Cults, Occults and Religions – Buddhism

“Behold! I have set before you today life and good, and death and evil, in that I command you today to love Jehovah your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, so that you may live and multiply. And Jehovah your God shall bless you in the land where you go to possess it. But if you turn away your heart, so that you will not hear, but shall be drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days on the land where you pass over Jordan to go to possess it. I call Heaven and earth to record today against you. I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life, so that both you and your seed may live, so that you may love Jehovah your God, and that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days, so that you may dwell in the land which Jehovah swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give it to them.” Deuteronomy 30:15-20

It’s founder, Siddhartha Gautama, lived from about 566 to about 480 B.C. The son of an Indian warrior-king, Gautama led a life of luxury in his early years, enjoying the privileges of his caste. But eventually he tired of the affluence and ease, and set out what some might call a “vision quest.”

After encountering an old man, an ill man, a corpse and an ascetic, Gautama became convinced that suffering lay at the heart of all existence, stemming principally from the human ego’s attachment to the transitory things of this world. He renounced his princely title and became a monk, freeing himself of possessions in the hope of comprehending the truth, and finding a path toward enlightenment and liberation.

The culmination of his search came while meditating beneath a tree, where he experienced a breakthrough in understanding. Following this epiphany, Gautama came to be known as the Buddha, meaning the “Enlightened One.” He spent the remainder of his life journeying about India, teaching others what he had come to believe.

What does God have to say to those who believe that can go on their own “vision quest” and discover truth?

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25

Key Person or Founder:

Gautama Siddhartha (563-483 B.C.) founded what has become known as “Buddhism.” The self-proclaimed “enlightened one”; his “theology” was a reformation of the ancient teachings of Hinduism – having its’ beginnings in what is recognized today, as the countries of Nepal and India.

“There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heaven to your help, and in His majesty on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And He shall throw the enemy out from before you, and shall say, Destroy! And Israel shall dwell in safety alone; the fountain of Jacob in a land of grain and wine; and his heavens shall drop down dew. Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, O people saved by Jehovah, the shield of your help, and who is the sword of your excellency! And your enemies shall be found liars to you, and you shall tread on their high places.” Deuteronomy 33:26-29

Main Writings Followed:

Followers of Siddhartha’s religion regard the Mahavastu or “Great Story” – consisting of a chaotic collection of events related to his life, the “Jataka Tales, a fanciful collection of stories related to his previous 550 past lives as Buddha, the “Tripitaka”, or “Three Baskets” and the “Tantras” as recorded in Tibetan Buddhism.

“We also have a more sure Word of prophecy (Jesus Christ – Revelation 19:10), to which you do well to take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Daystar arises in your hearts, knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture came into being of its own private interpretation. For prophecy was not borne at any time by the will of man (such as Siddhartha Gautama), but holy men of God spoke being borne along by the Holy Spirit.” II Peter 1:19-21

What Buddhist think of God the Father:

Gautama the self-proclaimed “Buddha” did not believe in the existence of God. This an interesting Irony, in that, the very followers of Gautama’s teachings view him as a “universal consciousness or as a god!

“To the Chief Musician on Mahalath. A contemplation. A Psalm of David. The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They acted corruptly, and have worked out abominable wickedness; there is not one doing good.” Psalm 53:1

What Buddhist think of God the Son:

God the Son, Jesus Christ, is not considered a part of the Buddhist historical worldview – makes sense considering Gautama lived prior to the birth of the Son of Man. Nevertheless, Gautama also had to have already rejected the “older testament” teachings of Israel’s soon coming Messiah too. Modern Buddhist see Jesus as an “enlightened teacher”, while Buddhist in Asia believe Jesus is an “avatar” or “bodhisattva” (but not God).

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and God has chosen the base things of the world, and things which are despised, and things which are not, in order to bring to nothing things that are; so that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption; so that, according as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” I Corinthians 1:27-31

What Buddhist think of God the Spirit:

God the Holy Spirit is not considered a part of the Buddhist historical worldview – another oddity of this religious movement considering their modern efforts to seek after spirits and the invoking of spirit possession through various mental exercises such as “deity yoga.”

“When you come to the land which Jehovah your God gives you, you shall not learn to do according to the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, an observer of clouds, or a fortune-teller, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or one who calls to the dead. For all that do these things are an abomination to Jehovah. And because of these abominations Jehovah your God drives them out from before you.” Deuteronomy 18:9-12

What Buddhist think about “eternal destiny”:

To eventually obtain the state of “Nirvana.” In other words, to reach to point where cravings and desires are totally eliminated from one’s soul being – which they believe is escape of all suffering. Buddhist follow a strange eightfold path toward the obtainment of “Nirvana.”

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be of this mind. And if in anything you are otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you. Yet, as to what we have already attained, let us walk in the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brothers, be imitators together of me, and mark those who walk this way, for you have us for a pattern. (For many are walking, of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, those who mind earthly things.) For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we are looking for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our body of humiliation so that it may be fashioned like His glorious body, according to the working of His power, even to subdue all things to Himself.” Philippians 3:14-21

What rewards await the Buddhist in “heaven?”:

Buddhist seek hard after following the deviant “eightfold path.” It consist of the pursuing of right knowledge, intentions, speech, conduct, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and meditation. These things are attempted through the “doctrine of assimilation”, in other words, the combining the belief systems of other religions into their form of Buddhism. Finally, some buddhist sects believe in an “eternal Buddha”, or “life force”.

“Go in through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there are who go in through it. Because narrow is the gate and constricted is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruits, nor can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you shall know them. Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works? And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!” Matthew 7:13-23