demon possession is
evil because
it enslaves
and suppresses
the free
will of
the individual.
When the
Hindu or
Buddhist parents
bring their
children to
their temples,
they are
actually offering
their children
as human
sacrifice to
demons for
possession.
I
believe when
an unsaved
person’s body
dies, his
original spirit
is released
into the
spirit realm
to dwell
there until
the final
judgment because
it is
unable to
enter the Kingdom
of Heaven.
Through
Hinduism and
Buddhism, Satan
and his
fellow demonic
spirits have
deceived many
generations of
people in
large parts of
the world
into unwittingly
allowing their
bodies and
souls to
be possessed.
This permits
the demonic spirits
to 'reincarnate'
in them
serially.
I
believe the
spirit realm
is the ‘valley of
the shadow
of death’ (Psalm 23:4).
I believe
the original
spirit of
an individual is
from Adonai
and is
eternal. When
an individual’s
body dies,
his original
spirit leaves
the body
and enters
the spirit
realm.
When
a person
accepts Jesus
as Savior,
his or her
spirit becomes
a sibling
of Yeshua who is
the first
born of
Adonai (Abba). As
this spirit
is a
relative of
Abba, it
is permitted
to enter
and ‘dwell
in the
house of
the Lord
forever’ (Psalm 23:6).
If
a person,
during his
lifetime, has
not accepted
Yeshua
as
his Savior,
his spirit
is not
sanctified (separated as holy). Even
if he
has performed
many miracles
in the
name of
Adonai, his
spirit would
not be permitted to
enter the
kingdom of
heaven (Matthew 7: 21-23).
When
his body
dies, his
spirit would
remain in
the spirit realm
until the
day of
final judgment, when
he will
be cast
into the
lake of
fire to
be tormented
forever (Revelation
20:11-15).
9. Deception.
Deception
means to
deliberately mislead
or misrepresent
the truth;
to swindle,
hoax, cheat,
dupe, fool,
or entrap.
I believe the theory of
spirit
possession is able to explain all the phenomena attributed to the theory
of reincarnation as well as explain the phenomenon of invoking the
spirits of the departed.
Because of this, I consider the theory of reincarnation as
redundant, unnecessary and even false.
As the theory of reincarnation is open to question, it then
follows that the theory of karma is also open to question.
As the theories of reincarnation and karma form the
foundations of Hinduism, Buddhism
and New Age, then these systems of belief are also open to question.
Then what is the purpose of the theory of
reincarnation?
I believe the purpose is deception.
I believe
this concept
of Nirvana
is a
deception hatched
by Satan
and his
fellow demonic
spirits
I believe
the demonic
spirit seeks
to escape
from the
valley of
the shadow of
death and
the eventual
great white
throne judgment
and inevitable
punishment in
the lake of
fire.
I believe
the demonic
spirit believes
that by
doing good
works it
can seek favor
with Adonai
in order to enter the
kingdom of
heaven.
I believe
on entry
into the
kingdom of
heaven, these demons,
under the
leadership of
Satan, will,
once again,
attempt to
overthrow Adonai.
Since the
demonic spirit
is unable
to do
good deeds
in the
spirit form,
it needs
to incarnate ( to
become invested
in a bodily form)
by possessing
the body
of some
unsuspecting person in
order to
do good deeds.
Hence it
needs to
‘re-incarnate’.
‘Reincarnation’
does
not occur
with the
original spirit
of an individual. ‘Reincarnation’
occurs with
demonic spirits.
They hop
from body
to body,
possessing and
suppressing the
original spirit
within each
new body.
Deception
is the
signature of
Satan.
I believe
Adonai
created
man to
fellowship with. Adonai
gave
man dominion
over the
earth.
The
first action
of Satan
to Adam
and Eve was
deception. Satan
possessed the
serpent and
duped Eve
and Adam
into eating
the fruit
of the tree of knowledge
of good
and evil,
the one
which Adonai
specifically forbade
them to
eat. (Genesis
3:1-7)
By
this hoax,
Satan cheated
mankind of
his right
standing with
Adonai
and
dominion over
the earth.
Instead, mankind,
including myself
came under
dominion of
Satan and
was headed
for certain
death.
