LETTER 15
Christianity and Buddhism
Isabella my dearest,
I have owed you this letter for a long time. I took my time because you asked a very interesting question. I wanted to think about it.
Besides doing a direct comparison between Christianity and Buddhism, I will also add in a bit of my own philosophy and talk about what each does to our mindset.
The bible's God is omnipresent, existing for all time and everywhere; but, we do not. We are human; all of us have a limited amount of time here. We exist in a certain time, at a certain place. This is our most fundamental existential condition. All other questions are predicated on this one single condition. It defines the framework for our existence. So in a nutshell, being a human being is an exercise in navigating space and time. The "game" is to explore and experience life, and to hopefully make sense of this journey.
Humans experience life in one of two ways: happy, or not. There are a million reasons to be happy; seeing a beautiful sunrise, sharing a laugh with a friend, feeling loved in the arms of someone special. On the other hand, also just as many reasons to feel unhappy. Reasons or not, it boils down to one simple question: Are you happy here and now?
If your answer is predicated on something that only ‘one day’ it can be so; you are not happy at this moment. This may sound like a truism that anyone should know; but the very fact that today most of us are still amiss in our search for happiness makes it clear that the human family has yet to fully appreciate what it means to be happy - here and now.
The most fundamental question for being a human being is in actuality a devilishly simple one: are you happy now? However, the answer is anything but. Our mind carries the weight of unforgotten regrets, imagines and worries about the future - seldom finding a moment of quiet. Sadly for most of us, enjoying ourselves in the here and now seems like a luxury from the "reality" we live. The inability to answer this simple question is the reason we need belief systems. Christianity, Buddhism, or any other religion wouldn't need to exist if we were happy here and now.
So. It is fair to say we are in fact talking about which way to believe lets us be happy. Do you agree so far, my dear?
Now, let's first talk about Christianity.
Jesus Christ came in the name of God and taught us love. He was the personification of Big Love when he sacrificed himself to atone the sins of Man. At his crucifixion, in pain and on the verge of death, he still prayed for forgiveness of those who disbelieved him. Jesus resurrected and returned to heaven - a place where this Big Love awaits all. He promises everyone entrance if only they would embrace the word of God. But for those who disbelieve, hell awaits on Judgment Day.
So at its core, Christianity is asking us to choose love. It is a beautiful message. Through love and forgiveness, we find our way to rejoin our heavenly family.
Buddhism also promises heavenly nirvana when we do deeds of kindness. Through cultivating compassion for other sentient beings, we walk the path of the Buddha and eventually find ourselves at peace.
On the surface, both Buddhism and Christianity are very similar in their message in showing us that love, kindness, compassion lead to eternal happiness. Where they differ is in the how of achieving the promise in their message.
Buddhism does not tell us there is a God; there is no entity external to our own essence that is different and superior to us. We are all our own creators. Everyone and everything is equal; everyone and everything has in them "Godliness". Whereas, in Christianity we are all part of the Creator's creation over which the Almighty holds dominion. This distinction suggests a very important fundamental difference in the nature of our relationship with the Infinite.
Distance.
The implication of distance is the difference between here and there. Somewhere which I must leave the place I am at in order to reach. Whereas, here, is simply where I am now.
The concept of distance is inherent in any theistic religion, including Christianity. God and Man. Two different kinds of beings. But this concept is not a part of Buddhism.
The essential message I understand about Buddhism is that all beings have inside them the quality of Buddha-hood. It matters not it be a man, woman, bird, flower or an ant; this quality exists as a common denominator that is present in all things. Different cultures call this quality different names: love, compassion, wisdom, etc. What this quality is is not as important as recognizing what this quality means to us. Whatever it is, the very fact that it is present in all things means this quality is infinite. This implication is significant. In short, if this infinite quality exists in all things; all things are thus infinite in their essence - even though they may be finite in form.
As such, the central message of Buddhism is that in our journey through time and space, we already have within ourselves everything we need to reconcile our finite nature with the Infinite. Buddhism asks not that we seek for anything outside of our hearts. It tells us everything already exists inside; everything we seek can be found inside. All things are one and the same, and we are all of this same essence.
This belief creates a perspective for the way we see ourselves in time and space. Recognizing that we are one with all, there is really nothing to seek outside of this realization. Seeking itself is an illusion. There is no place better; no moment more perfect than now. There is no longer any destination because everything is already present with you. Here and now is seen for what it truly is. Here and now is part of Perfection and there is no where else you need to go.
Seeing the true nature of reality and being happy is now realized for what it is - a personal journey. You are the master of your own destiny. You choose the path that leads you to happiness. Your happiness is not dependent on anything other than yourself. Where in Christianity God judges your worthiness; in Buddhism your very own choices determine the way.
This difference may be very subtle but it is material. Placing your fate to be determined by something outside of yourself is in actuality the foregoing of your own freewill. I do not wish to speak for anyone else so I will now end this letter with my own personal belief. I believe freewill is the ultimate quality of being alive and living consciously. I also believe that in order for us to be genuinely happy - "from balls to bones" as the Oracle in the Matrix says - we must take possession of and exercise freewill. When we do, heaven is to be found right here on earth, lived every moment in one big unbroken now that continues through eternity.
Yours eternally,
JC
PS. 一個很有智慧,很美麗的人曾經跟我說過:
"相信这个世界的美好一面,善良的一面。人要是能一心看到好处的话,就活在天堂之中。" - IG 😊