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बौद्ध संसाधनें
Saturday, March 31st, 2012बुद्ध एक प्रबुद्ध
Saturday, March 31st, 2012कुछ लोगों के लिए बुद्ध एक देवता हैं, लेकिन व्यावहारिक रूप से बात करें तो सिद्धार्थ गौतम या सिद्धार्थ गोतम एक नास्तिक थे और इसलिए वह खुद को एक देवता के रूप में नहीं देखते थे. उन लोगों के लिए, जैसे के बुद्ध, जो एक नास्तिक या अज्ञेयवादी थे मैं आपको चुनौती देता हूँ बहुत से ऐसे ब्रह्मांडी और सौद्देश्यवादी तर्कों का सामना करने के लिए जो मैंने पहले ही अपने दुसरे लेखों में बताया है.
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यदि हम ये निष्कर्ष निकालते हैं कि इश्वर मौजूद हैं तो हमें उनकी तरफ ऐसे देखना चाहिए जैसे के वो हमारे जीवन को सही दिशा में ले जाने के लिए गुरुओं और बुद्ध की तरह ना होकर सही मार्गदर्शन देंगे.
इसके अलावा वो जो बुद्ध को सम्मान देते हैं उन्हें ये कैसे पता है के उनके बातों को संरक्षित करके रखा गया था क्योंकि उनके मरने के ४०० साल तक भी उनके शब्दों को मुद्रांकन नहीं किया गया? ये बात मौखिक परम्परा को उभरने के लिए बहुत ज्यादा समय देता है जो पौराणिक अनुपात की कहानियों के लिए दरवाजे खुले छोड़ देता है. इसके अलावा उनके बातों में ये भी सिखाया गया है के यदि किसी को उनके शिक्षाओं के कुछ पहलुओं में कोई मूल्य अगर ना दिखाई दे तो उन्हे उस बात की उपेक्षा करना चाहिए. तो कैसे एक व्यक्ति जो सत्य का दावा करता है वो वस्तुगत रूप से अपने आप पर अटल नहीं रह सकता?
इसके अलावा बुद्ध की इन शिक्षाओं की वजह से कई अलग तरह के विचारों और संप्रदायों का गठन हुआ है जिनके सोच विरोधाभासी हैं.
शायद इसका वजह ये है के इन विविध और काफी ज्यादा संसाधनों में ही कुछ विरोधाभास है और इसने अपने ग्रंथों के भीतर के मतभेदों को मिलाना अगर असंभव नहीं तो मुश्किल जरूर बनाया है.
मुझे तो ये सोच कर आश्चर्य हो रहा है के क्या खुद बुद्ध भी उन ग्रंथों को पहचान पाते जिसके रचियता का श्रेय उनको दिया गया है.
वैसे भी एक सवाल तो जरूर पैदा होता है के क्या बुद्ध सच् में प्रबुद्ध थे या फिर सिर्फ एक जगे हुए इंसान थे? ये कैसे उनको या फिर किसी और को पता चला के वो निष्पक्ष रूप से उस स्थिति तक पहुंच गए थे या फिर उस स्थिति को उन्होंने हासिल कर लिया था और एक इंसान इस आध्यात्मिक घटना के मात्रा को कैसे नाप सकता है? प्रबुद्ध का दावा आत्मज्ञान का भ्रम भी तो हो सकता है क्योंकि इस आध्यात्मिक स्थिति को मानकीकरण करने के लिए कोई भी मापदंड नहीं है.
यहां तक कि बुद्ध खुद भी निर्वाण जैसे बड़े शब्दों को परिभाषित नहीं कर पाए थे सिवाए ये कहने के की वो क्या नहीं है. यदि आत्मज्ञान पाने वाले ने भी इंसान के परम भाग्य को परिभाषित नहीं कर पाया तो एक इंसान कैसे इस बात को लेकर यकीन कर सकता है के वही वो वास्तविक स्थिति है जिसमें उनको जाना है?
क्या यह संभव है कि ये धार्मिक विश्वदृष्टि केवल एक झूठ या धोखा है जिसने निराशावादी और शून्यवादी दर्शन से इंसान के खुद के इच्छाओं को कतरने के माध्यम से कीमती जीवन बर्बाद किया है सिवाए इसके के वो जिंदगी के उपहार को खुशी से मनाएं?
वास्तव में इच्छा को कभी नहीं बुझाया जा सकता है और वो भिक्षुओं जो आध्यात्मिक अनुशासन की एक मठवासी जीवन शैली के लिए प्रतिबद्ध हैं उनमें भी चार महान सत्य के उपदेशों को बरकरार रखते हुए इच्छित निर्वाण की स्थिति पाने के लिए महान आठ गुना पथ पर चलने की इच्छा होती है.
अपने आप को इनकार करने का दर्शन तो बौद्ध सोच के साथ ही आ सकता है, लेकिन व्यावहारिक रूप से क्या वो लोग अपना जीवन इन सिद्धांतों के आधार पर जीते हैं?
इसके अलावा एक व्यक्ति कैसे अनिक्का/अनित्य या फिर अंतत/अनात्मा जैसे विचारों को साबित कर सकता है? अंतिम विश्लेषण में क्या ये सिर्फ एक अतर्कसंगत धार्मिक शब्दजाल और शब्द है या फिर सच है? क्या पूरे जीवन को सिर्फ एक स्थानांतरित होने वाले छायाँ के भ्रामक दायरे के रूप में व्याख्या करना चाहिए जिसमें स्थिरता और स्थायित्व के अवधारणा के लिए कोई जगह नहीं है? फिर भी क्या बुद्धिस्ट भी इन आदर्शों को मानते हैं या फिर ये नियम उनके जीवन के हरेक दिन का प्रतिनिधित्व करता है?
इस दर्शन के दुख से बचके आगे बढ़ने के लिए अगर ध्यान दिया जाए तो वो सुखवाद की सामग्री के लिए नकारात्मक समिकरण का एक हिस्सा होगा जो दुःख और पीड़ा को कम करके सुख को बढाने में लगा रहता है.
दर्द और पीड़ा के इस अवधारणा के बारे में बात करें तो इन सब को तभी माना जा सकता है जब अच्छाई और सुख के विरोधात्मक तत्व वहाँ पर मौजूद हो नहीं तो हमारे पास ऐसा कुछ नहीं रह जाता है जिसको हम दुःख या पीड़ा के रूप में समझें. तो अगर अच्छाई और खुशी कुछ रूप में हमें मिल सके तो क्या वो दुःख के वजाए खुशी की बात नहीं है क्योंकि हम गिलास को आधा खाली के रूप में ना देख कर आधा भरे हुए के रूप में देख रहे हैं? क्या इच्छा को पूरी तरह छोड़ देने के वजाए हमें जिंदगी के सकारात्मक पहलु को गले नहीं लगाना चाहिए? सिर्फ इसलिए कि जीवन बाधाओं से भरा है इसका मतलब यह है कि हार स्वीकार कर लेना और दौड छोड़ देना बेहतर है या फिर उस चुनौती को लेकर जिंदगी के इन बाधाओं को पार करके आगे बढ़ना बेहतर होगा? क्या आपको पता है के कभी कभी सुन्दर चीजें हमें पीड़ा के वजह से ही मिलता है पर एक इन्सान को अगर ये अनुभव ना मिले तो जिन्दगी में पीछे हटना कितना माननीय होगा? हम ने ऐसे महान नायकों को देखा है और उनकी प्रसंशा की है जिन्होंने दूसरों के फायदे के लिए अपनी जान कुर्बान कर दिया जैसे के येशु ने क्रूस पर अपने मृत्यु का पीड़ा सह कर किया. यह मानव जाति की ओर से उन्होंने किया था जिसमें उन्होंने हमारे पाप और अपराध का भार अपने आप पर ले लिया ताकि हम उस अनन्त पीड़ा के अभिशाप से बच सकें और उन्होंने स्वर्गीय राज्य के अनन्त आनंद को हमारे हिस्से में डालने के लिए ऐसा किया था.
मैं समझ सकता हूँ के दर्द और पीड़ा एक बुराई है जो इस दुनिया और अस्तित्व का एक हिस्सा है, लेकिन इसे कोई जांच किए बिना या इस बुराई से बचाके छोड़ देना नहीं चाहिए जो हमारे और हमारे दुनिया में से इस समस्या का हल करने के लिए कुछ नहीं करता है. हमारी उर्जा और बलको रोगिओं के लिए अस्पताल बनाने, गरीब लोगों के लिए खाना, बैंक और आश्रय बनाने और छोड़े गए बच्चों के लिए अनाथालय बनाने में खर्च करना चाहिए और उन लोगों के लिए नकारात्मक सोच नहीं रखना चाहिए जो खुद को ऐसे दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण परिस्थितिओं में पाते हैं.
इसके अलावा एक मठ में रहने से मानवीय पीड़ा की समस्याओं को हल नहीं किया जा सकता है और अलगाव एक रक्षात्मक तरीका है सिवाए इसके के इन मुद्दों से निपटने में एक प्रगतिशील दृष्टिकोण रखना चाहिए.
