A) INTRODUCTION.

B) BASIC BELIEFS.

C) THE DANGERS OF BUDDHISM.

D) THE IDEOLOGY OF BUDDHISM.

E) FINAL THOUGHTS.

 

 

A) INTRODUCTION

 

 

Considered to be an Asian religion or philosophy, because of the region in which it was founded (founded by Siddartha Gautama), in northeastern India in the 5th century B.C.  It is also thought to be originated in the sixth century B.C., in what is now today Nepal.  It was brought to China by Buddhist monks from India during the latter part of the “Han Dynasty” (150 A.D.), and took over a century to become assimilated into Chinese culture.  Still others accredit Buddhism to the teachings of the Buddha (Sanskrit:  “Awakened One”), a teacher who lived in northern India between the mid-6th or mid-4th centuries B.C.

 

 

B) BASIC BELIEFS

 

 

One of the main beliefs and reason for Buddhism is to get rid of mankind’s suffering.  This led to 4 major conducts.

1) Life Is Suffering.

2) We Suffer Because We Desire.

3) To Stop Suffering, You Need To Stop Desiring.

4) In Order To Stop Desiring You Have To Follow The Middle Path.

5) This Is Then Where You Learn All Of His (Siddartha Gautama) Other Teachings (Behaving and living the right way; practicing a certain kind of meditational formula).  You Thus Can Escape From Suffering.  The problem is, to stop desiring is desiring to stop.  Thus you have circular reasoning at its core.

 

A second form of the basic beliefs of Buddhism is the conviction that “Happiness and Good Fortune” are attainable to all, regardless of age, race or background.  Buddhists believe that all negative mental states or "delusions" as they are referred to, can be overcome through the practice of meditation.  The main beliefs of Buddhism are reincarnation, the four noble truths, the five precepts (to “Not Kill; Not Steal; Not Commit Sexual Misconduct, Refrain From False Speech; and Not Take Intoxicants” that lessen your awareness) and the three trainings or practices (Virtue; Good Conduct; Morality).  Sounds pretty good until you learn that Buddhism also has an eightfold path that was created by the Buddha and helps lead people toward “Enlightenment.”  These “Eight Steps” are vague and are subject to the personal priest in charge of you (Think about that for a minute; two minutes if you are still thinking about it; “The Priest That Is In Charge Of You”).

 

To simplify and instead of going over them, the “Eight Steps” are all moral aspects, as are already given in the Bible.  But when done and achieved in one’s life you reach the state of what Buddhist’s call, “Nirvana.”  Most Buddhist’shave a hard time explaining “Nirvana,” since none have achieved it.  What is “it” that they are seeking to achieve?  “Nirvana” is “The Extinction Of Your Physical Life.”  What Christians may term as, “Reincarnation.”  Why any Buddhist would want to possibly come back as a monkey is only acceptable among the Evolutionist camp of believers.

 

To get around the inability of Buddhist’s to explain why they cannot explain “Nirvana,” or why “Nirvana” has not taken place in their life, they claim, or use the word, “Bodhisattva.”  “Bodhisattva” is a term used to designate a person who has reached, or nearly reached the state of “Nirvana,” but has chosen to remain here among the living in order to teach others how to achieve the state he has.  Here is the person that will now attempt to take control of you (i.e., your “teacher”).  Note:  your Teacher should be no other than Jesus Christ.

 

 

C) THE DANGERS OF BUDDHISM

 

 

On the surface, Buddhism is touted as being a religion striving for peace and harmony for oneself; which of course leads to peace and harmony with others.  Therefore, in practice and reality, Buddhism is a good religion.  It also could be ranked up there with Christianity, in that it believes in life after death.  By contrast, Christians do not want to come back as a monkey.  Nor do they want to stay on this corrupted earth.  Heaven is the Christians goal; while being one with the universe is the Buddhists goal; meaning, a Buddhist is NEVER sure of one’s salvation.  People in Buddhismare fearful of the dead coming back to bother them.  Thus, in reality, Buddhism is fear based.

 

The dangers of Buddhism are beliefs in physical miracles, power in objects which become sacred (see God’s Second Commandment), such as relics, or ornaments and oracles, which would be said to have magical powers.  Fortune telling and other superstitions.  Any superstition which the student may have is always exploited.  Buddhism thus seeks to address any disparity between a person’s view of reality and the actual state of things.  This is called developing “Right” or “Correct View” (“Pali:”  “Samma Ditthi”).  Seeing reality “as-it-is,” is thus an essential prerequisite to mental health and well-being according to Buddha’s teaching.

 

However, consider, “Who’s view is right.”  Who’s “reality as-it-is” is correct.  Keep in mind, it is NEVER your reality, only your “teachers” reality!  You essentially become a product of your teacher.  Depending upon which form of Buddhism you choose, good luck with your reincarnation experience.

 

 

D) THE IDEOLOGY OF BUDDHISM

 

 

Should you as a Buddhist Monk, “Is Buddhism the truth?”  He will tell you that, “If you live a good life all roads ‘could’ lead to wherever you need to get to.”

 

Buddhism as an ideology is part of a dominant hegemony that reproduces “Conformity, Quiescence, and Non-Resistance,” creates the good Buddhist subject.  However, the “Conformity, Quiescence, and Non-Resistance,” is mostly (learned later) towards your “teacher” than other human beings; although that is also part of it.

 

The goal of Buddhism is to “Overcome Suffering,” which is taught as a result of one’s “False Concept Of Reality;” as they see it.  Also, to achieve “Nirvana” (explained above and below).

 

In Buddhism there is no real God (see the Bible to find out what the Real God thinks about that).  However, they believe there are “gods” out there, but that your personal “Nirvana” can overcome them.  This in reality, is messing with Satanic agencies.

 

The appeal of Buddhism is meditation.  In Buddhism, one meditates in order to discover within yourself the universe and matter at its core.  Whereas in Christianity, it is to have a closer relationship with God through meditating upon His Word and thoughts of God Himself.  In other words, one is a personal relationship while the other is selfishness.  Personal verses impersonal.  So getting right down to it, there is no God, or it is you.

 

 

E) FINAL THOUGHTS

 

 

Buddhism is considered to be the fourth largest religion in the world today.  Most Buddhist traditions emphasize transcending the individual self through the attainment of “Nirvana.”  Nirvana basically is the “Ending of the cycle of death and rebirth.”  In other words, the end of your reincarnation experiences.  That you then become a god is the ultimate goal.  That this is partially achieved through meditation is to be in a trance.  Basically, you must deny reality.  In other words, you must believe in a false reality.

 

Of course, as with ALL religions, there are different divisions, branch-offs, and you’re-wrong-we-are-right views of the sect.  Buddha statues are supposed to bring peace, harmony, positive energy, happiness, health, longevity, wealth,prosperity, protection, etcetera.  Should you put a Buddha statue or image in your house and none of these things occur, or even if they appear to occur for a time, please destroy it, as the True God may take action (consider the false god Dagon; First Samuel 5:2-4).