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underacloud
Guest
Very true…
But I wouldn’t worry too much…as shown, Buddhism has nothing to offer…literally!
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But I wouldn’t worry too much…as shown, Buddhism has nothing to offer…literally!
L
Linusthe2nd
Guest
Prayer, sacraments, Holy Mass, meditation on Scriptures, especially the Gospels, and study your Catechism, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, help the poor and needy, visit the sick, be kind always, attend to your duties of state. Read the lives of the Saints. Turn off the T.V. and other distracting devices. Pray, pray, meditate, meditate.
Oh yes, do it all quietly and in as an unobstrusive manner as possible and avoid bad companions.
J
JRKH
Guest
I might look into the answer they give to see how it matches up with how we understand the matter. I have no objection to acknowledging where another faith has something correct and valuable. God is always working and everywhere…
Peace
James
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interestedman
Guest
Look where it has led him? Scientifically the happiest people in the world are Buddhist monks. Actually one of the Dalai lama’s closest friends and his french translator was named the happiest man in the world by scientists that examined his brain a few years ago.
Yes, that sounds horrible, doesn’t it?
independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-happiest-man-in-the-world-433063.html
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interestedman
Guest
How? If that comment caused anyone to leave the Catholic faith they better not leave their house. Reading the sign outside the baptist church might convert them.
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interestedman
Guest
I can’t imagine that anyone that looked into Buddhism objectively would say this. Buddhism has plenty to offer and has a lot of useful tools that can help people of any religion.Very true…
But I wouldn’t worry too much…as shown, Buddhism has nothing to offer…literally!
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interestedman
Guest
Exactly. People can be so close minded for fear that they are going to offend Catholicism or something. I’m not saying people should start believing in reincarnation, but if a breathing exercise or form of meditation that originated from Buddhism helps you be more compassionate and more like Jesus, is it wrong?
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underacloud
Guest
I’d rather be happy in the next world thanks.
C
Christine85
Guest
Found this on Christian detachment -
heartawake.org/Detachment.pdf
heartawake.org/Detachment.pdf
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interestedman
Guest
I am sure that God would send those Buddhist monks straight to hell. I bet those Buddhist monks live more according to Jesus’s commandments than 99% of Catholics.
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underacloud
Guest
Actually, Catholicism has it’s own rich history of contemplative prayer.
(I use the term contemplation rather than meditation…meditation means something different in the Catholic context, and contemplation is more akin to the meditation found in Eastern religions.)
The writings of the mystics will help any Catholic develop a more contemplative approach to prayer. Except that our prayer is not focussed on emptying our mind of thoughts to no end other than emptiness…we empty our minds so that God may dwell in them.
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underacloud
Guest
That’s not what I meant at all. I won’t judge anyone; I’ll leave that to God. You’re probably very right about many Buddhist monks.
Catholicism/Christianity is focussed on eternal happiness with God. Catholicism in particular does not promise happiness in this life. Rather, we are called on to take up our crosses, to endure our sufferings, and to treat this life as a stepping stone towards a greater purpose. Happiness in this life is unimportant in the greater scheme of things, so it’s not really a point in favour of Buddhism…that was my point.
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interestedman
Guest
Happiness in life shouldn’t be unimportant because you will be a better person if you are happy. I know that I am more willing to help others and overall be a better person when I am happy.
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underacloud
Guest
In Catholicism, our willingness to help others should be completely unrelated to our own happiness or other emotional states. If you understood the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, you may begin to understand this.
Anyway, you’ve had your say now…how about letting us Catholics discuss this issue from a Catholic perspective?
Anyway, you’ve had your say now…how about letting us Catholics discuss this issue from a Catholic perspective?
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interestedman
Guest
You might say that your willingness to help others is unrelated to your own happiness, but in the real world that just doesn’t work.
A
asd72
Guest
It’s not that happiness is unimportant, but Christianity teaches a certain type of happiness which is called blessedness. It is a true and lasting happiness even if it involves suffering in the short term. It is not that us Catholics want to be miserable.
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mymamamary
Guest
Oh really? The Dalai Lama has just come out recently saying that “his life is empty” and it wasnt the “ideal” empty. I dont care scientifically whos the happiest. Joy and Happiniess are not the same thing. Buddhists aren’t joyful. Catholics are. Buddhists would thrown in the towel in a major persecution, Catholics would be gunned down smiling.
Buddhists= Weak, false religion
Christianity= The “Man” (sorry ladies, no rude comment intended) Religion.
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mymamamary
Guest
That means your character is weak then If you will only help others be happy if you are happy. A strong character, even on a bad day, grits its teeth and helps others, no matter the mood. Happiness is a mood. A mood changes. Joy is lasting. Joy isnt a mood.
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interestedman
Guest
What Catholics would be gunned down smilling? Not many of them. And where is your source that the dalai lama said his life is empty? When i tried to search it on google the first thing that comes up is this thread. And I find it hilarious that you think Buddhists aren’t joyful.
J
JRKH
Guest
No it is not wrong. The important thing is to be able to separate the practice from the doctrine.
We repeatedly get threads here asking about Yoga…and the answers generally reflect this very principle. The exercises in themselves are OK. The “theology” is another matter…
I have heard and read before that some of the early missionaries to east (India in particular) met with very limited success. Later, when Francis Xavier came, he recognized that the problem lay in the fact that the previous missionaries had failed to understand the Indian culture and beliefs and were unable to connect with them; unable to adapt that which was good into the Christian faith.
Likewise today - if one were to mention the term “mystic”, or “mysticism”, the vast majority of people would think “Far East” and not think of Christianity, yet Christianity has a deep and rich “mystic” tradition from the Early desert Fathers to St John of the Cross to St Padre Pio…
As for the comment from the Dalai Lama saying “my life is empty,” I would suggest that such a thing requires more study to understand what is meant. It most certainly is not how we as Christians would wish to express ourselves. Yet the Lama is speaking from a very different spiritual and cultural perspective than we are and in a language that requires translation - and as we all know translations can be problematic…
From our perspective and looking strictly at those four words, I can see a problem…a danger…because of this that Jesus has said…
43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest, but he finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and brings with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. So shall it be also with this evil generation.” (Mt 12:43-45)
In this we can see that simple detachment, for the sake of detachment…leaving ones self (house) empty…is a dangerous thing. Far better to become detached from (emptied of) what is bad and attached to (filled with) that which is good.
Sorry - Got a little tangential there…
Peace
James
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