ईसाई धर्म ने सिवाए ऐसा सोच रखने के की दूसरों की मदत करने से दूस्टता को बढ़ावा मिलता है क्योंकि वो इच्छा(तन्हा/तृस्ना) को बढाता है या फिर लोग पीड़ा सह रहे हैं क्योंकि वो उनके कर्मों का नतीजा है, अपना ऐसा स्थिति रखा और नेतृत्व लिया के मानवीय सहारा प्रदान करके दूसरों के जीवन को अच्छा बनाया जाए और दुखिओं के दुःख को कम किया जाए.
पीड़ा एक शत्रु हो सकता है पर विडम्बना ये है के इच्छा को कतरके फेंक देने से सिर्फ पीड़ा को बढ़ावा मिलता है जिससे बुद्ध धर्म भागने की कोशिश कर रहा है.
इस दर्शन पे जोड देने के लिए एक और विडंबना यह है कि बुद्ध जो दुख के स्रोत और उसको कैसे मिटाया जाए इस बात की खोजी करने निकले थे वो खुद दर्द को पैदा देने के लिए अपराधी थे और उनके कार्य उनके मिसन के विरोधाभासी थे क्योंकि उन्होंने अपने पत्नी और बच्चे के साथ खुद के परिवार को त्याग दिया और अपने खोज को पाने के लिए उन लोगों के जीवन को मुश्किल बना दिया.
मेरी अंतिम विश्लेषण में बुद्ध धर्म अपने सरल रूप में अहंकारपूर्ण और स्वार्थी लगता है क्योंकि भले ही वो एक बुनियादी नैतिक संहिता रखता है और सम्मान के साथ दूसरों को देखता है पर ये ऐसा स्वयं के व्यक्तिगत स्वार्थ को पूरा करने और खुद के समस्या को हल करने के लिए करता है ताकि निर्वाण नामक चीज उनको मिल सके और उनके खुद का फैदा हो सके.
तो अगर बौद्ध के लिए परम लक्ष्य और प्रेरणा अपने खुद के पीड़ा को हटाना है तो दूसरों के साथ बातचीत में नैतिकता को सिर्फ अंत हासिल करने के लिए एक साधन के रूप में देखा जाना चाहिए.
फिर भी यीशु मानवता की ओर एक अलग धारणा रखते थे जिसमें वो खुद की सेवा कराने के वजाए बिना कोई स्वार्थ दूसरों की सेवा करते थे और दूसरों के लिए उन्होंने अपना जीवन भी एक फिरौती के रूप में दे दिया.
अंत में बौद्ध के अनुसार जवाबदेहीता या न्याय का अवधारणा कर्म और पुनर्जन्म की प्रणाली के माध्यम से आता है .
मेरे लिए इस बात पर विश्वास करना इतना बड़ा विरोधाभास लग रहा है के दलाई लामा जैसे सम्मानित आध्यात्मिक नेता निर्वासन में हैं या फिर साम्यवादी चीन के लोगों द्वारा किए गए तिब्बती बौद्ध नन के बलात्कार पिछले जनम के कोई कर्म का नतीजा है.
इसके अलावा, मैं सोच रहा हूँ के कैसे एक नास्तिक प्रतिफल के इस प्रणाली में अपने आप को पा सकेगा जो के एक सर्वोच्च परमेश्वर को इनकार करता है और वैसे भी विश्वास के एक ऐसे प्रणालीको और कौन बना सकता है? आखीर में किसी ना किसी को तो विश्वास के इस व्यापक प्रणाली का मूल्याँकन और निर्धारण करना होगा ताकि क्रम में व्यवस्थित प्रणाली का कुछ रूप प्राप्त हो सके. यह एक सर्वशक्तिमान, सर्वज्ञ, सर्वव्यापी अस्तित्व का ही काम हो सकता है जो के वर्णात्मक रूप से परमेश्वर खुद ही हैं जो के समझ से बाहर के ऐसे चीज को निर्धारण कर सकते हैं तो फिर परमेश्वर के ही अस्तित्व को कैसे इनकार किया जा सकता है?
इस के अलावा अगर निर्वाण ही परम उपलब्धि और अंतिम नियति है और अपने आप को पुनर्जन्म के इस अंतहीन दोहराव से मुक्त करने का तरीका है तो कैसे कोई यकीन से इस दायरे के अस्तित्व के बारे में कह सकता है?
कभी किसी ने निर्वाण के बाहर की जाँच करके और वापस आकार अपनी कहानी बताई है? क्या ये एक वास्तविक अनुभव है या फिर वो अंधविश्वास पर आश्रित हैं? मैंने मृत्यु के बाद के जीवन और मृत्यु निकट के अनुभव के बारे में एक ब्लॉग लिखा था जो आपको उपयोगी और रोचक लग सकता है.
jesusandjews.com/wordpress/2012/03/29/क्या-नर्क-वास्तव-में-है/
बौद्ध दर्शन के प्रतिकृया के रूप में मैं आपको एक वैकल्पिक दृश्य के बारे में बताना चाहता हूँ जो दुनिया के प्रकाश के रूप में येशु के बारे में बताता है और जो हरेक इंसान के पथ को उज्याले से भर देते हैं और अगर हम उन पर अपने प्रभु और उद्धारकर्ता के रूप में भरोसा करें तो वो अंततः हमें दुःख के इस दुनिया से बाहर लेकर आते हैं. वो हमारे ही मेहनत की वजह से हमें चेतना के एक गोपनीय स्थान पर नहीं ले जाते हैं बल्कि हमारे लिए स्वर्गीय आनंद का एक शाश्वत भाग्य को उन्होंने सम्हाल कर रखा है.
मैं २० साल पहले यीशु के साथ एक रिश्ते में आया था और उन्होंने मौलिक रूप से मेरे जिंदगी को बदल दिया और अस्तित्व के इस अस्थायी निवास को ठुकराने के वजाए मुझे जीने के एक उमंग के साथ भर दिया.
अगर आप चाहो तो आप मेरी गवाही यहाँ पर पढ़ सकते हैं:
jesusandjews.com/wordpress/2012/01/10/यीशु-के-साथ-मेरी-व्यक्तिग/
इसके अलावा आपत्ति का एक और मुद्दा यह है कि बौद्ध धर्म ने शैक्षिक रूप से जितना भी हासिल किया है वो सब हिंदू सोच के मदत से किया है.
ऐसा हो सकता है के बुद्ध खुद हिंदू धर्म से भटक गए थे पर उनका पैदा एक हिंदू के रूप में हुआ था, वो जिए एक हिंदू की तरह थे और वो एक हिंदू के तरह ही मरे और इस वजह से बौद्ध धर्म अनुवांशिक रूप से हिंदू धर्म से अलग हो सकता है पर वो अपने माँ हिंदू धर्म से बहुत ज्यादा मिलता जुलता है.
इसी लिए बौद्ध धर्म का पेड़ मजबूती से हिंदू धर्म में निहित है जिसने बौद्ध धर्म के धर्म दृश्यता को बनाए रखने के लिए अपना पोषण एक महत्वपूर्ण आधार से लिया है.
दूसरे शब्दों में, हालांकि इन दोनों धार्मिक संस्कृतियों के विश्वासों में विविधता है, पर बौद्ध धर्म भारतीय गुरु के मार्गदर्शन के बिना टिक नहीं पाता और इसी लिए इस में मौलिकता का अभाव है जिसका मूल बुद्ध जिनको इसका श्रेय दिया जाता है वो ना होकर कोई दूसरा ही श्रोत है.
तो आप अपने सभी चोरी के अंडे बुद्ध धर्म के शिक्षण के तीन टोकरी में रखना चाहते हैं या फिर अपने आपको एक प्रेमी और उदार परमेश्वर के सुरक्षा करने वाले हात में देना चाहते हैं जिन्होंने आपको बनाया और जो आपको अपने पास रखने का इच्छा रखते हैं ताकी आपको जीवन मिले और वो भी प्रसस्त मात्र में?
अंत में ये तर्क इस बारे में नहीं है के किसके पास सबसे अच्छा दर्शन या सांस्कृतिक अभिव्यक्ति है पर ये सच को ढूँढने और सच को हमें पथ में आगे अपरिहार्य के दिशा में नेतृत्व करने देने के बारे में है. मसीह हर इंसान के पथ को उजाले से भरने के लिए आए पर जो उजाला आपके पास है वो अगर सच में सिर्फ अँधेरा है तो आपको आपका रास्ता कैसे मिलेगा.
फिर भी बाईबल हमें प्रोत्साहित करता है के परमेश्वर के शब्द हमारे पैरों के लिए एक चिराग और हमारे रास्ते के लिए एक प्रकाश है.