In
the ‘fallen’
state, I
am unable
to fellowship
with Adonai. However,
Adonai
still
wanted to
fellowship with
me.
The
triune Godhead
sent a
part of
Himself, Yeshua
to earth
as a man to
die and
bear the
total punishment
for the
disobedience (sin) of
all of mankind so
that in
believing in
this sacrifice,
my fallen
spiritual self
will die
and become
reborn as
a sibling of Christ
Yeshua.
As
a new
creation (2Corinthians 5:17), I can directly
fellowship with Adonai
by casting
all my
cares to
Him, secure
in the
belief that
I have
absolute right-standing with Him
( Psalm 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7)
When
I believe
in Yeshua
as my savior, I
am freed
from bondage to
Satan. Satan
is powerless to
prevent me
from believing
the good
news of
the divine exchange.
What
he can
do is to attempt
to deceive me
with alternative
routes to
Adonai
like
Hinduism, Buddhism,
New Age
and Islam.
Satan
inspired Hinduism
and Buddhism
with the
core beliefs
of Karma
and reincarnation.
The
concept of
reincarnation has
been debunked
by the
concept of
demonic spirit
possession explaining
all the
‘evidence’ proffered
for reincarnation.
Hence reincarnation
is a
lie and
Hinduism, Buddhism,
and New
Age beliefs
are deceptions.
They bear
the signature
of Satan.
With
the death
burial and
resurrection of
Yeshua, Satan
has had
been stripped
of his
power over
me and over anyone
else who
believe in
the risen
Yeshua
Christ.
The
demonic possessing
spirit prevents
the person
from hearing
and understanding the good
news of
Grace.
In
order to
set free
any person
under bondage
of demonic
spirits, one
can drive
out demons
by calling
on the name of
Yeshua
because
‘at the
name of
Yeshua, every
knee will
bow’ (Philippians
2:10).
Once liberated,
that person, if chosen by
Adonai, would
be able
to see
and believe
the Gospel (good news)
which is
‘Adonai
so
loved the
world that
he gave
his one
and only
Son so that whoever
believes in
him shall not
perish but
have eternal
life (John 3:16).
10. Works versus grace.
Most religions
include in
their system
of beliefs
the belief
that doing
good deeds
and avoiding
bad deeds
make a
person more
spiritually ‘pure’
and therefore
more acceptable
by the
creator.
I
believe one
of the main
deceptions of
Satan is
the belief
that ‘do
good gets
good and
do bad
gets bad
and that
if a
person’s good
deeds outnumber
the bad,
he gets
to enter
heaven. This
is contrary
to my belief that
a person
can never
by his good deeds
qualify for
entry into
heaven. It
is only
by the
grace of
Abba that
those who
have been
chosen will
be invited
into heaven.
Grace
Christianity is the
only belief
system which
holds that
nothing man
does will
qualify him
to be
acceptable by
Adonai, and
that it
is only by
the grace
of Adonai
is man accepted by
Adonai. The grace
of Adonai
is His son,
Yeshua. Only
by accepting
Yeshua
as
my personal
savior can
I be accepted by
Adonai. All
other ways,
including doing
good deeds
count for
nothing. Yeshua's
voluntary death
at the
cross permitted
an exchange
to take
place, his
life for
mankind’s death,
his perfection
for man’s
imperfection, his
goodness for
man’s evil
etc. Also,
Yeshua
came
to life
again and
returned to
his father
the creator.
Because
I choose
to accept
Yeshua
as
my personal
savior, I
become a
sibling
of Yeshua. At
the moment
of my
bodily death,
as a relative of
Adonai, my spirit
can then
enter and ‘dwell in the
house of
the Lord forever’
(Psalm 23:6). Because
I believe
in Yeshua,
my spirit
welcomes the
Holy Spirit.
With the
Holy Spirit
dwelling within
me, all
possessing spirits
would be
driven out.
The Holy
Spirit will never
leave me
nor forsake
me forever (Deuteronomy
31:8).
When
an individual
does not
have the
Holy Spirit
dwelling within,
he is open to
demonic spirit
possession and
is especially
vulnerable when
depressed or
despondent.
11. Conclusion.
I believe
Grace Christianity
is the
only way
of reaching
my creator, Adonai.
All other
ways, though
appealing, are
not genuine
and may
lead to
possession by
demons.
