Two faiths and one ultimate vision

by Gwen Herat

The Holy Bible along with the Dhammapada contains within their folds the destinies of mankind for their survival and sustenance which is the path to good and evil they have to choose with wisdom. They have been written with such accuracy that no one dare tamper with or alter. They go on and on forever.

Throughout my adult life I have searched for the truth based on my faith inspired by the Holy Bible but never found it.... did I? (almost did when spiritually healed) but it was a one-sided affair based purely on my faith because the one who healed never know it until I told him later. For a person who never believes in healing hands of humans and in miracles, this remains a mystery as I believe such things can be done only by Jesus. It led to a quest of finding the truth. Did I find it in my healer? I am lost as I cannot comprehend.

At the back of my mind I wanted to find a good shepherd I would love and search for the truth in him but never did. No one measured up to my heights in my thinkings. So, I go on searching. However, the moment he placed his hand upon my head, it was the Lord who touched me in that split of a second.

Resemblance

Born, bred and nurtured in true Christian faith, I am still highly influenced by the philosophy of Buddhism as a guideline to my Christian faith and the strength derived from its radiating influence, makes me look at both faiths in their perspectives as they stand side by side in love, faith and dignity for the sustenance of mankind.

The moral teachings of the Buddha has a remarkable resemblance to that of the Sermon on the Mount so much so that when I published my book on Christian faith and unity, a few months ago, the Ven. Soma Thera wrote to the ‘ Contribution to the World Culture ’ ‘One cannot read the Sermon on the Mount without feeling that it is an abridged version of parts of the Dhammapada.’

‘To love one's enemies, to bless them that course, to do good to them that hate, to turn the other check which are the teachings of Jesus Christ. Those precepts are also taught by the Buddha in their extreme rigours. The outstanding qualities of Jesus and Buddha are of compassion, noble utterances that direct us to paths of righteousness and inspiration. They are a solace at times of need and despair that reach out to mankind.

While the Dhammapada transcends the the narrow secretarian loyal ties that have to be sorted out by each person, the Holy Bible remains strongly as the Living Word, spirit of Christianity.

Both are not intended to be read superficially but in meditation to nourish the mind. Let us take a look at The Sermon on the Mount that inspired Ven Soma Thera:

“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor

The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Happy are those who mourn, God will comfort them. Happy are those who are humble,

They will receive what God has promised them. Happy are those whose greatest .... desire is to do what God requires. God will satisfy them fully.

Happy are those who are merciful to others, God will be merciful to them.

Happy are those pure in heart, they will see God.

Happy are those who work for peace. God will call them his children.

Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires.

The kingdom of heaven belongs to them (Mathew 5, 3-10)”

Peace

One will find total peace in those meaningful words uttered by Jesus no matter to what faith he belongs because our Saviour was addressing one and all. There were no divisional but in every heart to accept the Teacher. So were the words of the Buddha as found in the Dhammapada which preached the same words. When Ven. Soma Thera was analysing the Sermon on the Mount, he would have derived his inspiration from the Dhammapada 1; 10, verse 16; Happy are the well-doers here and hereafter.

‘Iha modati pecca modati.....katapunno ubhayatta modati,
So modati so pamodati.... disva kamma visuddhamattano.’

Here he rejoices, hereafter he he rejoices. In both states the well-door rejoices. He rejoices exceedingly preserving the purity of his own deeds.

Buddhism is the philosophy of life that deals with the good and the bad just the way lord Jesus Christ preached to his followers 2,000 years ago, the simple philosophy extended to the human race. He said, ‘love each other for love is of God'.

Clergy

Pope Francis in the back cover of one of his books said, ‘To those who are kind to you, love them without fear'. I wonder how many think of the ideology of the Holy Father.

The more you are kind to man and loves him, the more he hurts you, especially the clergy who are frozen in feeling unable to love.

This is not what Jesus wants from his shepherds nor from the Buddha. Literally both teachers said the same thing on attachment. In the Dhammapada XVI, verse 214; Grief springs from attachment

‘Ratiya Jayathi soko, ratiya jayati bhayam.
Ratiya vippaamttassa, nathi sosko kuto bhayam’

From attachment springs grief, from attachment springs fear; for him who is wholly free from attachment there is no grief, much less fear.’ From the Dhammapada, let us turn to the Holy Bible which is more endearing in love from the Lord to his trusted disciple who responds with trust.

‘The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need

He lets me rest in pastures of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of water

He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths as he has promised

Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid. Lord, for you are with me. Thy Shepherd's rod and staff protect me....

I know that your goodness and love will be with me for the rest of my life.

And your house will be my home as long as I live’ (Psalm - 23)

Stories

In my tender years I enjoyed reading these beautiful stories in the Holy Bible even without knowing their meaning or gravity. Summer after summer as seasons waned off I realised my life was entangled in those words.

At the back of my mind I wanted to find the shepherd's I'd love and to find the truth in him and I am still waiting.Mary of Magdala had trust, faith and hope in Jesus long before she met him. She venerated him from after. When the Pharisees learnt about it, they came chasing to stone her to death which was the law of the day to deal with immoral women. Mary Magdalene came running to seek refuge in Jesus who rescued her from her would-be assassins as well as her life's follies. Sins forgiven, Mary Magdalene became the disciple of Jesus and followed him around up to the time he breathed his last on the Cross. He appeared to her first after his ascension.

Testimony

She stands tall and strong and a testimony for Jesus's compassion and remains one of the outstanding characters in the Holy Bible.

The fundamental need of the world today is for spiritual awakening where nations have gone berserk, one trying to destroy the other. It arises from spiritual degeneration and in this context, we have to look up to the words of our Saviours. Compassion knows no bounds but hatred destroys the very essence of life.

If the teachings of our Teachers are adhered to, there will be loss pain and destruction because Jesus and the Buddha had supreme faculties that could change heart and attitude in those who searched for the truth.

Like Jesus who preached his disciples to take the message of salvation across the world for peace and love after he was gone 2,000 years ago the Word of God was inscribed into the Holy Bible and stays as the most powerful weapon for worship among Christians. The Buddha also entrusted the task of spreading the Dhamma among his disciples. His teaching method is the Buddhism known as Abhidhamma which deals with the straying minds but intercepted before going wrong and intellectually, calmly endowed.

Thus it paved the way to the Dhammapada which became the citadel of faith in the human mind. It rids delusion and makes man face reality in a torn world that has lost faith and dignity.The Holy Bible and the Dhammapada have no exaggerations or distortion but simple belief that one could even realise through minor incidents.

The spiritual achievement is only a challenge if we are ready to take over.

Is the world ready for it?