अंत में मुझे आशा है कि मेरे बातों को सिर्फ सही बोली के उल्लंघन के रूप में गलत समझा नहीं जाएगा और हालांकि मेरे शब्द कुछ कडा जैसे लगे पर मेरे पास वास्तविक चिंता का एक प्रेरणा है जो मुझे दूसरों के लाभ के लिए अपनी बात रखने में मेहनत करने में मजबूर करता है. अगर मेरी बातें आपको अभद्रतापूर्ण लगा हो या फिर मैंने आपको बेवजह नाराज किया हो तो मैं आपसे माफ़ी मांगना चाहता हूँ. मुझे ये बातें हल्का तरीके से कहते हुए इन महत्वपूर्ण अवधारणाओं के गंभीर संवाद को प्रभावी ढंग से कहना नहीं आता है.
इसके अलावा, मैं विश्वास करता हूँ के बौध धर्मिओं में भी सही और गलत का एक जवाबदेही प्रणाली होता है. हमारे अस्तित्व के मुख्य फ्रेम में इन आदर्शों को पहले से ही रखा गया है जिससे परमेश्वर हमारे अंदर के भागों में सच का संचार करते हैं ताकि हमें नैसर्गिक रूप से ये पता हो के हमारे जीवन के निर्णयों के परिणाम और न्याय होते हैं और ये सम्माननीय बात है अगर बौद्ध धर्म इस बात को थोडा सा भी मानता है. पर अपने चेतना को ही संतुस्ट करने के लिए खुद के प्रयास करना तो सिर्फ एक नकली व्यवहार है इस सच के विरुद्ध में के उस परमेश्वर के साथ में एक व्यक्तिगत रिश्ता बनाया जा सकता है जो हमारे गलतियों के भार को हटा देते हैं जिस बात का प्रयास अपने खुद के प्रयास से हटाने के लिए मानवता ने बड़े जोर से किया है.
समापन में मैं बस आप से गुजारिश करता हूँ के आप इस बुलावट को स्वीकार कीजिए ये देखने और स्वाद लेने के लिए के परमेश्वर अच्छे हैं और अपना हृदय येशु के व्यक्तित्व और काम को जानने के लिए खोल दीजिए.
अन्त में मैं आपको धर्म शास्त्र के एक अंश के साथ छोडना चाहूँगा जिसमें येशु ने मती के पुस्तक ११:२८-३० में ये कहा है “अरे ओ थके-मांदे, बोझ से दबे लोगों! मेरे पास आओ , मैं तुम्हे सुख चैन दूँगा. मेरा जुवा लो और उसे अपने ऊपर संभालो. फिर मुझसे सीखो क्योंकि मैं सरल हूँ और मेरा मन कोमल है. तुम्हे भी अपने लिए सुख-चैन मिलेगा. क्योंकि वह जुवा जो मैं तुम्हे देरहा हूँ बहुत सरल है. और वह बोझ जो मैं तुम पर डाल रहा हूँ, हल्का है. ”
कैसे भगवान के साथ एक रिश्ता बनाएं
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अन्य संबंधित लिंक
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दर्द और पीड़ा
Sunday, December 25th, 2011क्यों दुनिया में दर्द और पीड़ा है और विशेष करके हमारे व्यक्तिगत जीवन में ऐसा क्यों है इस जटिल सवाल का जवाब देना और वो भी इस छोटी ब्लॉग में यह मुश्किल है. इस विषय पर कई किताबें लिखी गई हैं और ये प्रश्न जबाब के लिए भीख माँग रहा है. इस ब्लॉग के द्वारा मेरा उद्देश्य यह है कि लोग अक्सर अपने दर्द और पीड़ाके अस्तित्वको भगवान के साथ जोड़कर उनके प्रति एक गलत धारणा रखते हैं.
जब दर्द दुख, और बुराई की समस्या से निपटने की बात आती है, वहाँ कई चुनौतियां होती हैं जो इस बार पर निर्भर करती हैं के हम इसको इश्वरकी उपस्थिति और उनका हमारे साथके सम्बन्धको कैसे देखते हैं. यह उनकी संप्रभुता और अच्छाई के साथ साथ उनकी वास्तविकता पर ही सवाल खड़ा करती है. एक और विचार जिसको हमें ध्यान देना चाहिए वो ये है की अगर भगवान मौजूद हैं और वो इस पीड़ाको अनुमति क्यों देते हैं, तो क्या अच्छाईको अनुमति देने के लिए भी क्या वही जिम्मेबार हैं?
बाइबलके परिप्रेक्ष्य से जो मेरी इस समस्या को हल करनेका तरीका है वो ये है के बुराई एक मौजूदा सच्चाई है जिसकी सुरुवात समय की शुरुआत के साथ ही हुआ था. बुराई के साथ साथ दर्द और पीड़ा भी रहते हैं. यदि आप सृष्टिके खाते का अध्ययन करेंगे तो आप देखेंगे की इश्वरने जो सुरुवात में बनाया था वो बहुत अच्छा था और उन्होंने जब मानवको बनाया तो उसे विकल्पों में से चुननेकी क्षमता देदी और आप जानते हैं के जिस किसीके पास भी विकल्प हो वो अपनी संस्कृति पर प्रभाव डालसकता है. बेशक इस प्रभावके परिणामस्वरूप अंततः मानावने भगवान की अच्छाईको ठुकराते हुए अपनेआप और सृष्टि के सभी पर अभिशाप लाया. इस अभिशाप के एक परिणामके स्वरुप मानावने खुद को भगवान से विमुख करने का प्राकृतिक क्षमता पालिया. बुराई की साजिश के लिए मानव जाति की योगदान के साथ साथ एक दूसरा दुश्मन अर्थात शैतान भी है. वह एक विरोधी है जो परमेश्वर और उसकी रचना की भलाई के विरोध में काम करता है. वह अपने राक्षसी साथियों के साथ भगवान के लिए एक आध्यात्मिक समकक्ष के रूप में देखा जाता है और भले ही वे नग्न या प्राकृतिक आंखसे नदिखे पर वे वर्तमान और हमारी दुनियाके एक सक्रिय वास्तविकता हैं और मानव जाति और प्रकृति पर कहर लारहे हैं. जब राक्षसी और मानव तत्व परमेश्वर के दुश्मन के रूप में एक दूसरेके साथ खुशी खुशी शामिल होजाए तो एक जुड़ाहुआ प्रभाव बनता है जिसके परिणाम स्वरुप मानव की सबसे बड़ी भ्रष्टता और दुष्टता है.
इन सबके साथ यह स्पष्ट है कि इश्वर अपनी संप्रभुता में कम से कम एक मौसम के लिए ही स्वतंत्र इच्छाका मौका देते हैं. भगवान के बारे में एक दिलचस्प विशेषता या पहलू यह है कि वह अनन्तके न्यायाधीश हैं जो बिलकुल निस्पछ हैं. समाज की बुराई कर्ताको इश्वरके भविष्य के न्याय में अपने कृत्यों के विषय में जवाबदेही होना पड़ेगा और हमें भी अपने कर्मोंका खाता देना होगा. तो वैसे भी ये कहना चाहिए की इश्वर मानवजातीको उसके अपने फैसलों पर और उसने ईश्वरके अधिनको स्वीकार करके अपना जीवन बिताया या फिर उनके विद्रोह में इसपर आधारित रहकर न्याय करेंगे. तो फैसले में भगवान की संप्रभुता पूरी तरह से प्रयोग किया जाएगा यदि इस जीवन में नहीं तो आने वाले जीवन में.
एक बात जो हमें बुराई और दर्दको ईश्वरकी संप्रभुता और अच्छाईसे जोड़कर देखते वक्त विचार करना चाहिए वो खुद के विषयसे शुरू होता है. इस सवाल को अगर हम हमारे ही जीवन में व्यक्तिगत रूप से एक निष्पक्ष मूल्यांकन करेंगे तो हमें खुद से पूछना पड़ेगा के हमने हमारे अपने जीवन में कोई बुराई तो नहीं बनाई? की हमने किसी भी हद तक और किसी भी समय पर भगवान का उल्लंघन किया है? क्या हम निर्दोष हैं? क्या हम किसी के सीकार हैं या फिर हम भी पाप अपराधों के अपराधि हैं? हमने हमारी दुनिया में पीड़ा को खत्म करने में क्या मदद किया है ? बाईबल भगवान की दस आज्ञाओंको संदर्भित करता है और इस स्तर पर सभी लोगों ने इंसान और परमेश्वर के विरुद्ध कुछ हद तक पाप किया है. इसलिए हम हमारी दुनिया में इन सब अभिशाप या दु:ख के लिए जिम्मेदार हैं.