Because
I believe
in free choice
after making
my choice,
I choose
freedom from
demon possession
by calling
upon the name of
Yeshua.
Back to Which religion should I choose to believe in
The following is a collection of relevant
definitions and comments.
My own comments and
beliefs are in the Times New Roman font.
Atman.
In
Hinduism, atman is
the spiritual
life principle
of the universe, especially
when regarded
as existing
within the
real self
of the
individual. The origin
of this
word is
from the
Sanskrit ătman
which means
‘essence’.
Avatar.
In Hindu
belief, an
avatar is
a manifestation of
a deity
or released
soul in
bodily form
on earth.
It is also defined as
an incarnation
of god
on earth. The plural
form is
avatara.
An example
is Krishna. One
living guru,
Sai Baba
claims to
be an
avatar. He
has been
reputed to
have performed
many miracles.
Bodhisattva.
A person
who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so through compassion for
suffering beings.
Buddhism.
Buddhism
is a
widespread Asian
religion or
philosophy founded
by Siddartha
Gautama (Buddha;c.563-c.460
BC) in
north east
India in
the 5th
century BC,
which teaches
that elimination
of the
self and
earthly desires
is the
route to
enlightenment.
Deity.
God or
goddess, especially
in polytheistic
religion.
Dharma.
The eternal
law of
the cosmos, inherent
in the
very nature
of things.
Guru.
Guru
is a Hindu
spiritual teacher.
Origin from
Hindi and
Punjabi. The
origin of
this word
is from
the Sanskrit
'guru'
which
means ‘weighty,
grave’, hence,
‘elder, teacher’.
Hinduism.
Hinduism
is a
major religious
and cultural
tradition of
the Indian
subcontinent, including
belief in
reincarnation and
the worship
of a
large pantheon
of deities.
An Indian Yogi,
Sai Baba, explains Hinduism as follows:
Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world. The three cardinal principles of
Hinduism are: 1) Belief in a series of births (reincarnation). 2) Belief in Avatars of
the Lord for the reestablishment of Dharma and the transformation of
those who have strayed from it. 3)Belief in
Karma, the fact of every
activity having its inevitable consequences and of human destiny being shaped by
cumulative effect of all these consequences. Karma is the cause of
births, the Jivi being compelled to undergo another ordeal for clearing
its accounts and becoming free of both debit and credit.
The life aim of Hindus is
to reach fulfillment through constant spiritual discipline, the
fulfillment that
comes from the awareness of one's Divinity. Merging with the Divine is the
attainment of fullness. The Vedas are the soul that sustains the
spiritual life of Hindus. They are the breath that that keeps the people alive.
The Vedas emanated from God Himself. The great sages received the Vedas
as a series of sounds and spread it over the world by word of mouth from
preceptor to the pupil. One can know from the Vedas the code of right
activity and the body of right knowledge. The Vedas teach man his duties
from birth to death. They describe his rights and duties, obligations and
responsibilities in all stages of life. In order to explain the Vedas in
simpler terms, the Puranas (scriptures) and epic texts appeared in course
of time. Two such great epics are the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Another great
spiritual text of Hinduism is the Bhagavat Geetha, which helps people to control
the agitation of the mind, destroy the delusion, develop true knowledge and make
one catch a glimpse of the glory of the Lord.
The word
Hindu
means those who keep away from the path of violence, away from
inflicting injury on others. The essence of all the scriptural texts of Hinduism
can be described in one sentence as "Help Ever, Hurt Never".
Aum,
which is a primary symbol of Hinduism, is the symbol of unchanging eternal,
universal supreme God. Aum, is the primordial word, which gives life to
all the other words. Aum is the origin of creation. It contains the
essence of all the Vedas and is the source of all the
scriptures.”
Another Indian Yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda explains Self Realization as the knowing that we are one with the omnipresence of God in body, mind and soul.
Jainism
Jainism
is one of the oldest religions in the world originating in ancient India. The
Jains follow the teachings of the 24 Jinas (conquerors) who are known as
Tirthankars. The 24th is the 6th century BC Mahavira.
Jains believe that every human has an
eternal soul and is responsible for his actions. The Jain religion places great
emphasis on Karma. Essentially, it means that all people reap what they sow. A
happy or miserable existence is influenced by the actions in previous lives.
