Christianity and Buddhism from Past to Future

Christianity and Buddhism from Past to Future
Around the world the religions of Christianity and Buddhism are practiced by millions of people. Both were started by a man who say something wrong with the world and sought out to change it. They have different ways of practicing but have similar basic ideas. Religions themselves have been around since the beginning of time but these two have held their ground for hundreds of years. Buddhism from the east will stay strong and change little but continue to grow, where Christianity will do what it’s done in the past which will allow it too to stand its ground and continue to grow in our ever changing world. Buddhism began with a man named Siddhartha he had everything anyone could want in life, wealth, looks, wife, son, he had it all. His father did everything he possibly could to keep his son shielded from the world. Siddhartha knew nothing of pain or sickness till one day he went to the market and saw the “real world.” He saw a man who was old and sick but happy and he didn’t understand how that could be. So he left all the things that people dream about to search for enlightenment. He spent time with Hindu masters and ascetics, and after almost dying he discovered the middle way. The middle way is a key concept in the Buddhist religion it is giving the body what it needs to function optimally, but not giving into indulgences. Siddhartha went into a deep meditation for a long time and awoke the Buddha. People would ask Buddha what he was and he would simply reply, “I am awake.” That became his title Buddha which means the enlightened one, or the awakened one. Buddhism began with a man who, while the world was wrapped up in human life, woke up from it all. Buddhism has a few major concepts one being the middle way, which Buddha himself discovered that opened his eyes to enlightenment. The four noble truths was his first teaching after leaving the immovable spot where he sat for forty nine days, and it is what Buddhists still follow. The four noble truths state that life is dukkha or suffering, and that it is an important part of life. It also states that tanha or desires are supporting our egos and holding us back. If our selfish craving our holding us back then we can only be released into the universe by overcoming them and relieving ourselves of the torment. The final truth tells you how to overcome your tanhas, by following the eightfold path. Right views, right intent, right speech, and right conduct, the first of the eight. Buddha was a pretty straightforward guy the rules mean what they say. Don’t do bad things (kill, lie, steal), watch what you say and do, and have a positive view on life. Right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration, are the last of the eightfold path. The concepts of Buddhism could fill and have filled hundreds of books but basically the goal is to reach nirvana, freeing oneself from pain and worry of the external world which leaves you with life in its purest, simplest, and overall joyest form. Buddhism I think will do very well in the future it’s a very simple religion that I think is a little misunderstood. I know if I met a Buddhist a month ago I’d think they were kind of weird, but after learning about it I would be very interested and I’d say that what they were doing was pretty cool. Buddhism is kind of an oxymoron religion. The focus is to get rid of one’s ego and the things that sustain our ego. But by doing so you have to focus on yourself quite a bit, but it’s hard because as you meditating and focusing on yourself you can’t really think about yourself because that just defeats the whole purpose. I think it takes a ton of self control and focus to be able to do what Buddhists do but people have been doing it for the past 2500 years and I see no reason why it wouldn’t continue. As for the religion changing I don’t really see that happening. Christianity almost has to adapt to the every changing world but I really like how Buddhism doesn’t. Buddhists except change as an ongoing part of life and they don’t let it affect their religion. That shows me that it is a very strong religion that can stand the test of time. Like Buddhism Christianity was started by just a regular guy, well maybe not a regular guy but a human man none the less. Unlike eastern religions, like Buddhism, where it is based on theoretical ideas, Christianity is based on events. Whether you are Christian or not nearly everyone knows the history of Christianity. Basically there was a man named Jesus who was God’s son sent to earth to teach his word. Jesus went around teaching people about God and his awesome unconditional love, he performed miracles, and did amazing things like giving his life for the sins or bad souls of all mankind. He did impossible things that no one could even fathom were possible. Some of his most well known and unbelievable miracles were turning water to wine, walking on water, and raising a man from the dead. He was said to be a kind man who stood by his beliefs through any temptation that was thrown at him. Christianity has fairly simple concepts the basic one that all other concepts are built off of would have to be agape. Agape is the unconditional love for another human being simply because they are human. I can think of countless places in the bible were agape is described. Love your neighbor as yourself, today it’s known as brotherly love. Christianity is a very group and community based religion unlike those in the east. So it makes perfect sense that Christians strongly believe in helping others and lending a hand, putting others needs above your own. Similar to Buddhism’s eightfold path Christianity too has a set of rules that are pretty straightforward known as the Ten Commandments. Honor thy mother and father, there is no God but I, do not commit adultery, etc. Like all religions Christianity focuses on taking your own ego out of the picture and working towards happiness which in this religion is mainly achieved by giving to others. Christianity is a very broad religion with many different branches. It’s made a lot of changes which has allowed it to stay around. Since Christianity is so largely based on communities and people it almost has to adapt and change because that is exactly what communities and people do, they change. Some may say that it is a weak religion because it has changed so much, where as other religions have changed very little but have sustained just fine. Others may say that it is a strong religion because it has changed so much but is still keeps the basic concepts, and is still one of the largest religions. I think it is a smart religion because it has been able to reach out and adapt to so many different types of people, you have Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, etc. Where with Buddhism it seems your either Buddhist or not. I think Christianity will do exactly what it has done for centuries, it will change and adapt. As people become more and more independent we may see Christianity become more independent and not quite as community based. As there are wars and conflicts in the world it helps people to see differences and become more accepting which may cause the denominations to be not quite so separate. But one thing that I hope will never change is the agape, because a world without that kind of love would really stink!