हमें अन्त में यह देखना चाहिए कि खुद परमेश्वर ने यीशु के व्यक्ति के माध्यम से खुदको यातना के एक मानव साधन अर्थात् क्रूस पर मानवता की पीड़ा में दर्द महसूस करने की अनुमति दी. यशायाह नबी का कहना है कि यीशु दु: ख से भरे एक आदमी थे और दु: ख से परिचित भी थे . काफी दिलचस्प बात तो ये है के इश्वर ने खुद को जान – बूझकर दर्द और पीड़ा के मानवीय तत्व के अधिन में रखा और ये कहा के उन्होंने हमारे साथ सब कुछ का सामना किया. उनका दर्द हमारे लाभ के लिए अंततः साबित हुआ क्योंकी उन्होंने अपना ही जीवन हमारे पापी जीवन जिसके लिए पवित्र और सर्वोच्च न्यायाधीश के आगे हमें दोषी ठहराया जाता उसके बदले में एक फिरौती के रूप में देकर परमेश्वर के धर्मी और सही न्याय को पूरा किया. हालांकि हम दुश्मन थे फिर भी वो परमेश्वर और एक दूसरे के साथ हमारे मिलन के लिए मर गए और ये बस अयोग्य प्राणियों के प्रति उनकी दया और अनुग्रह की वजह से संभव हुआ. इस से एक व्यक्तिको ये अनुमान लगाना चाहिए के इश्वर बुराई के आगे भी अच्छे और संप्रभु रेहते हैं और इस बात में कोई विवाद नहीं है.
जो कुछ भी इस मामले पर हमारा दृष्टिकोण हो ,ये अच्छे परमेश्वर हमें एक नया आकाश और नई पृथ्वी देंगे और किसी दिन सब दर्द, पीड़ा और दुख को हटाकर परम शांति देंगे. बेशक यह स्पष्ट है कि ये सब अभी तक नहीं हुआ है लेकिन फिर भी यह हमारी आशा है और यह आगामी क्षितिज पर है . एक बात हम आज और अभी सुरक्षित कर सकते हैं कि अगर हम येशुको अपने प्रभु और मुक्तिदाता के रूप में स्वीकार करके उनकी इच्छा पूरा करते हैं तो वो हमारे पापी दिलको बदल देंगे. जब वह हमारे दिलको परिवर्तन करेंगे तो हमारे अपने व्यक्तिगत जीवन में जो अभिशाप है वो उलट जाएगा और इश्वर हमारे भीतर अपने अच्छाईका उत्पादन करेंगे और वो भी इस हद तक के हम हमारे दुश्मन से प्यार कर सकते हैं.
मैं एक ‘शहीद की आवाज’ नामक समूहका समर्थन करता हूँ और उनके आंकड़ों के आधार पर कहा जा सकता है की ऐसे ३००००० ईसाइ हैं जो अपने विश्वास के लिए हरेक वर्ष पीड़ित किए जाते हैं. अब एक शहीद सिर्फ ऐसा कोई नहीं है जो विश्वास के लिए मरते है बल्कि यह वो सब हैं जो अपने विश्वास के लिए अमानवीय व्यबहारका सामना करते हैं. इसमें नौकरी, परिवार, घर,आदि का खोना या फिर शारीरिक और भावनात्मक यातना आदि हो सकता है. उनकी बस इतनी दोष है की वो ईसाई हैं और वो एक ऐसे शत्रुतापूर्ण संसार में रेहते हैं जो उके विशवास के प्रति असहिष्णुता से भरे हुए हैं. कैथोलिक मत में चला कुछ ऐसे ही बातें हैं जो क्रूसेड और धर्माधिकरण लगायत अन्यको भी सताते थे. फिर भी मसीह ने कभी भी इस तरीके से उनके राज्य के लिए लड़नेको नहीं बोला और उन्होंने ये भी कहा की हमें उनके चेलों के रूप में हमारे दुश्मनसे भी प्यार करना चाहिए और दूसरा गाल आगे कर देना चाहिए. तो वो सभी जो मसीह के दावे करते हैं, लेकिन दुनिया की तरह शत्रुतापूर्ण व्यवहार भी करते हैं वो वास्तव में उनके अनुयायि नहि हैं. एक तथ्य बात तो ये है के बहुत से ये शहीद जिनको सताया जाता है वो उनके अत्याचारीको माफ करके उनके लिए प्रार्थना करते हैं.
वैसे भी हम पीड़ा के लंबाई और चौड़ाई के बारे में प्रश्न तो उठा सकते हैं पर अगर अनंतकी बात करें तो ये क्षणभंगुर है. बाइबल धुवां के एक वाष्प के रूप में मानव जीवनको परिभाषित करता है. प्रेरित पौलुस ने कहा कि हमारे हल्का और क्षणिक मुसीबतें हमारे लिए एक अनन्त महिमा लारहि है जो उन सबसे बोहोत ज्यादा है. फिर भी बहुत लोगों से ज्यादा दुःख तो उन्होंने ही पाया क्योंकि उनको ५ बार कोड़े लगाए गए, ३ बार छड से पीटा गया , एक बार उनपर पत्थराव किया गया और ३ बार उनको क्षतिग्रस्त किया गया था. वह अपने मिशनरी सफर के दौरान अधिकांस समय खतरे में थे, जब वह दूसरों के कल्याण को बढ़ावा देते थे. ये मुझे उन मानवीय मदतों की याद दिलाती है जो चर्च के माध्यम से बड़े पैमाने पर पूरे दुनिया को मिल रहा है और परमेश्वर या मसीह का उनके दिल पर प्रभावके बिना ये मदत आज दुनिया के लिए संभव नहीं होता. यह रूपांतरण के लिए एहसान नहीं है. मैंने अपनी सेवानिवृत्ति के साथ ७०००० डलर प्रति वर्ष बनने वाला काम इज़राइलके तेल अवीव सेहेर में भोजन और कपड़ों के वितरण केंद्र में स्वयंसेवा करने के लिए छोड़ दिया और बोहोत से लोग तो प्रभुमें नहीं आए पर हमने बांटना और सेवा देना जारी रखा.
अंत में मैं ये कहना चाहूँगा की कभी कभी दर्द और पीड़ा अच्छाई का एक बचाने वाला कार्य उत्पादन कर सकता है . इस बातको समझाने के लिए कई उदाहरण है पर जो मैं अक्सर सोचता हूँ वो ये है के किसी दुर्घटना के बाद वहाँ पर ‘रोकने’का संकेत रखना चाहिए. दुर्भाग्य से किसी दूसरे के लिए किसी और को पीड़ित होना पड़ा और यह इश्वर ने हमारे लिए अपने पुत्रको पीड़ा सहने की इजाजत देके जो किया ऐसा सुनाई देता है जिसमें फाइदा हमारा ही हुआ.
वैसे भी यदि इस सब के बाद भी अगर बात समझ में नहीं आता है तो हम जो कर सकते हैं वो है इश्वर पर भरोसा. यह उसी तरह है के जब हम छोटे थे और हम जीवन के बारे में बातें समझ नहीं पाते थे , लेकिन हम हमेशा हमारे माता पिता को हमें प्यार और सुरक्षा देने के लिए भरोसा करते थे. बिलकुल यही इश्वर चाहते हैं के हम उनके साथ करें जब हम संकट के बीच में होते हैं. यहां तक कि अगर हमारे पास हर सवाल का जवाब होता तो क्या उसे हल करने के लिए पर्याप्त होता. परमेश्वर हमारी बुद्धि के बारे में चिंतित नहीं हैं जितना वो हमारे दिल के बारे में चिंतित हैं और इसी बात में दुविधा की कुंजी निहित है. चलो बस भगवान पर भरोसा रखें.
कैसे भगवान के साथ एक रिश्ता बनाएं
jesusandjews.com/wordpress/2012/01/10/कैसे-भगवान-के-साथ-एक-रिश्त/
अन्य संबंधित लिंक
jesusandjews.com/wordpress/category/buddhism/हिंदी-buddhism/
jesusandjews.com/wordpress/2009/05/17/pain-and-suffering/
Soka Gakkai Resources
Thursday, August 4th, 20111. Audio Resources
2. Written Bible
www.biblica.com/uploads/pdf-files/bibles/japanese/nt/john.pdf
3. Watch the “Jesus Film”
4. God’s Plan of Salvation “The Four Spiritual Laws”
Soka Gakkai
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011The Japanese form of Buddhism known as Soka Gakkai is but one of the (1)many religious expressions that is found in Japan today as there are upwards of over a 100 new cults that are being formed every year in this nation. So Soka Gakkai claims to be the right religion then why has it failed to overwhelmingly convince its countrymen of its essential truths?
Anyway this religion has honorable goals and moral practices but practically there appears to be conflicting reports in comparison to this group and its parent movement of Nichiren Buddhism. The statements of SGI supports a position of global unification by accommodating humanistic and religious values for all mankind through its endorsement of universal citizenship.
Yet this is contrary to the position of its mother organization that has taken more of a radical position in support towards ideas of (2)world domination along with the destruction and denunciation of all other faiths even if it means forced conversions. Furthermore, the founding father Nichiren who is proclaimed as the Savior of the world has participated in these views by rejecting all other forms of Buddhism in openly preaching an exclusiveness not an inclusiveness.
The question is who is right and how can a group maintain its identity as an organization when it doctrinal agenda has been changed to fit its own goals and needs. This group may make claims to a reformation but this is more in line with a reorganization.
