A Christian’s Journey to Buddhism
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- Опубликовано: 11 окт 2024
- A Christian’s Journey to Buddhism.
In November 1992, David Craig, head of Religious Broadcasting for the World Service of the BBC, and Rev. Martin Forward, Interfaith Officer for the Methodist Church in Britain, visited Sri Lanka to gather material on Buddhism for a series of programs to be broadcast in 1993 during a focus on South Asia. I helped to plan their program and was also asked to prepare a few talks for the World Service's daily "Words of Faith" spot - a four minute pre-recorded broadcast sent out three times each day. Four talks resulted, broadcast in April and May 1993. Towards the end of 1993, I was asked for more and six went out in April and May 1994. Of these ten talks, eight have been selected for the present Bodhi Leaf: four from the 1994 series (presented first) and the four from the 1993 series (slightly expanded, placed after the 1994 talks).
The themes of the talks are rooted in my journey, as a Christian, into Buddhism. In the mid-1980's I felt the need to "let go" of my own religious conditioning to enter the world of another faith. It grew from a conviction that people with an interest in religion should not remain imprisoned within one framework but should explore others. The choice of Buddhism and Sri Lanka was a natural one for me. Buddhism's emphasis on meditation and non-violence touched my own interests as a Christian, and a visit to Sri Lanka in 1984 had left me with the feeling that my link with the island was not finished.
I originally intended to be in Sri Lanka for one year. One year, however, became seven and a half, from 1986 until 1993. My aim throughout was not only to study Buddhism but to practice it. I did not consider myself involved in "interfaith dialogue" although I'm sure some perceived my actions in this way. I wanted to enter Buddhism on its own terms, as a human being rather than as a Christian. The subjects of all the talks printed here arise from the personal journey of discovery that resulted. They draw on conversations with Buddhist friends, travel to different parts of the country in times of war, the experience of meditation, and my reading of the Pali texts. Most importantly, they reflect the concerns which developed as the interests I brought from Britain encountered Buddhism and Sri Lanka: the relationship between non-attachment and outgoing compassionate action; the practical meaning of anatta (no soul) and its implications; the benefit of sati (mindfulness) for the individual and society; the resources Buddhism can offer to those working for social justice and inter-ethnic or inter-religious harmony; the question of a woman's role in society.
My journey into Buddhism was not always an easy one and of course I could not let go of my Christian conditioning completely, but it has brought me to a stage when I can say with utter sincerity that I revere the Buddha and take refuge in his teachings. I remain a Christian, one who seeks to follow the self-sacrificial path of Jesus of Nazareth, but I also feel at home in a Buddhist meditation center. The talks, I hope, will show that this is possible. I dedicate them to all the Sri Lankan friends who have brought me to a deeper understanding of the heart of Buddhism.
Elizabeth Harris
June 1994
I honestly love this channel. You have got me to be more devoted Buddhist and have help me understand Buddhism a lot better ! Sadu thank you !!
I’m happy that I’ve been able to give you this gift of Dhamma so that you’ll have the strength of heart to contend with all the things you face.
Our God indeed is a covenant keeping God. Has he said a thing and not perform it? I watch how things unfold in my life, from penury to $355,500 every month and I can only praise him and trust him more. Hallelujah🙌🏻❤️🇺🇸
Hello!! how do you make such monthly, am a born Christian and sometimes I feel so down 😭 of myself because of low finance but I still believe God..
Thanks to my co-worker (Alex) who suggested CHRISTINE EVELYN MACKIE..
She's a licensed broker here in the states 🇺🇸 and finance advisor
After I raised up to 825k trading with her I bought a new House and a car here in the states 🇺🇸🇺🇸 also paid for my 10yrs old son's brain surgery (Oscar). Glory to God.shalom.
I've always wanted to be involved for a long time but the volatility in the price has been very confusing to me. Although I have watched a lot of RUclips videos about it but I still find it hard to understand
Buddhism is an education of wisdom, it is not a religion.
Buddha is a title accorded to a person who had attained Enlightenment.
Similarly, Professor is a title accorded to a person who had achieved his PhD.
