| Look, both Siddhartha Gautama
(The Buddha) and Jesus Christ (The Messiah) taught a message centered on
the search for love and peace. We are taught by them to pursue this
search for a life of love and peace with all sincerity. They set
the example for how to live. One was to forsake the love of possessions
and pleasure and treat others as they themselves, would want to be treated.
Just as they journeyed about to teach, they taught that life is a journey
where you must sincerely search for the truth. Yes, you can be a
Christian and a Buddhist as long as you are sincere in your beliefs and
nothing you believe contradicts the prime directive of love. Jesus
and the Buddha allowed for sincere doubt. They taught that a person
reaches salvation through a pure heart.
After each died, some followers determined to quantify, define, explain and record the teachings. The followers of Buddha (later including many who obviously never heard Buddha in person) have over the years met to formulate religious systems and teachings. These religions and teachings are supposed to be vehicles for followers to carry out the messages and admonitions of Buddha. Different sects have arisen and much has been added to the message. These sects and teachings are useful only to the extent they do not conflict with the principle teaching that life is to be a journey in search of truth, love and peace. Now take the previous paragraph and simply replace the name Buddha with Christ. After each died, some followers determined to quantify, define, explain and record the teachings. The followers of Christ (later including many who obviously never heard Christ in person) have over the years met to formulate religious systems and teachings. These religions and teachings are supposed to be vehicles for followers to carry out the messages and admonitions of Christ. Different sects have arisen and much has been added to the message. These sects and teachings are useful only to the extent they do not conflict with the principle teaching that life is to be a journey in search of truth, love and peace. Today we have Tibetan, Pure Land, Zen and many other sects or vehicles in Buddhism just as we have Roman Catholics, Baptists, Mormons and many others in Christianity. Each outlines a path to salvation and enlightenment. Each is true and useful only as far as they work to help the honest person to travel the good journey of love and peace as taught by Jesus and The Buddha. |