If the teachings and methods of Nichiren are right as being the chief legislator of this movement and if his methodology is being challenged as being incorrect then how credible is the rest of his teaching? To question a supreme authority in one respect is to question everything else as well and therefore if you question everything else then what can be said concerning Nichiren’s ultimate truth which can not change.
Additionally on a positive note there have been many honorary awards given to President Daisaku Ikeda but still there are some inconsistencies in maintaing this high standard of global unity that is central to their social platform. Such compromise is plausible in regards to their actions whether it was their spilt with Nichiren Shoshu over doctrinal and practical issues or by taking a partisan political position with the New Komeito Party in opposition to other political views towards government. Even having a individuated religion shows a degree of intolerance unless of course you are a Universalist.
Yet more importantly than these peripheral issues is the central teaching that comes from Buddhist thought. I have already addressed many of these conflicting issues which deal with rebirth and karma among other things which can be found by following these links.
jesusandjews.com/wordpress/2010/03/13/buddha-the-enlightened-one/
jesusandjews.com/wordpress/category/hinduism/
According to Ikeda some of the highlights of his book on Seven Paths to Peace is his statement of obtaining mastery over ones desires, behaviors, and goals and yet there appears to be a preoccupation with the practitioner to achieve personal happiness and joy including material benefits. I really don’t see the motives here as having a sense of otherness but rather it appears to be more egotistical in its approach. Maybe this comes with an attitude adjustment among it’s followers but nevertheless there is still an unhealthy preoccupation with developing self rather than establishing a sense of community. Perhaps self development is necessary before community response can be realized or achieved but it appears to me that this is a continual process throughout the course of ones life in which the individual must constantly nurture themselves towards achieving buddahood. Just the efforts to remove bad karma can be time consuming and self indulgent through acts of worship, penance and chanting in bringing about this self redemption. Perhaps some of these things are part of contributing towards society but are the motives behind the actions altruistic or is there the individual desire to achieve the goal of enlightenment?
In other words if your ultimate goal could not be obtained then would you still be as persistent in following this path?
Personally I think this philosophy sounds good but basically it breaks down when looking beyond the superficiality of these outward works. Of course I am not saying by no means that there has not been a considerable contribution to the welfare of mankind by SGI but what I am challenging is it claims of being an essential spiritual reality.
Additionally the practice of chanting “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo” or “devotion to the mystic law of cause and effect through sound and vibration” to the Gohonzon can be a mind numbing procedure especially for those who persist over hours of recitation. This kind of practice can be a form of mind control for cultish groups and is also practiced among the Hare Krishna as a form of brainwashing. Hitler was responsible in influencing people by his Nazi propaganda in stating that if you say something long enough and loud enough that people will begin to believe you. After a while it breaks down the minds resistance to think and reason which can be hypnotically dangerous by opening up a person to the subjectiveness of whatever message is being communicated. Also repetitive messages were used as a means of torture and mind alteration with prisoners.
So if chanting is necessary to obtain enlightenment then how many times and for how long do you have to continue this practice before you reach buddahood? Additionally, if you somehow reach this spiritual goal then how do you maintain your status without becoming disenlightened? Anyway I really question the ability for simple words to change the heart and nature of complex beings and I suspect that some of those reading this blog have questioned this practice as well.
Finally I hope I have not offended any of those who are apart of this movement with my challenging perspective. I know that words can be helpful and at other times hurtful but if there is something that bears witness to what I am communicating then I would simply ask just to be open to other possibilites. On a personal note my life was radically changed over 20 years ago and it wasn’t through the arduous task of rituals or self effort in obtaining a check off list of meritorious actions but it came simply by believing in someone beyond myself namely in Jesus. I am including with this blog a link to my personal testimony which may be of interest to you in hearing about my life transformation by which I have never been the same since.
jesusandjews.com/wordpress/my-personal-testimony-with-jesus/
Lastly I would like to leave you with the words of Jesus who calls to every heart
Mt 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
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1 Excerpt taken from Operation World, Copyright© 2001 by Patrick Johnstone. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
2 Richard Okamoto, “Japan,” Look, September 10, 1963, p.16
Handbook of Today’s Religion, Copyright 1983 by Campus Crusade for Christ Inc., Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers
Zen Buddhism
Sunday, March 21st, 2010Zen which is imported from Japan has become a faddish religion in the West in which there are several hundred thousands of believers just in the U.S. alone.
This form of Buddhism claims to trace its heritage back to the Buddha but in reality it is a divergence and rebirth from the traditional forms of Buddhism so much so that if the Buddha himself were alive today he would have had a difficult time discerning the aggregates of this new form of religious being.
This resultant impermanence to Buddhist philosophy is just a further evolutionary development towards a narcissistic outlook which has attracted many of its followers especially those from America and even Hollywood who already subscribe to this form of lifestyle and have gotten into the backseat of this vehicle of faith in order to enjoy the proverbial pleasure ride of reaching enlightenment or Satori.
Within Zen, subjectivism and mysticism are the order of religious behavior without any set of rituals or sacred text to follow.
Works is replaced by meditation and enlightenment can be achieved in the here and now.
The danger to Zen is that it has picked the thorny rose of moral relativism which appears to be a beautiful form of self expression yet in essence it is a prospect which could lead to a sense of lawlessness, chaos, and finally anarchy.
Zen also follows it own directions and depends upon intuition as a means to chart ones course which leads people in various directions as to which way to turn whether to the right or the wrong. In the end this kind of philosophy could lead one down a collision course since there are no traffic rules to follow except for the guidance of the master’s who want to be in control of the wheel.
Also this philosophy doesn’t necessitate a sense of social responsibility either because this form of atheistic belief has no supreme moral law code or lawgiver to govern the hearts of society which is like driving a vehicle without brakes down a crowded street of pedestrians. We have seen this kind of godless and recklessness behavior before which had heralded its propaganda as the final solution by leaving a holocaust of victims in its wake.
What was advocated as forms of humanism and altruism were perpetrated through the realms of communism and socialism which ironically led to the sociopathic slaughter of millions who disregarded the inherent value and sanctity of human life in this disillusionment of idealism.
I wrote a blog on this of which you may find of interest at
jesusandjews.com/wordpress/2009/10/21/religion-causes-bloodshed/
Though Zen Buddhism has not been guilty of these extreme crimes it is nevertheless theoretically plausible that if left to itself that nothing would necessitate a restraint based on the outcome of its final destination.
That’s because Zen is rebellious against governing authorities as it has no concept of sin as violating others but rather it sees the individual as the supreme authority that has the right and potential of self deification as the Buddha mind.
Though this religion is centered on the self it is nonetheless social as it unavoidably interfaces with society.
So would you really want a whole world order that was controlled and influenced by the precepts of the Zen spirit?
Personally I am zenical of any cultish movement that is egocentric and self governed and whose main objective is focused on the meditation of personal fulfillment.
So I would encourage you to contemplate and reevaluate your position regarding this philosophical system by looking beyond the conceptual views of this movement towards the rationale field of objective truth.
In the meanwhile I would like to offer you a challenge to muse about the scripture which according to 2 Timothy 3:15 states that it is through meditating on the word of God that makes one wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
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Other related links:
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Buddhist Resources
Wednesday, March 17th, 20101. Kenneth Samples on reasons to believe
links.christreformed.org/realaudio/A20090116-OtherFaces.mp3
2. Christian Research Institute
The Dalai Lama
Monday, March 15th, 2010The Dalai Lama has achieved respect from the worldwide community at large but that does not necessitate the truthfulness of his beliefs or teachings.
The Dalai Lama is a man and though he has achieved a renowned spiritual status as well as a Nobel peace prize he still remains a mere mortal who needs direction and guidance.
Some have given him the honorary title as a god-king and refer to him as holy Lord.
Yet his own testimony does not bear witness to the reality of these supposed tiles and traits.
For instance he claims that he has never done a miracle nor has he ever seen one done and even his top aid Tewnzin Taklha denies that he has magical powers. When questioned on whether or not he was sinless or perfect he laughed exclaiming “nonsense”.
In his autobiography he claims that he struggles in controlling his temper and on several interviews he states that he struggles with lust.
Also concerning his views he doesn’t see it as absolutely necessary to convert to Buddhism nor is he an advocate of Buddhism being the one universal religion. He claims this because Buddhism has contradictions in its own philosophical teaching which in essence will not be completely satisfactory in all of its views. So therefore he declares that Buddhism isn’t necessarily the best for everyone but rather it comes down to the matter on whether or not it works for you.
The Dalai Lama also is skeptical of Buddhist astrology and cosmology and therefore does not accept all Buddhist teaching.
He also stated that he believes that the Buddha taught Tibetan Buddhism which could not be possible due to the contrast of this type of Buddhism versus the oldest forms of Buddhism.
On interview he also admitted that Jesus was a fully enlightened being but I wonder how we can reconcile this statement since Jesus teachings are so radically different from those of the Buddha who lived just a few centuries before His time. Yet if Jesus is sharing with us truth then shouldn’t Buddhist’s equally consider the teachings of Christ?