Anyone can become a Buddha, similarly anyone can become a Professor.
Any Christians that attained Enlightenment is a Buddha.
But no religious followers can become a god.
How can we tell that Buddhism is an education. Today, the term teacher and student are only used in school.
We called Shakyamuni Buddha, our Original Teacher.
We call ourselves students, as did our predecessors in ancient India/China.
This is unlike religions in which the god and his/her disciples do not have a teacher-student relationship，but rather a parent -child relationship.
In Buddhism, it is clearly stated that the Buddha is the teacher and we are his students.
Bodhisattvas and we are classmates ; they were the Buddha's former students while we were his current ones.
🙏🙏🙏 Amitabha Buddha
Excellent talk! However, I , for one, find the images distracting. I ignore them as I listen.
Annata does not mean "no soul", but rather means "non perception of oneself" or "egoless"
Zen Buddhism one must completely eradicate one's afflictions to attain Enlightenment.
After Enlightenment only then one sees one's true self-nature.
In Pure Land Buddhism chanting the Buddha-name Amitabha Buddha , it is simpler and easier.
One mindfulness of Amitabha Buddha, one is Amitabha Buddha.
When one is not the mindfulness of Amitabha Buddha, one is an ordinary being.
Chant Amitabha Buddha is the cause, becoming Buddha is the effect and both cause and effect are at the same time.
This is the speciality in Pure Land chanting the Buddha-name method.
It's so wonderful and so special.
Can you find anything more special than this?
Always remember: when you are not chanting Amitabha Buddha, you are you.
When you are chanting Amitabha Buddha, you are Amitabha Buddha.
Chant the Buddha-name , you see Amitabha Buddha, see Amitabha Buddha you become a Buddha.
An analogy: Amitabha Buddha makes buns for you , tells you to eat the bun and you will become a Buddha.
If one doesn't want to eat the bun, how can one become a Buddha?
It is to say: how can one become a Buddha if one is not willing to chant Amitabha Buddha?
🙏🙏🙏 Amitabha Buddha
Can Palestinians and Israels can learn none violence and teach their children embarrasses peace and ❤ 🤔🤔🤔🤔✨🧘♂️✨
Its hardly possible. Islam has hateful verses about judaism and judasim doesn't consider islam in good view. Israel being judaist country and palestine being islam state, it adds more violence to their existing problem. Only if they embrace humanity than religion and their lands, violence will come to an end.
Jai bhim Namo buddhya ✨☸️
Ame to fhu. Buddha 📿🛐🤲♥️
This is the journey of an open-minded "liberal" or "progressive" Christian to Buddhism (which is not pronounced "Boodism" by the way). It's not the journey of an Evangelical, fundamentalist Christian to the Dhamma. THAT would really be something to see, but highly unlikely; Evangelical Christians generally lack the critical thinking skills to understand the Buddha's teachings.
I am a former fundamentalist Christian that has been studying Buddhism quite a lot. I am mostly secular in my beliefs but Buddhism has helped me a lot, and has given me a perspective that wasn’t accessible to me as a evangelical Calvinist Christian
@@jonathanpearson4522 Christian is a concept it’s nothing to do with what is available The problem is Christians become trapped in the Christianity box and cannot escape.
For the record, upon interpretation using the same process, we see that Jesus taught the same thing as The Buddha. Only the cryptic verbiage is different. Also, Jesus became the focal point instead of his teaching so Christians essentially idol worship Jesus. That wasn't a Jesus plan.
Karma = Cause and Effect - The measure you offer up to others is the measure you get back = cause and effect. Buddhist understand The Buddha. Christians idol worship and do not understand Jesus teachings. To understand and follow Jesus' teachings and stop worshiping him, one would stop being Christian and act like a Buddhist.
No, Jesus taught love which was good. Then went off into weirdness-eating flesh and blood of Jesus, celibates called eunuchs, men being called brides of Christ.
@@saddha1 Sounds like a cartoon. You learn like Christians. Stupid stuff.
,,🙏🙏🙏
I’m happy that I’ve been able to give you this gift of Dhamma so that you’ll have the strength of heart to contend with all the things you face.