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Buddha, Christ sought
converts
by Sachiyo Hartanto, staff writer
Click on any image to go to photo gallery.
Believe it or not, two of the world's
three great religions – Christianity and Buddhism – have a lot
in common. Both treat suffering as an opportunity to gain strengths
and overcome weaknesses. The founders of both religions were great
preachers and two of the most influential figures in human history.
They both practiced unselfishness and devotion for others.
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Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, was born in 563 BCE,
the prince of a small tribal state governed by his father.
As a youth, Shakyamuni was sheltered from the outside world
and never allowed to see how people lived beyond the palace
walls, so he never knew the meaning of human suffering.
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Izumo Taishakyo temple |
One day Shakyamuni, curious to find out what lay outside,
and sneaked out. He learned that common people suffered from
poverty and sickness, and he wondered why. Determined to find
an answer to human suffering, Shakyamuni decided to leave
his comfortable life to embark on a quest for knowledge. Physically,
he traveled for many years throughout India Spiritually, through
intense meditation, rigorous self-discipline and self-denial,
he finally achieved “enlightenment.”
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The word Buddha means “Enlightened one.” As Buddha, Shakyamuni
taught that “Every one has a potential of attaining Buddhahood,”
and told his followers: “Go forth in all the world, for the
good of the many, for the welfare of the many, in compassion
for the world. Preach the teaching, magnificent, as it is
in the beginning, magnificent as it is at the end. Preach
a life of holiness, perfect and pure.”
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The bell at the Izumo Taishakyo temple |
Jesus is the name of person who later became known as Christ
or the Messiah, which means “Anointed One,” in Greek. Jesus,
unlike Buddha, taught people to believe that he was divine,
the son of God.
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Jesus was born during the reign of Augustus, Caeser, Emperor
of Rome, in the city of Bethlehem in what is now Israel, the
son of a carpenter from Nazareth. During his life, Jesus proclaimed
himself to be the spiritual king of the Jews and with the help
of his disciples spread the word of God through preaching.
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The front steps of the Izumo Taishakyo temple
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Jesus taught that he came to earth to reestablish God’s
relationships with humanity and that he brought a new covenant
of love to replace the older covenant of the Jews. His purpose
was to take upon himself the sins of the world in order to
redeem humanity.
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Jesus taught that only through his
teachings could one be accepted into the Kingdom of Heaven: “All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am
with you always, to the very end of the age”( Matthew 28:18-20:).
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Kawaiaha'o Church |
Jesus and Buddha both sought to win converts who would follow
their teachings and spread them to the world. Despite similarities,
there are some major differences. Buddhism teaches that only
through the practice of self-discipline and meditation can
people reach enlightenment; salvation comes from one’s own
efforts. Christianity teaches that only through prayers to
God and following his teachings can one receive grace and
achieve salvation.
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