Also for a religious organization which promotes a sense of spirituality it has had it share of scandalous teachers and organizations.
Like the sarin gas poisonings done by the Aum Shinrikyo movement whose guru leader was Asahara Shoko whom was originally endorsed by the Dalai Lama but was later renounced due to the group’s actions.
Also there is Hon-Ming Chen who is the leader of Chen Tao or the “True Way” who claimed that God would reveal himself on television and then a few days later to the whole world which of course never came to pass.
Other leaders within this religious movement have exercised sexual abuse, alcoholism, and even suicide. Also along with these gurus are those who through their Hollywood personality have endorsed the corruption of their screen acting profession which conflicts and violates the five principles of Buddhist thought.
In addition to his there are Buddhist extremists that are persecuting Christians which is a violation to their “do no harm” policy.
Though Buddhism may be respected as a world religion its shortcoming among its philosophy and leaders call to question the credibility of this movement. I would caution those who would be considering a devotional life as a Buddhist to seriously consider the reality behind this religious façade. For those who are apart of the movement already I would just like to encourage you to reconsider your position on this matter by considering Jesus whom Thich Nhat Hanh endorses and the Dalai Lama himself acclaims as being the fully enlightened one whose honorary title bears the name “Light of the World.”
John 8:12 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
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“Reprinted by permission. “(Nelson’s Illustrated Guide to Religions), James A. Beverley, 2009,Thomas Nelson Inc. Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.”
Buddha the Enlightened One
Saturday, March 13th, 2010For some the Buddha is a god but practically speaking Siddhartha Gautama or Siddhattha Gotama was an atheist and therefore he didn’t view himself as a deity. For those, like the Buddha, who take a position as an atheist or agnostic I would challenge you to consider several of the cosmological and teleological arguments which I have already put forth in my previous posts.
jesusandjews.com/wordpress/category/atheist-and-agnostic-question-of-jesus/
If we can conclude that God does exist then we should look towards Him as gaining the right understanding and thought in guiding our lives instead of the gurus and the Buddha.
Also for those who give honor to the Buddha how do they know that his sayings have been perfectly preserved since his words were not put into print until 400 years after his death? This would give plenty of time for oral tradition to embellish the content of his teaching which leaves the door open to stories of mythological proportions. Also as far as what has been attributed to his sayings he supposedly taught that if a person finds no value to certain aspects of his teaching then they are to disregard it. So how can a person who claims to have truth not affirm himself in an objective manner?
In addition to this Buddha’s teachings have resulted in forming many different schools of thought and various sects which hold to contradictory views.
Perhaps this is because there are discrepancies that are found among these varied and voluminous resources therefore making it difficult if not impossible to reconcile these differences within the texts.
Then again I wonder if even the Buddha himself would even recognize all the script which is credited to his authorship.
Anyway the question resonates was the Buddha really enlightened or awakened? How does he or anybody else know whether or not they have objectively reached or achieved this state of being and by what means does a person measure this phenomena of spiritual aptitude? To claim enlightenment could be an illusion of enlightenment as there is no criteria in which to standardize this spiritual condition.
Even the Buddha himself could not describe or define such elated terms as nirvana except to say what it is not. If the awakened one could not define the ultimate destiny in his enlightenment then how can a person be for sure that this is an actual state of being or becoming?
Is it possible that this religious worldview is only a lie or a deception which has resulted in wasting precious lives through a pessimistic and nihilistic philosophy of snuffing out a person’s own desire for life rather than pursuing the illuminating joy of celebrating the gift of living?
In reality desire can never be extinguished anyway and even the monks who are committed more to an monastic lifestyle of spiritual discipline still have a desire to uphold the precepts of the four noble truths and walk the noble eight-fold path in order to achieve the desirous state of nirvana.
This philosophy of denying oneself may go along with Buddhistic thought but practically are these people living out their life based on these principles?
Also how can a person prove such ideas as anicca/anitya or anatta/anatman? In the final analysis is this just nonsensical religious jargon and words or is this reality? Is all of life to be interpreted as just an illusory realm of shifting shadows without any concept of stability and permanence? Again are Buddhists living up to these ideals and does this rightly represent their day to day life?
In moving on to responding towards the emphasis of avoiding suffering this philosophy is part of the negative equation to the content of hedonism which strives to maximize pleasure while minimizing or avoiding pain.
In regards to the aspect of pain and suffering this concept can only be realized if there exists the antithetical elements of pleasure and goodness otherwise we have nothing to relate to as what is termed as pain and suffering. So if a degree of goodness and happiness can be achieved wouldn’t it be admirable rather than avoidable to see the glass as half full instead of half empty? Shouldn’t we desire to embrace the positive aspect of living rather than avoiding desire altogether? Just because life is filled with obstacles does this mean that it is better to admit defeat and avoid running the race or would it be more beneficial to take the challenge and leap over these hurdles in life? You know sometimes beautiful things can come forth from suffering but if a person avoids this experience then how honorable is it to retreat in life? We have seen the likes of heroes whom we have admired in laying down their lives for the benefit of others such as what Jesus did in suffering through His death on the cross. This was done on behalf of mankind in which he bore the penalty of our sin and guilt in order to release us from the curse of eternal suffering by meriting on our behalf the perpetual bliss of a heavenly kingdom.
I understand and agree that pain and suffering is an evil that is a part of this existence and world but it shouldn’t be avoided by checking out or escaping this reality which does nothing to solve the problem of ridding ourselves and our world of such mayhem. It is better to center our energies and efforts on building hospitals for the infirmed and food banks/shelters for the poverty stricken and orphanages for our abandoned young rather than to take a passive approach in action towards those who have found themselves in such unfortunate circumstances.
Also living in a monastery does not solve the problems of human suffering and isolation is more of a defensive posture versus a progressive approach in handling these issues.
Christianity has taken the position and the lead in making great efforts in providing humanitarian aid to better the lives of others by easing the discomfort of the destitute and suffering rather than taking the attitude that helping others is a contribution to the evil of increasing others Tanha/Trsna (desire ) or somehow reason that these people are really suffering anyway due to some fatalistic realm of karmic retribution.
Suffering may be an enemy but ironically by snuffing out desire this will only lead to more suffering the likes of which Buddhism is trying to escape.
Another irony to the emphasis of this philosophy is that the Buddha who sought out the source of suffering and how to eliminate it was a perpetrator of causing pain himself and his actions were contradictory to his mission as he abandoned his own family including his wife and child by creating a hardship for them in order to pursue his quest.
In my final analysis Buddhism in its most simplistic form appears to be egocentric and selfish because even though it may uphold to a basic moral code of treating others with respect it does so out of a self interest of solving their own personal problem of suffering as a way of meriting something for their own benefit, namely nirvana.
So if the ultimate goal and motivation for the Buddhist is to remove ones own suffering then morality in interaction with others is seen as only a means to achieve the end.
Yet Jesus had another approach to humanity in which he unselfishly came to serve rather than to be served in giving his life as a ransom for many.
Finally according to Buddhist thought the concepts of accountability or judgment comes through the system of karma and rebirth.
This seems like such an oxymoron for me to believe that such a respected spiritual leader as the Dalai Lama is in exile or that the rape of the Tibetan Buddhist nuns by the communist Chinese resulted by some type of karma from a previous life.
Also I am wondering how does this system of retribution become manageable for an atheist who would deny a supreme being and yet who else could orchestrate such a system of belief? After all someone must determine and evaluate this elaborate system of works in order to obtain some form of orderly system. This would take an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being which is definably God himself to oversee such an incomprehensible matter and so how can the existence of God be denied?
In addition to this if nirvana is the ultimate achievement and final destiny in absolving oneself from this endless repetition of rebirths then how can one be absolutely sure of this realm of being?
Has anybody ever checked out of nirvana and come back to tell their story? Is this a real experience or are they depending upon blind faith? I did a blog on the after life or near death experiences which you might find helpful and interesting.
“jesusandjews.com/wordpress/2009/10/29/is-hell-real/”
In response to Buddhist philosophy I would like to offer an alternative view which speaks of Jesus as the Light of the world and the One who illuminates every man’s path and if we trust Him as both Lord and Savior He will ultimately lead us out of this world of suffering not by the rigors of self effort into some kind of esoteric state of consciousness but rather in securing for us an eternal destiny of heavenly bliss.
I came into a relationship with Jesus over 20 years ago and He has radically transformed my life and filled me with a desire for living rather than inspiring me to despise my temporary abode of existence.
If you like you can read about my testimony at:
“jesusandjews.com/wordpress/my-personal-testimony-with-jesus/”
Also another point of objection is that whatever Buddhism has achieved academically it has done so through the school of Hindu thought.
Buddha may have strayed from Hinduism but nevertheless he was born, lived, and died a Hindu and therefore Buddhism though genetically altered bears a striking resemblance to its mother religion of Hinduism.
Again the bo tree of Buddhism is firmly rooted in Hinduism in which it has taken nourishment from as a vital support structure in maintaining Buddhism’s visibility as a religious institution.
