The Legacy of Jacob - Moriel Ministries

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Moriel Thailand– Continued tial period of the Mahayana movement. Two of them are of Indian origin and date from about the first century B.C. The third scripture, which dates from about the fourth century, exists only in a Chinese version. Apart from being late in and of themselves, Shinran, and other patriarchs made changes to the doctrines. Also, Amida Buddha is not even mentioned in the earlier Pali canon. The Pali canon itself is not exactly a history textbook, but it is closer to the time of the Sakyamuni Buddha. Pure Land’s change in status: One example of a changed doctrine is that originally the Pure Land was thought to be an intermediary place, ideally suited for obtaining nirvana. Later it was believed that the Pure Land is the end goal itself. In summary, trusting in Shin Buddhism is like playing soul roulette with every barrel loaded. The founder (Dharmakara) is probably entirely mythical. Even if we suppose he existed, he is so human that he could not have even saved himself. And, the record of Shin Buddhism’s teachings speaks of relying on snakes and late, revised ideas. The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ as compared to Sakyamuni Buddha There are over 300 prophesies about Jesus in the Old Testament (the most recent ones are 400 years B.C.; most are older than that). In Thomas’ book which gave a very detailed account, including perspectives from various schools, I found one prophecy at the time of his birth, when it was said he would become a great king if he stayed in the palace, but would become a Buddha if he left. Also, the Buddhavamsa text contains prophecies by the previous 24 Buddhas. Although the Buddhavamsa is part of the Pali canon, Thomas refers to it as another example of “hagiographical industry” (xxi), and being in the Pali, it would have been composed after the death of Sakyamuni. Jesus had a forerunner to announce His arrival (John the Baptist - who was also prophesied in (http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Isaiah%2040.3, Isaiah 40:3) Jesus’ “mother” outlived Him (on earth, that is) [Buddha’s mother died seven days after he was born (Thomas, 33)] Jesus, being God in the flesh, created His “mother” and all people Jesus was born into a poor family (as opposed to Buddha’s royal upbringing- although it is in dispute as to whether Buddha was really of royalty) Jesus didn’t need teachers (whereas in the stories of the Buddha, he had several teachers, and words such as “searching” and “striving” are used) Jesus could “borrow” a tomb (He used it for less than three days) Jesus’ public ministry lasted for 3 years. Buddha’s lasted for 45 years Jesus died at age 33 (by crucifixion). Buddha died at age 80 (by unintentional food poisoning). This difference also has a bearing on recording the events of their lives. If two people died today at these ages (33 and 80), in order to find eyewitnesses of these accounts for the person who was 33, we’d have to find people who were living around 1969 to the present. For the person who was 80, we’d have to find people who were alive (and at least 10 years old, such that they would have a clear memory of the events) around 1922. It becomes clear that there would have been far more eyewitnesses (both sympathetic and hostile- which meant the writers had to be accurate in their retelling of the events) for Jesus. Jesus is not one in a series of greats- rather He is completely unique- God in the flesh. Buddha, depending on which text is used was preceded by 6, 24, 54, or more than a hundred previous Buddhas (Thomas, 27). Jesus, though tempted, such that He could be understanding and compassionate, was completely sinless. Sakyamuni Buddha had many sins, as is evidenced by the many lives that are claimed for him (547 previous lives as recorded in the Jataka tales), in which he had to work off his bad karma. The Pali Canon The Pali Canon is held to be the closest to the original teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha. Of course there are many other Buddhist scriptures besides the Pali Canon (such as Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Chinese scriptures). Earlier I mentioned that the Pali Canon is approximately 15 times the size of the Bible. The Chinese Canon is approximately 120 times the size of the Bible! (www.akshin.net/ literature/budlitsourceschina.htm) Thomas in his biography of the Buddha, writes, “The earliest period at which we have evidence for the existence of a body of Scriptures approximating to the present Canon is at the third Council