8. BUDDHIST WORLDVIEW
BY DR. EARL PARVIN
THE PATH OF SELF-DENIAL
THE MIDDLE WAY [I SAM. 12:23; PS 1:6]
INTRODUCTION - 8/22/19
Buddhism originated in India in the 6th century BC. It is said to have been a heretical reform movement in Hinduism. Although Buddhism is said to have theoretical roots in Hinduism, the similarities are more philosophical than real. Some terminology is the same, such as the concept of Karma and Duty, but then the departure is rapid. There is no teaching of a ‘soul’, per se, but merely some life force which survives death and migrates to another host, mimicking the concept of transmigration, but without a soul. There is no god to lean on or learn from, a hell to shun or a heaven for which to prepare; therefore, there is no concept of sin or a need of a savior. What then is the goal of the Buddhist? To attain Nirvana, a state in which it is understood there is no suffering or desire for anything. A search for “Super Normal Knowledge”. They are the “Ultimate Spin Drs”. They are indeed, ‘Adicted to Self-Deception’ as are the Chrisitan Scientists, {so called}. [Paul said it well: “their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened” {Ro 1:21}].
The Psalmist writes: “The fool says in his heart, There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good.” [Ps 53:1].
He continues: “ I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness
of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes. In
their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. The
words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do
good. Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves
to a sinful course
and do not reject what is wrong” [Ps.36:1-4].
The Buddhist world consists of 500 million souls,[some estimate over a billion] the fourth largest after Christianity [2.3 Bill], Islam [1.8 B.] and Hinduism [1.1 B]. Here in America we have 12 million Asians, 6.45 million of whom are Buddhists, attending 1500 centers scattered across the nation. Buddhist centers are clustered in the north east, Chicago, CA and Seattle & Hawaii.
Although Buddhism began in India, it has dwindled to 40 million in 2019. Buddhism is divided primarily into two major divisions, Mahayana 56%, said to be the Larger Vehicle which spread north and Theravada or Hinayana 38%, the Lesser Vehicle, which spread south. However, many schools of thought have developed in countries such as Ceylon, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Korea, China, Japan, Mongolia and Tibet.
The founder of Buddhism is Prince Gautama, born into royalty, but disenchanted with the Hindu teachings of: the law of the deed, = Karma, the law of retribution, = Duty, the wheel of rebirth, = Reincarnation, left home, wife and child, to seek answers. [Tragically the Truth was hidden with the Jews in the Babylonian Captivity]. He tried the life of the wandering mendicant’s ascetic life [giving up everything] to find release to no avail. He then sought by meditation the way of knowledge and found enlightenment, to become the Buddha or Enlightened One. That discovery is summarized in the ‘Four Nobel Truths’: 1. Life is full of suffering. 2. Suffering is caused by Desire. 3. To eliminate suffering, one must eradicate Desire. 4. That is accomplished by the ‘Seven-Fold Path’. If strictly followed, one must renounce life itself and become a mendicant, essentially the Hinayana Way. However, others chose a broader way which is essentially the Larger Vehicle or Mahayana Way. [Either way, it is the “Ultimate Path of Self-denial” and “Self-imposed worship, their false humility & their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence” [Col 2:23] .
There is no “blind faith’ in creeds, dogmas, rites, ceremonies, sacrifices or penances they say. It is rather “come and see”. Everything created is impermanent and therefore, ill. The escape is by following the Eightfold Path. There are plenty dogmas, rites and personal sacrifices. Proverbs 12:15 says, “the Way of a fool SEEMS RIGHT”, but leads to death [14:12].
The objective is to make oneself believe you can end ‘Anguish, Despair, Suffering, Pain and have Peace of Mind through self-realization of “Ultimate Truth” [Not Absolute Truth applicable to all]. This NIRVANA is attainable through INTENSE EFFORT & DEDICATION, here and now! You must “want it” and make every effort to attain it by the rules set out. You should write for a copy of the Pali Canon in 3 volumes to follow. It will require ‘total focus of your entire being to attain Perfect Wisdom, Total Supreme Enlightenment’.
There is Karma. Karma is essentially belief in ONESELF. I can do this myself, in contradiction to Faith in God who is helping me along the path. In Buddhism the teaching is to “come and SEE. Not come and BELIEVE. “You are responsible for you own emancipation from anguish and suffering”. It is not a system of FAITH but a PATH to supreme enlightenment.
Gautama taught that Buddhism is a ‘raft to leave the shore of suffering & impermanence to go to the other shore of bliss & safety. Arriving at Nirvana, the raft is no longer needed.
The goal is to avoid extremes and find the Middle Path between self-indulgence and self-mortification. Buddism is the ‘Path of Escape’ from everything ‘uncontrollable. To ‘Plunge into Nirvana’. That means to follow the Eightfold-fold Noble Path of specific course of actions.
First it means to Know the Four Nobel Truths: 1. Everything is impermanent and Ill. 2. Illness is based on Ignorance, perpetuated by desire, 3. Ceasing of this desire releases from illness, 4. Knowledge of eight-fold Path brings Nirvana.