Jains believe all souls are
equal because they all possess the potential of being liberated and attaining
Moksha. Tirthankaras are role models because they have attained Moksha.
Jains believe that we should live,
think and act respectfully and honor the spiritual nature of all life. Adherents
to the faith are required to be vegetarians.
God is viewed as the traits of the
pure soul of each living being, chiefly described as infinite knowledge,
perception, consciousness and happiness. They do not believe in an omnipotent,
supreme, creator being.
Jains hold that this temporal world
is full of misery and sorrow. In order to attain lasting bliss, they believe one
must transcend the eternal cycle of soul transmigration. They believe the way to
break out of this cycle is to practice detachment through rational perception,
knowledge and conduct.
Hence Jainism holds
re-incarnation and karma as foundational in its religion. Because the theory of
re-incarnation has been refuted, I believe Jainism and Jainist beliefs are
false.
Karma.
Hindus
and Buddhists
believe in
the concept of
karma. Karma is
the sum
of a
person’s actions
in this
and previous
states of
existence, viewed
as affecting
their future
fates. The
origin of
this word
is from
the Sanskrit
karman which
means ‘action _
effect _ fate’.
Hindus
and Buddhists
believe that
by doing
good deeds,
they accumulate
positive karma
credits. This
would enable
their spirit
to reincarnate
in a
higher spiritual
plane in
the next lifetime.
Over many
lifetimes, they
would become
more enlightened. Some eventually
become enlightened
enough to
be like
Gautama Siddhartha
Buddha and
attain the
level of
nirvana.
Mantra.
A word
or sound
repeated to
aid concentration
in meditation.
A Vedic hymn.
The origin
of this
word is
from the
Sanskrit 'man'
which means
‘thought’, hence
mantra is
‘instrument of
thought’.
Maya.
Maya is
the power by which the universe becomes manifest; the illusion of the phenomenal
world. The origin of this word is from the Sanskrit 'mãyã' , from mã
'create'.
Meditate.
To meditate
is to focus one’s
mind for
a period of
time for
spiritual purposes
or as a method
of relaxation.
Moksha
Moksha (Sanskrit: liberation) or
Mukti (Sanskrit: release) refer in Indian religions to liberation from the cycle
of death and rebirth (re-incarnation) and all the suffering and limitation of
worldly existence. Liberation is experienced in this life as a dissolution of
the sense of self as an egoistic personality, reaching a state of Nirvana.
New Age.
‘New
age’ is
a broad
movement characterized by alternative
approaches to
traditional Western
culture, with
an interest
in spirituality, mysticism, holism,
and environmentalism.
Nirvana.
Hindus and
Buddhists believe
in a
state of
Nirvana or
Nibbana.
Nirvana
is defined
as a
transcendent state
in which
there is
no suffering
or desire
and no
sense of
self. The
origin of
this word
is from
the Sanskrit
nirvăna where
nirvă means
‘be extinguished’. On attaining
nirvana, a
person is
released from
the repeated
cycles of
reincarnation and suffering.
Pantheism.
A
belief which identifies God with the
universe, or regards the universe as a
manifestation of God.
This concept holds that
the creator and the creation are one and the same, and that the creator is not
separate from the creation, and that the creator did not precede the creation.
Hence the concept of pantheism is
consistent with the core beliefs of Hinduism and most New Age practices.
Reincarnation.
Reincarnation
is
the rebirth
of a
soul in a
new body.
Incarnation
is a
spirit embodied
in a living human
from.
To
incarnate is
to be invested
in a bodily
form.
The
origin of this
word is
from the Latin
in- carn-
which means
‘into’ ‘flesh’.
Samadhi.
Samadhi
is a
state of
intense concentration
achieved through
meditation. The
origin of
this word
is from
Sanskrit samădhi
which means
‘contemplation’.
Samadhi
has also
been described
as a
state in
which one’s
consciousness becomes
in unity
with the
atman.
Yogis
describe samadhi
as a
state of
supreme happiness.
Hindus believe
that they
can attain
samadhi by
meditating and
looking within
themselves in
order to
‘self-realize’. The devotee is
required to
disciple himself
to a guru or
yogi and
move closer
to Nibbana
after many
years of
meditation, chanting
of mantras
and ascetic
living.