held B.C. 247…” (XlX). The reason he says “approximating” is because within the Pali canon some parts are considered to be much later than 247 B.C. Thomas goes on to say, “We have nothing, even in the Pali, at all like ‘the real facts of the Gospel history’ to put in the place of the Sanskrit legend. We have merely other forms of the same legend, some earlier and some later” (XXlV). Amazing Grace Stephen H. Short was a Zen Buddhist for 13 years before turning to Christ. In an online article he retraces how he became involved in Zen and how he decided to leave. Here are some excerpts: I considered whether there might be truth beyond Zen that I would never find because through Zen I had lost all desire to look for it. Watching my desires and attachments appear and trying not to hold on to them, I also watched my attention becoming more and more focused on myself. Though we students bowed, chanted, meditated, ate, and slept together, we might just as well have been alone on a mountain top….The irony of becoming wrapped up in the self in order to lose the self was not lost on me. We were told that bringing our attachments to awareness was a prerequisite to letting them go. Might not increased awareness subtly lead to increased attachment Were we trading bondage to desire for bondage to self-absorption Jim Stephens was a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist for 14 years. In his online account (www.equip.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3. aspxc=muI1LaMNJrE&b=4127511&con tent_id=%7BAF924113-1C05-4D38-A299- D99331EA7FD2%7D&notoc=1) he gives the reasons for his departure from Buddhism and how he turned to Jesus Christ. Here are three excerpts: The accident report read, “Cause: Act of God.” I was in a train station in Japan, making a pilgrimage to the head Buddhist temple Daisekiji at the foot of Mount Fuji, when a young man – in perfect English – warned: “Beware the winds of Himeiji!” Three and one-half hours later, I was leaning over to put some postcards into my travel bag and heard someone yell a warning in Japanese. The next thing I knew, a sign weighing nearly 200 pounds came crashing down on my back…I was painfully lost in a spiritual wasteland and was weighed down with sin. I realized that while Buddhism had benefited me in many ways, it ultimately led to a spiritual dead end. As a great wise man, King Solomon, once said: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/ Prov.%2016.25, Prov. 16:25)…That night, my wife- a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist for 16 years- also believed. What grace! Lit-Sen Chang (1904- 1996) was a university professor at age 21, and his thoughts were influential among Chinese government leaders. In his Christian testimony he writes, “Though after my conversion I also wrote five million words as before my conversion, the fruits were different” (294). He goes on to say how feedback from his readers shows lives changed for the better. Some of his later books are “A Christian Critique of Humanism”, “The Spiritual Decline of the West”, “Transcendental Meditation”, “Comprehensive Christian Apologetics” (four volumes), and “Zen- Existentialism.” In his book “Asia’s Religions: Christianity’s momentous encounter with paganism,” he tells of how he became a Christian at age 50, after deep involvement with various Asian religions. Here’s an excerpt: I was intoxicated with Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism as were many other Chinese scholars, and became the founding President of Kiang Nan University. The Yung De-sheng family donated five thousand acres of land, beside the most beautiful lake T’ai Hu. This was to be the center of a 26 Moriel Quarterly • March 2012
esurgence movement of Asian religions and culture. My purpose was to revive Asian religions and destroy Christianity. I was fortyfive years old. (290) Through a surprise change of plans he went to Indonesia instead of India, and was invited to the opening ceremony for a new church. This became the beginning of his life in Christ. Kaneki Masuda, of Omuta, Japan, became a Christian four and a half years ago. Here’s part of his story: I had been a Buddhist for 40 years. I did all of the many and varied ascetic practices of that religion, such as: standing under cold water falls, Zen practices, sitting in Zen meditation in the snow and ice, all-night meditations, fastings, etc. Furthermore, of the many sects of Buddhism, I chose to believe in the “Fudo”- the god of fire. In my own way, I endeavored to serve that sect. And, now, I suddenly realize I am 71 years of age. According to A Dictionary of Buddhist