The Eightfold Path is: Right---View, Thinking, Speech, Action, Living, Effort, Mindfulness, Concentration.
There are Seven Links of Enlightenment: Mindfulness, Investigation, Energy, Zest, Tranquility, Concentration, & Equanimity.
There are also Five Controlling Factors: Power of Faith, Energy, Mindfulness, Concentration & Insight.
Three Controlling Faculties: The Consciousness: 1. that I shall know the unknown, 2. That I know & 3. That I am one who HAS the Knowing.
Thus, having this Knowing, Nirvana has been reached and one is no longer subject to Repeating Rebirth predetermined by former lives recorded by Karma & driven by desire. I am no longer subject to the delusion of impermanence of life. Only Self“ Supremely Awake can know Itself”.
Strangely, the Buddhist is taught that feelings & his body is not his true Self. Self does not have a body or feelings. “These created things are not mine, these am I not, these things are not the self of me”. There are Ten Fetters that bind beings to perpetuating themselves in artificial, manufactured fictitious realities including the notion of a permanent individual personality, soul or self. The goal is to destroy the addiction & cravings… all must be renounced. That is the only true reality. “Self is; but this, all else is not”. “Self must resolve, sooner or later, that IT SHALL NOT BE AGAIN, AND MINE IT SHALL NOT BE.” “Beings ARE the heirs of their deeds. Deeds determine karma & Karma determines future rebirths”. This is Supernormal Knowledge, and escape from the state of Make-believe. Dharma of Buddhism is the Exit Sign. The way to Safety
Source: [fundamentalbuddhism.com/buddhism.htm]
THE PRESUPPOSITIONS:
1. THE NECESSITY OF FAITH
Remember the definition of faith. “Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence”. Gautama taught that Buddhism is not built on ‘blind faith’, but in seeing Truth. He said, come and see, not come and believe. It is rational and requires personal effort. Buddhism is not a system of faith, but a Path to Supreme Enlightenment. Interestingly, one of the ‘five controlling factors’ to Nirvana includes: the Power of Faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration and insight.
2. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
There is no Supreme Ultimate or god in Buddhism. Everyone is on his own recognizance to find the Way which works for him, for there is no theistic way of salvation. No Holy Spirit to guide. Gautama was nearly deified in life and his teachings are treated as the word of god. Various portions of his body are enshrined in pagodas, having become important places of pilgrimage, to ‘come and see’ some portion of their god. The Buddhist god seems to be a “SIGN POST” which just points the way and reads: “Good luck”!
3. THE WORD OF GOD
Buddhist sacred literature is extensive. In Japan over 4000 books are considered canonical. When printed they consist of over 50 tombs. The Hinayana Canon is written in the Pali language, consisting of 227 rules monks were to live by [so much for no dogmas]; therefore fewer followers were willing to go this Way. The Mahayana Scripture, not uniformly canonized, was written in Sanskrit, however is only available in Tibetan or Chinese translations. In the Mahayana Way, through good works one is able to attain enough merit on the way to Enlightenment, that he can become a Bodhisattva, and point others on their way to Enlightenment. Here in America there is the Pure Land Sect, which one would be hard-pressed to find much difference from any liberal church. They meet in weekly services, the children sing a Buddhist version of Jesus Loves Me = Gautama loves me for the Gita tells me so…etc.
4. THE STANDARD OF TRUTH
Obviously, for the Hinayana Buddhist, there are the Four Nobel Truths and strict 227 rules of the Pali Canon as their standard of truth. However, for the Pure Land Buddhist, he has no strict guideline for truth. He becomes his own standard of right and wrong. The quest is for Self Enlightenment, or cessation of the endless rebirths. The teaching is that only the self can know itself by being Extremely Awake, that is, enlightened. This can only happen by ridding oneself from the Ten Fetters which bind them. [getting rid of ALL, AND I MEAN ALL desires]. This is Supernatural Knowledge and escape from make-believe.
5. THE STANDARD OF ETHICAL MORALITY
The Hinayana Buddhist is able to measure his ethical morality by means of his standard, however the Mahayana Buddhist operates on his own sense of morality without a standard.
CONCLUSION:
The Buddhist Worldview may be expressed as follows:
We conclude that the Worldview of the Buddhist is driven by his understanding of the form of Buddhism he espouses and the country in which he was reared. Buddhism is essentially a radical form of self-denial, self-deception or self-delusion, which Buddha called personal-enlightenment. It is relatively easy for a Buddhist transplanted to American soil to live in harmony with the modern American Way of Life = to live and let live. Tragically he has little guidance in his lonely pursuit of finding peace in a troubled world. He just denies it exists.
DISCUSSION:
1. In what essential ways does a Buddhist Worldview differ from a Hindu Worldview?
2. What is the essential teaching of Nirvana in the Buddhist Worldview?
3. How does the concept of Bodhisattva influence the Buddhist Worldview?
4. Is there any relationship between Buddhism and Christian Science?
HOMEWORK:
Seek to discern what is the difference between the Buddhist concept of Bodhisattva and the Catholic saint.