By
the process
of Yoga
meditation, the
devotee attempts
to empty
himself of
all his
ego driven
desires, reason
and logic.
The devotee
believes that
through practice
and obedient
following of
a Yogi,
he can
achieve self
realization.
Self
realization is
defined as
the fulfillment
of one’s
own potential.
Samsara.
Samsara
is the
cycle of
death and
rebirth in
which life in
the material
world is
bound. The
origin of
this word
is from
the Sanskrit
samsăra.
Sikhism
Sikhism is a religious belief
founded by Guru Nanak Dev 1469 to 1539 in Punjab, India. His writings are
compiled in the Siri Guru Granth
Sahib
Central in his teaching is the belief
that there is one creator God called Satnam Vahiguru or Truth as revealed by
Guru Nanak. He saw the universe as a
creation of one supreme power, and since the creator was in the world he
created, it could not be treated as unreal as proposed in Hinduism and Buddhism.
His teachings did not include the policy of renunciation of the world or
detachment from worldly responsibilities. He denounced the leading of one's life
as an ascetic and put great emphasis on hard work and earning a livelihood. For
him taking care of one's family and providing food and shelter for them was one
of the prime duties of man before God.
However, similar to Hinduism and
Buddhism, he believed in reincarnation
and karma. Because
the theory of re-incarnation has been refuted, I believe Sikhism and Sikh
beliefs are false.
Soul.
Soul
is
the spiritual
or non-material
part of
a human
regarded as
immortal. The
origin of
this word
is from
the Old
English, Germanic sāwol.
Spirit.
Spirit
is the
non-physical part
of a
person which
is the seat of
emotions and
character; this
is regarded
as surviving
after death
of the body, often
manifested as
a ghost. The origin
of this
word is
from Latin
spiritos which
means ‘breath’.
Yoga.
Yoga
is a
Hindu spiritual
and ascetic
discipline, a
part of which,
including breath
control, simple
meditation, and
the adoption
of specific
bodily positions,
is widely
practiced for
health and
relaxation. The origin of
this word
is from the
Sanskrit yoga
which means ‘union’.
Yogi.
A yogi
is a
person proficient
in yoga.
An
example of
a yogi is
Paramahansa Yogananda.
Born Mukunda Lal
Ghosh on
Jan 5, 1893
in the
northern Indian
city of
Gorakhpur. Died
Mar 7,
1952 in
Los Angeles,
USA. From
the age
of seventeen,
he was
trained in
the yoga
discipline by
Swami Sri
Yukteswar for
ten years. Paramahansa considered his
gurus as
avatara. He
was conferred
with the
Swami order
in 1915,
after graduating
from the
University of
Calcutta. He
founded a
‘how to
live’ school
for boys
where yoga
spiritual training
was combined
with modern
educational methods.
He went
to the United States,
founded a
society called
Self-Realization Fellowship
in 1920
and five
years later
he settled
in Los
Angeles. He
popularized a
form of yoga
called Kriya
Yoga. He is
well known
for his
‘Autobiography of
a Yogi’
and an
English translation
of ‘The
Bhagavad Gita’.
In his
autobiography, he
refers to
the part of
the brain
above and
between the
eyes as
the ‘Christ consciousness
center’. His disciples
have deified
him as
an avatar.
Resource material:
Definitions in
italics are based on The Concise Oxford Dictionary,
10th edition, revised. 2001.
Quotations
from other
sources are in the Arial
narrow font.
Old
Souls, the
scientific evidence
for past
lives by
Tom Shroder, published
by Simon &
Schuster, Rockefeller
Center, 1230,
Ave of the Americas, New
York, NY
10020. ISBN
0-684-85192-X). ©1999.
Reincarnation,
Amazing True
Cases From
Around The
World by
Roy Stemman (Editor
of Reincarnation
International), published
by Judy
Piatkus Ltd. Windmill
Street, London W1P 1HF.
ISBN 0-7499-1708-3 hbk, ISBN
0-7499-1787-3 pbk ©1997
(Ref: in page
38)
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda published by Self-Realization Fellowship, 3880 San Raphael
Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90065-3298
U.S.A. ISBN 0-87612-082-6. 12th Ed. © 1981
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