In other words, though there are variances in beliefs between these two religious cultures, Buddhism wouldn’t exist without the guidance of the Indian guru’s and therefore it lacks originality having it origins not in the Buddha to which it takes its name but rather its identity comes mainly from another source.
So do you want to put all your stolen eggs in the three baskets of Buddhistic teaching or would you entrust yourself into the protective hands of a loving and benevolent God who desired you and created you so you might have life and life more abundantly?
In conclusion this argument isn’t about who has the best philosophy or cultural expression but it is about seeking truth and allowing the truth to lead us down the path towards the inevitable. Christ came to light every man’s path but if the only light that you have is really just darkness then how will you find your way.
Yet the bible encourages us that God’s words are a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
Finally I hope that my rhetoric isn’t misunderstood as just a violation of right speech and though my words may appear hard I do have a motivation of genuine concern which compels me to labor my point in seeking the benefit of others. Again I am sorry if I have come across disrespectfully or have offended you needlessly I just don’t know how to say these things in a soft manner and yet communicate effectively the seriousness of these critical concepts.
Also I do believe as the Buddhist that there is an accountability system of right and wrong. These ideals are hard wired in the main frame of our existence in which God communicates truth to our inward parts so that we instinctively know that there are consequences and judgments to our life decisions and this is respectable when Buddhism minimally acknowledges that but to work out someway of appeasing the conscious through the self effort of religious practice is only a counterfeit behavior to the reality of having a personal relationship with the One who is able to remove the burden of guilt that humanity tries so hard to extinguish by self effort.
In closing I would just ask you to simply consider as an invitation to taste and see that the Lord is good and to open your heart to explore the person and work of Jesus.
Lastly I would like to leave you with a scripture which was uttered by Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
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Is The Bible Reliable
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010Upon writing this post I wanted to deal with the uniqueness of the bible which I believe gives credence to the reality of the text which ultimately points towards divine authorship.
To study further on this subject I would recommend a book that I read a long time ago called “A Ready Defense” by Josh McDowell who was an atheist turned Christian. His quest was similar to that of Lee Strobel’s who is a well known author for his “case” series of books.
When closely examining the bible it is like a jewel that is multifaceted with a beauty that makes this gem unique among other literary “gem”res.
I know that this is the same claim that others have also made by advancing their various religious world views but in the final analysis the bible as compared to these other scripts sets a precedence which places it in a class of its own.
Every group wants to claim originality, uniqueness, genuineness, and authority as it relates to some supreme or divine origin regarding their sacred text and based on what I have seen so far in regard to these books seems to be questionable based upon the shortcomings and contradictions of their varied positions of belief.
Again I understand this is the same criticism that has been leveled against the biblical text as well and the skeptic is quick to point out all sorts of problems but some are not always able to be specific in their critique.
Also I know there are difficulties within the bible that are hard to decipher but that is not enough evidence to discard its content as rubbish and poppycock.
Some of these conflicts have resulted due to the vastness and complexity of the scriptures which encompasses 1500 years of writing with 40 different authors who wrote on 3 different continents in 3 different languages. This has led to various nuances which at times may be almost impossible at points to complete rectify or reconcile due to the diversity of language and culture.
Some things in the bible are a paradigm shift to our concept of experience such as its miraculous and metaphysical contents but this does not disapprove the bible either but rather it just leaves us with a bit of a mystery that is not normative to our sense perception.
As regarding biblical content there are other things that just lack a fuller view of explanation and insight of which the authors didn’t leave us with nor thought it necessary to answer. As we try to fill in the blanks this often times leaves us with a misunderstanding which attributes much to the seemingly contradictions and misapplications to the contextual view which can lead towards heretical forms of teaching or belief.
The bible isn’t always an easy piece of literature to handle or piece together and it is like an onion in that every time you read through it you find another layer of understanding that was overlooked in the first disclosure. Yet just because something cannot not be fully understood doesn’t mean that is can’t be trusted. Even science has these limitations as they are just now beginning to probe into the deeper mysteries of the universe and yet the universe to us is both real and believable.
Also we can’t treat the bible like an exhaustive manual which explains every last little detail and it appears to be the Almighty’s prerogative to avoid an extensive explanation of all the complexities that interest inquiring minds. From a biblical view point there tends to be a concentration on the relevant or central points and subjects rather than always answering the questions of “why”. It’s not like we could fully fathom or understand everything anyway and at points it might be like trying to teach the theorems of nuclear science to a new born. This reminds me of Job who questioned God in his finitude which in turn God answered Job back in His infinitude leaving Job speechless.
As humans we don’t even fully understand the ancient technologies or achievements of men such as the building of the pyramids which are undeniably monumental in their presence and yet now we expect to fully comprehend the complexities of an eternal and omnipotent God?
Also some of the difficulties in the bible apply more directly to that particular point in history which would have made it more significant in relevance towards the contemporaries of that particular generation.
So maybe our ability to discern fully is diminished through this aspect of time and space and one thing that has helped in narrowing the gap of biblical doctrine has been the technological advances of archaeology and their recovery of the evidence which has helped to clarify instead of contradict the biblical text. It’s just a matter of time for some things to come into a clearer view as we unearth the next pile of dirt.
Archaeologists have uncovered habitations that were once thought to be non existent such as the Hittite civilization and they also have found historical proof for the things in the bible that at one time were put in the categorical box of mythology.
Our limitations to discern or understand can also become distorted resulting in a corrupt understanding of the text and fallibility may be on behalf of the interpreter which results in a misapplication to the scriptures but one thing is certain is that these assertions may apply to peoples perception but that does not necessitate an application to the book that is under others scrutiny.
Anyway I really don’t have enough time in this one post to write on such a voluminous work that has copious amount of scholarship dedicated to this subject. Hopefully this will serve your interest in prompting a desire for you to more fully research these claims in unlocking this heavy but accessible door as you enter into the discovery of biblical truth.
One thing that biblical literature has going for itself is that there is more manuscript evidence for the bible than any other piece of ancient literature. There are about 25,000 manuscripts in various languages that date back as early as 125 A.D for the New Testament and as far back as 200 B.C for the Old. This massive amount of manuscript helps when trying to reconstruct authenticity by analyzing possible discrepancies due to scribal fluctuations and these reconstructive efforts of scholars and linguists have resulted in more of a purified text. Most of these variances that are found are minor such as spelling errors and therefore are non consequential towards the integrity of the text.
Unfortunately we do not have the originals or the autographs but still there is only about a 100 year old time lapse between the New Testament autograph and the oldest surviving copies which is quite small considering that most of the other literature that we have from antiquity is between 400 to 1000 years removed from its original source.
Also regarding the preservation and authentication of the New Testament text is that much of it can be completely reconstructed from the quotes of the early church fathers between 97 AD to 180 AD except for 11 verses. In addition to this the lectionaries between 300-1100 AD also confirm the content for the entire New Testament.
Another thing to consider is that when there is a longer period of time between the sources there tends to be a better possibility to embellish the literature content of a document which can evolve into mythical proportions due to the inclusion of oral traditions. We discovered this when we played the game of telephone as kids. So I believe given the relatively short period of time between these manuscript sources helps to authenticate the reliability of the biblical text.
One of the main reasons why there was difficulty in the preservation and survival of these original autographs was due to the inferiority of the parchment which was largely papyrus. Animal skins were not widely used until centuries after the completion of the New Testament so in conclusion this trail of vast manuscripts has turned out to be a blessing in piecing together the textual evidence of this script without the benefits of Gutenberg’s Press.
In moving on to the Old Testament text it was passed down to us by the Massoretes. These copyists or scribes were meticulous on how they counted the number of letters, words, and lines in keeping with the accuracy of the sacred text. This kind of detail can be attributed to the consistency we see with the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls in 1947 which were written about 1000 years before this Masoretic text (895AD). When I was in Jerusalem I was able to see the Isaiah scroll on display at the Shrine of the Book museum.
Anyway in addition to this there is yet another copy of the Old Testament called the Septuagint which is written in Greek with the oldest copy dating back to about the second century AD which is still another piece of the puzzle to this ancient work of literature.
Now regarding the New Testament the original manuscripts were written between 45 and 95 A.D. Fortunately these documents can be ascribed to there various times based on the historical significance of well know people, places, and events. In addition to this I think one key element in determining the age of these documents is the fact that the temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. and since this is such a catastrophic event of which is not even mentioned in such significant historical books as Acts or the gospel narratives then it becomes understandable why these books predate this particular event in history.
Also before the New Testament could be accepted as canon it had to be validated and proven to have an origin that would require it to be of either a first hand witness or someone closely associated with these witnesses in order to find acceptance within the New Testament community of believers.
Nearly all the New Testament was written by the Apostles with the bulk of literature being attributed to the Apostle Paul. Others that had written books were closely associated with the Apostles such as John Mark who was a close associate with the Apostle Peter and Luke who was under the influence of Paul and there was also Jacob(James) and Judah(Jude) who were the half brother’s of Jesus. We have no reason to question the authenticity of these apostolic authors based on the dates and the acceptance of these scriptures by the followers of the early church.