Terms and Concepts, “Fudo is a Buddhist deity who serves practitioners by defeating the obstacles and devils which hinder Buddhist practice…He is popularly depicted as an angry figure surrounded by flames, holding a rope and a sword.” Fudo is among the deities called myoo. The Kodansha Encyclopedia explains further: Myoo were originally non-Buddhist Hindu deities who were adopted into the pantheon of ESOTERIC BUDDHISM…The deities have been especially popular in Japan, chiefly since the introduction of esoteric Buddhist traditions in the 9th century…the most popular of the myoo is Fudo; the temple Shinshoji (Naritasan) in Chiba Prefecture is the center of the Fudo cult. When Mr. Masuda went to the hospital for an operation, he took with him a book (“From Buddhism to Christianity” by former Shin Buddhist priest Kamegai Ryoun) his daughter had given him. He explains: I was totally ignorant of Christ, but as I continued to read, I felt the depth of love and Christ’s sacrifice of Himself and his family to help others. I was half believing and half doubting, wondering if these things could possibly be true. Anyway, I couldn’t put the book down and read all night long. It was time for breakfast the next morning when I finished the book. The story goes on, and he was transformed by the amazing grace of Jesus Christ. Conclusion Jesus said, “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters” (http://biblia.com/bible/ nasb95/Luke%2011.23, Luke 11:23). Buddha is a false teacher. The teachings of Buddha and Jesus cannot be mixed without causing a poisoning effect. To say that there are some good morals in Buddhism is not enough, when the spiritual effect is to poison the soul against God. If a glass of water is 99 % pure water, and only 1% poison, it’s still fatal. Buddha is often thought of as a man who was a spiritual pioneer searching for answers. The picture is not quite as innocent as that though. He was also a man adrift on the fascination of his own status. In the Acchariyabbhutadhamma-sutta (of the Pali canon), Buddha and other bodhissattas are quoted as saying at their birth, “I am the chief in the world, I am the best in the world, I am the first in the world.” Also, in the Pali canon (in the Majjhima) he is quoted as saying, “Alone am I the All- enlightened.” This puts him beyond being a mere innocent seeker. And yet, in other places, Buddha takes more of an agnostic view of things: “…the Buddha often declared that he was merely a ‘guide’ (Dh 276), not an authority (D 2:100, 154), and that all propositions, including his own should be tested (A 1:188 f)” (New Light From An Old Lamp- 5 lectures by Tan Beng Sin, Piyasilo). He gave people mere speculations which in truth lead people farther from God and reality. Coming back to my opening remarks about the Buddha sitting on a giant cobra, this story is from the Udana of the Pali canon. Concerning the breaking of his bones for distribution, this story seems to be a legend developed later. Working out of the Mahaparinibbana of the Pali, Thomas writes, “But the Mallas of Kusinara in their assembly refused to make a division, as the Lord had attained Nirvana in their domain. Then the brahmin Dona counseled concord, and proposed to divide the relics into eight equal parts for each of the eight claimants” (155). These relics are apparently his robe and bowl and such items, since the Buddha was said to have been cremated: “It burned without leaving behind any of the skin, flesh, sinews, or fluid of the joints, or any ash and soot” (155). There are however two lists which mention five teeth as relics. By contrast, Jesus Christ is alive and well, and has the power to transform any repentant sinner. Our problem as humans is not that we have no SELF, as Buddhism asserts, but that our SELF is in rebellion against God. But God made us, and He knows what’s best for us. Our choice here boils down to the sure Word of God as revealed in the Bible, or the empty speculations of Buddhism. We are in fact commanded to make the right choice, and we are also shown demonstrable love in Jesus’ crucifixion on our behalf, but we have the ten witnesses (the ten commandments) testifying to our guilt if we refuse. I want to ask you the reader, please make the right choice. Any questions or comments I can be contacted at: www.chukar@hotmail.com. If you’re writing for the first time, please send four e-mails of the same message, so I can easily spot it in my junk mail folder. After that I’ll add you to my safe-list. Moriel Thailand – Continued Jacob in thailand March 2012 • Moriel Quarterly 27
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