The Basic Beliefs of Buddhism (as taught by the historical Buddha) versus Protestant doctrines.

By Greg McCulley

Drafted 11 October 1997

����������� When I went through Basic Military Training (BMT) at Lackland AFB, Texas, I encountered, for the first time, a member of the Buddhist faith.� I regarded him with caution, this wayward soul who has wandered from the safe, accepted religions of the West, to the vague, unfamiliar sects of Asia.� As we continued through BMT, this individual asked me if I believed in Buddhist teachings.� I, being a Baptist, replied rather indignantly that I did not, and I further indicated that my mother had seen to my proper religious upbringing, and that it did not require incense of any kind.� I was, of course, being young and rash.� I had no way of really answering this person effectively, because I did not know anything about the religion.� As always, where education leaves off, fear of the unknown kicks in.�

����������� Now, some 5 years later, I find myself pondering the same topic again, only this time, with a little more education and a little less apprehension.� Of the 4 truths of Buddhist teachings (including the eight-fold path of righteousness), little can be refuted by Western religions.� This paper draws comparisons� between some of these Buddhist beliefs and my personal belief system.

����������� The first of the 4 truths according to Buddha is that life is filled with pain and sorrow.� As I see it, this relates to Christian beliefs in a very clear way.� The basic assumption of Christianity is that we, as individuals, cannot save our own souls and, therefore, require some type of assistance in doing so.� We need some help, because the world is just too full of negative influence and strife to handle alone.� In other words, life is filled with pain.

����������� The second truth states that the cause of the pain is desire and the urge to live life.� The negative influence mentioned above could also be called temptation.� When I think about this second truth, I recall how my pastor, beating fervently on the pulpit, bellowed away about fire and brimstone.� By stating that desire (or temptation) is the source of pain (or sin), you give followers more of a tangible goal, a standard that they may measure themselves against.� The second truth of Buddha makes sense to me.

����������� The third truth seems to fall right out of the first two:� to end pain, eliminate desire.� This one makes sense to me, too.� My parents reinforced this as a central tenant of ?being a good boy?.� I was told that to get my allowance, I had to clean my room and behave; to get ahead in life, I had to work hard and not be lazy; to save my soul, I had to renounce sin and accept Christ; to end pain; I had to eliminate desire.� This is perhaps an oversimplification, but the basic idea is a solid one, and can be found in many religions and beliefs.

����������� The fourth is a big one, for it stratifies into eight elements that will allow you to accomplish the third truth.� It is known as the eight-fold path to righteousness and it consists of:� 1.� Kindness to others,� 2.� Purity of heart,� 3.� Truthfulness,� 4.� Charity,

5.� Politeness,� 6.� Elimination of envy,� 7.� Elimination of hatred, and 8.� Elimination of violence.� These make up the 8 things a good Buddhist must do to purge himself of desire and, thus, pain.� This parallels my own education of the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament.� They are not identical in wording, but they are in function.� They both provide a guideline for aligning one?s self with a pattern that arguably is not the natural pattern for mankind.� It is this point which helps me see most clearly the similarities in Buddhist teachings and the teachings of my youth.

����������� The final destination, according to my faith, is different from that of the Buddhist faith.� I seek to exist in a better place with my maker;� Buddhists seek to be free of the cycle of life and rebirth, to attain nirvana.� It is interesting to note that even though the goals are different, the means to get there are not all that alien to one another.� They seem to boil down to casting off the trappings of this life so you can be worthy of entering the next, presumably more desirable, eternal life.� Be it the Holy Bible or the Tripitaka, the basic way to treat your fellow man and yourself is about the same.� So, were I to encounter that individual who asked me about Buddhism again, I would be able to give him a better answer;� that incidentally, I do belief in much of the truths of Buddhism.� But, I would add with a smile that his god must have gotten the idea from my God in the first place.� But that is another essay.