Even Polycarp in 108 AD, who was a disciple of the Apostle John, mentions 15 of these NT books, not to say that the others didn’t exist, but finally through various church councils leading up to the council of Carthage in 397 AD the canon of the New Testament was determined to be closed and was fully affirmed and accepted officially even though it had already been approved within the community of saints prior to these councilor meetings. In addition to this the Jewish council of Jamnia had already determined their canon of scripture prior to this in 90 A.D by officially codifying the Old Testament text.
One of the reasons for the council was due to a reactionary response as a need to preserve biblical orthodoxy which was under attack by the various cults and heresies that were being circulated at this juncture in history. Also within these councils, which would include Jamnia, the various apocryphal literature’s were rejected as inspirational even though it was allowed within the Septuagint and later included within various Orthodox and Catholic bibles.
The early church was hypersensitive towards authentication and was very narrow concerning the inclusion of circulated texts. The church wanted to avoid the synchronization of controversial texts which is unlike some religions like Hinduism which have incorporated a synthesis of various contradictory tribal traditions as a unified text.
So the bible didn’t just come together haphazardly by the mixing and matching of mythological narratives such as what you might find in some of the ancient pagan cultures that ascribe the events of the creation and the flood accounts as the work of the polytheistic gods. Nor does it lend itself to the mishandling of information but rather the authors had a preoccupation for accuracy. Just read the account of the gospel of Dr. Luke who writes with the intent of precision as outlined in the introductory statement of his gospel account in Luke 1:1-4 which is described as being prepared in an orderly and precise fashion.
Though the bible may contain super-nature material it is written with the backdrop of historical narrative which is unique and separate from other mythological literature. If God is who the bible claims Him to be then the variables of His omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence are clearly within the range of the data that the biblical account supports.
There have also been challenges raised against the gospel accounts which can be seen by the discrepancies of inclusion and exclusion. The bible teaches inspiration with a confluence of both a divine and human element unlike Islam which teaches that the Quran was originated as a divine copy that was communicated by dictation like a stenographer.
The writers of the gospels were individuals who wrote based on their guided perceptions of the same events as it related to their distinct personalities and experience much like interviewing a spectator at a sporting event to get their reaction to the game. Not everybody is going to say the same thing because of a different vantage point in their communication of factual information and even if there is corroboration like you have in the Synoptic gospels there are still allowances for individuality. Of course this is only acceptable as long as it is not contradictory in nature.
If the church wanted to remove any perceived inconsistencies as a means to help eliminate the supposed contradictions then they would have had plenty of time to do this by now but because these somewhat controversial scriptures remain helps to prove is originality.
If we question the biblical literature then we must likewise question the historical literature of antiquity as well as all other literature even from the contemporary sources. We can’t just simply rank or categorize religion under the titles of superstition, fiction, and myth just because it pertains to religious ideologies.
We must also scrutinize what is to be considered as the standardized text book materials such as what is found in the scientific (philosophical) realms which base much of their conclusive evidence on the theory and hypothesis of their scientific methods. Yet are we religiously treating these books as sacred without challenging them by accepting the science fiction notion of such things as macroevolution which has never been proven.
Religion has been attributed as the opiate of the masses but what about the cyanide of the sciences and philosophies in spite of the teleological and cosmological arguments of which science has stumbled over in resolving and has had to shift their position from time to time in order to accommodate there faith which remains in a continued state of flux. Upon closer observation if the skeptic would remove the shutter over their instruments they may come to discover the Creator staring back at them through the lens of the microscope and telescope.
The bible was meant to be complimentary to the texts of human academia and is not to be antithetical to the precepts of life as it appears within the libraries of knowledge. However some want to create a special section that separates it from the rest of the collection of library books by attributing it to a form of mysticism or some type of the pre-scientific beliefs of ancient tribal civilizations who were ignorant and misinformed.
Lastly this post does not answer every question to all the objections but it does show at this point that the bible is a reliable source of ancient literature. Yet what really makes this piece of work unique is the content which has it origins in a divine being.
I believe that requires something of the nature which is considered special revelation such as the fulfillment of prophecy or scientific facts that were unknown to these ancient civilizations.
A person could give the criticism that biblical prophecy is like an arrow that has been shot with the bible serving as the target which we have conveniently moved in order to achieve the bulls eye of fulfillment.
Yet there are some things of which can not be adequately refuted because of the historical nature of secondary or non biblical sources which are independent of the biblical sources.
One of these sources comes to us through the historical and archeological finds that have helped to substantiate and give credibility to the biblical text.
The scriptures themselves have made some wise towards the receiving of salvation and we see this as a response to some Jews who have come to believe in Jesus as the Messiah just from reading the Tanakh or the Old Testament scriptures. To most Jews the New Testament is an inferior secondary text but when they see an alignment between the historical crucifixion and the New Testament record then sometimes the light of revelation illuminates their mind to connect to Jesus as the supreme messianic figure in fulfillment of the Old Testament.
The Jewish community is not sympathetic towards Jesus even though we share a common belief in God and a holy book. One of the chapters that some of the religious Jews avoid is Isaiah 53 due to its prophetic significance as related to Jesus. Many times when uninformed Jews hear this segment of the scripture for the first time some immediately associate this passage with Jesus and their initial response is that we don’t believe in the New Testament without realizing that they have just heard a passage from their Hebrew scriptures.
Another prophecy, which is found in Psalms 22, depicts the scene of the crucifixion of Jesus which describes this form of capital punishment that was non existent at this point in history and wasn’t developed until later by the Persians before finally being adopted by the Romans.
Again this is another one of those scriptures that some Jews upon hearing for the first time have immediately seen as a correlation between Jesus and His death. Actually this was one of the key scriptures in which my Jewish wife came to believe in Jesus herself.
In considering the evidence of the prophetic I would like to refer to a couple of instances that would be recognized as unique outside of the resource of the bible and would be considered unmistakingly and undeniably valid without the influence of a religious text alone telling us what happened which would include the possibility of adding something after the fact.
To begin with we know that the Old Testament predates the New Testament and that is not in dispute here because of the dating of the Septuagint and the Dead Sea scrolls and therefore this text was not the invention of Christianity. The Jewish community had this text long before the advent of the new covenant era and the Jews wouldn’t even think about it as being an extension of the biblical narrative.
Yet the religious Jews find some real problems with some of these Old Testament scriptures and they either avoid reading them or claim them to be closed or to difficult to understand especially when it comes to the possibility of seeing Jesus as the fulfillment of the text.
One thing I have discussed extensively in another blog is the seventy weeks of Daniel which deals with a historic timetable of dating which can not be fabricated or altered which specifically points to the time of Jesus followed by the destruction of the temple.
jesusandjews.com/wordpress/2009/06/19/jesus-the-messiah/
Also another bit of evidence and one of the greatest miracles of this modern era is the reestablishment of the State of Israel and the continued proliferation of the Jewish people against all the odds of a complete assimilation and annihilation which helps in confirming the prophetic significance of Genesis 13:14, 15 which was given as an ancient promise to Abraham concerning his offspring as inhabiting the land of Israel forever. This prophecy was given about 2000 BC and it still good for 2010 AD and beyond.
The historical rebirth of Israel in 1948 was a divine miracle which records the preservation of Israel amidst the oppositional forces of exile and the Diaspora which resulted in the inquisition, crusades, pogroms, and even the nazi Holocaust and yet they have still survived and retained their ethnic and national identity as a distinct people and therefore did not fully integrate unlike other people groups in the history of the world that had lost their homeland. The Jews may have been temporarily displaced but only to return. God was putting them on display as if to show the world his glory and greatness according to his promises which are without repentance.
In addition to this just to hear of the miraculous stories which took place among the Jewish people as they fought to retain their land is enough to make a believer out of you. To see God’s hand in protecting them from the invading armies of the surrounding Arab nations when they were out numbered and out armed was like a story right out of the bible much like David and Goliath.
There have been many great civilization come and go but Gods word will not fail. A good production to view concerning this reenactment is the movie “Against all Odds”.
In regards to science many have thought that the bible is incompatible with the advancements of the modern scientific age and yet we know that there are many well known scientists working in their respective disciplines which minimally have a theistic view as well as a portion of them clinging to the Judeo Christian faith. Here is a link that gives a partial list of these people
www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-scientists.html
In conclusion this may not prove to you ever thing that you question regarding the biblical text or the God of the bible but it should cause you to hunger enough to want to investigate the buffet of God’s word as means to satisfy the hunger pangs of our human reality. Our problem is that we have a pallet that is not culinaried towards having an appetite towards our creator. Yet the bible calls to us to taste and see that the Lord is good.
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How to have a relationship with God
jesusandjews.com/wordpress/how-to-know-god/
AMG’s Encyclopedia of Bible Facts, AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Reprinted by permission. “Josh McDowell A Ready Defense, Josh McDowell and Bill Wilson, Copyright 1993, Thomas Nelson Inc. Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.”