Jesus Christ Is the Son of God, Essay Example

I have considered that there are certain factors of Buddhism that can be associated with Christianity. It is considered or termed as a religion as well as a philosophy that revolves around the elements of various beliefs, practices and traditions, which are mainly attributed to the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who is referred to as the “Buddha”, which means” the awakening one.” The Buddha is believed to have lived as well as in India, particularly the Indian subcontinent, around the time of 6^th-4^th centuries BCE (Kohn, 24). According to several Buddhists, he is referred to as the enlightened teacher, who generally shares his information with the sentient beings with the aim of ending any as well as every element of suffering, achieve or attain nirvana as well as escape what is considered to be the cycle or circle of suffering as well as rebirth.

The element of Buddhism is established on three essential concepts with regard to life and the world.They include Karma, Rebirth and Samsara (cycle of rebirth and suffering). In the case of Karma, it is considered to be the force or element that facilitates the element of Samsara. In Buddhism it is considered to be either the acts of good or bad that are considered to be seeds that develop on the same fact.Therefore, if an individual does good, good things will happen to the same individual as well as the same concept for doing bad. An individual will get the reward or punishment for his deeds either in the same life or in the next life which will come after rebirth. One cannot predict the time but what is guaranteed is that he will be judged on all of his actions sooner or later. In the case of not doing or avoiding major actions and resulting in positive actions, it is referred to as “sila” which is ethical conduct.“Karma” is the term used for the actions that are formulated from mental intent, which contain various as well as relevant consequences. I do not believe that karma has such a vital significance, but it still has a factor of relevance in life (Kohn, 76).

In the case of Theravada Buddhism, there is a lack of divine salvation as well as forgiveness in the case of an individual’s karma.This is because we engage in actions on a regular basis to manage life affairs and our collective actions are what run the universe. Thus, Theravada Buddhism is less focused on the relationship between actions and consequences. This is in contrast to the Mahayana traditions, which claim (some and not all) that reciting as well as hearing the texts of the Mahayana Sutras serve to expunger or eliminate negative karma. Genshin, who was a Japanese Pure land teacher, taught the followers that Amida Buddha has the power or ability to eliminate any element of karma that would force an individual into samsara.

Buddhism believes in a continuous cycle of life where death is not the end of life but just one stop along the one. One is reborn after death, goes to the death process again, and again reborn. The cycle goes on until one is able to achieve Nirvana or become one with Buddha.With regard to Buddhism, there is a disclamation to the fact that a human being cannot evolve, or is stuck in the same or permanent form, or an eternal soul. In Buddhism, there is the belief that there is no fact that establishes the factor of being an independent form from the universe (Kohn, 101). I feel that on this basis it can be related to Christianity, which I concur with this ideology of Buddhism.

Rebirth is considered to be the actual existence of the several factors of being, which are a continuation of an ever-evolving or changing as well as a dynamic process, which is determined by laws that establish cause as well as effect, also known as karma, and not by a singular individual.. Rebirth is based on the transmigration of an individual from one lifetime to another, regardless of form. I agree with this ideology of Buddhism as it is related to the notion of re-birth in Christianity.

In accordance to Theravadins, there are 5 factors or elements of rebirth and there are six in accordance to other schools. Of the factors, they are dissected into 31 platforms of existence. They include Nakara Beings, Animlas, Preta, Human beings, Asuras and Devas. Rebirth is considered to have a higher heaven(s), which are referred to as the Pure Abodes. They can only be ventured into by Buddhists who has attained a high level of skill with regard to practice Buddhism, who is referred to as “non-returners.”

Rebirth with regard to the formless realms can only be attained by the individuals who can meditate on the element of Arupajhanas, which is the highest object or factor of meditation (Kohn, 123).  Based on the beliefs ofTibetan Buddhism, there is an intermediate state, which exists between one lifetime and the next one. The beliefs of the Theravada reject this element.However, there are passages that exist from one life to the other, which suggests the existence of the intermediate stages. I do not agree with this factor simply because I believe there is only one stage of re-birth in which individuals go to heaven.

The Samsara is basically the element that establishes the cycle of suffering as well as rebirth. The belief is that the sentient beings crave pleasure and as a result, are immune to pain from conception to death. Every rebirth reflects our deeds in previous life and the ultimate goal is to get rid of this never-ending cycle of life by achieving enlightenment or becoming one with Buddha. Unless one is able to get rid of this never-ending cycle, the sufferings continue to existThis factor is repeated in each of the established rebirths in a sequence of involuntary cycles, which Buddhists try to eliminate by altering or removing the established conditions and causes.

Suffering is something that I have found to be evident in all religions, and I believe that suffering is something that people must go through to enjoy the blessings of God. Sufferings make one feel more grateful for the blessings and sufferings are also a way to test the patience of individuals by god. God wants to test if his followers will still remember him in difficult times or they will only follow for as long as God continues to bless them and leave when he puts them in difficult situations.

Reference

Kohn, Michael. The Shambala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen. Shambala, 1991.