Buddhism Archives - Life Hope

Is this life all there is?

Ian Denness — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 04:33:46 +0000

It was a surprise to me that in a secular stronghold, most people voted for “No”, “this life is not all there is”…

It was easy to explain why that happened.

Most people in that area are either Atheists, or Western Buddhists/Pantheists. The latter were the ones who voted for recycling/reincarnation.

In the Bible, Paul’s words were clear, that if there is no resurrection for Christians, the whole structure should fall.

Jesus was clear in his recorded words too.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

John 11:25 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

Jesus was clear in his coming back to life too, showing himself to many over 40 days, including about 500 people on one day, most of whom were still alive when the gospels were published starting about 25 years later.

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Is Buddhism about putting down all your desires?

Ian Denness — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 03:22:40 +0000

Buddha’s main thesis?

“We can eliminate suffering when we cease to desire.”

From my reading over the years, that seems to encapsulate it.

Certainly there are other major themes for all Buddhists, be they eastern or western/eclectic Buddhists.

However, does that theme seem to be a self-defeating argument – the desire to put down all one’s desires?

The eclectic western Buddhists in the market last Saturday disagreed with the original statement.

I think that many of our desires are good God-given desires. If we run with those desires in the right context, then we can be quite happy.

If my desires conflict with that, then it would be better to put them down…

That is especially if we want to please God, and do the right thing by our neighbor.

Your thoughts?

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Do you reap what you sow?

Ian Denness — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 04:44:20 +0000

Negative consequences follow from our negative actions?

They usually do, but not always. For instance, sickness doesn’t necessarily follow, unless we have been adopting an unhealthy lifestyle.

It is to do with the law of cause and effect. You could even say cosmic justice.

Most of us would like there to be such a principle in the universe, so that the Hitlers and the Stalins et al could be held responsible for their crimes.

However, we would rather we ourselves were not hauled up to such a court!

In this life, or the life to come, or both?

This is another level, which really makes us think!

From the Bible’s perspective, it is both. God gives us freedom of choice, since he loves us enough to not just make us robots. We can choose now how to live our lives, and what to do about him, but we won’t be able to choose the eternal consequences.

“… you may be sure that your sin will find you out.”
Numbers 32:23 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Galatians 6:7 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

Karma

Some would say that “Karma” is the same. However, it is part of Buddhism, which believes there is no God. Who or what or how would our actions, thoughts, and motives be observed, recorded, stored, and then brought to justice after death, without God? “What goes around, comes around” lacks the intelligent being…

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