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 Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 6:14 am
Apparently there is this Gnostic priest who made this claim when trying to describe Gnosticism, "Catholic on the outside, Buddhist on the inside".
While I understand the point he was trying to make I think he is showing a huge misunderstanding of his religion and Buddhism. Yes Gnosticism has surface similarities to Buddhism but that's really where the similarities end. His statement seems to imply that the Gnostic gnosis and Buddhist enlightenment are one in the same but that's rather arrogant of him. It's like he's saying that there's no difference in being a Buddhist or Gnostic if you are seeking after something cause they are both seeking the same thing. To some degree this is true but in other ways it's not since the doctrines and practices are supposed to bring about different things, while overlapping in some places, they are different. While there is much wisdom we can gain from each other, we ultimately are on different paths and by what I understand of Buddhist doctrine, I'm going to be trapped in the cycle of reincarnation but you know, I'm fine with that.
Theosophy and New Age movements stop corrupting and confusing our religions.
I'm sorry if this is coming off as ranting but I needed to get this off my chest.
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 7:03 am
Yes and no.
I mean, I want to be outraged by the idea of it, the claim all things are the same like that...but I can't be. And I'm really not sure why I can't be; something about it just rings as okay in my head.
Must be a personal thing, or just the "many roads around the mountain" thing that comes up in my head every now and again.
I do agree though that theosophy and the new age movement have been a bit of a theological trainwreck, across the board. 3nodding
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Lord Alucard Ere Casanova
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 7:06 am
I understand your need to rant, but I also understand what the priest was saying. Christianity, sadly, is strongly misunderstood in the modern day even by it's own "followers." The point of Christianity is to love, be compassionate, etc. Basically, be like Jesus. In that way it is very very much like Buddhism because just about everything in the way Jesus acted(with the exception of when he lost his temper while dealing with hypocrites, liars, and thieves within the church) is Buddhist.
Personally, I consider myself a Buddhist, or an almost Buddhist since I'm still looking for a good teacher, but due to what I research and practice I also consider myself a Taoist and I was raised as a Christian.
EDIT: Sorry, I forgot to answer your question. No, I don't see it as offensive because I see it as a similar statement to how I am. However, I do see it as wrong. I consider myself a part of three religions, but I don't have one in one area of my body and keep the others in other parts. I am a Christian-Buddhist-Taoist through and through, or I am not at all.
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 7:31 am
@Byaggha: I get what you mean. I do believe that there are "many roads around the mountain" but I don't believe they all lead to the same place. Some might but I just don't know. Personally, I would feel like I was being dishonest if I were to say they did lead to the same place and arrogant since I recognize that not everyone want to go to the same place.
@Master Shadow Kilo
That's pretty much how the ancient Christians saw it too. Emulate the Christ. Yes it is rather sad how misunderstood Christianity is, especially by many of it's followers. Yes I understand your sentiment, I would recognize the Buddhas I know about as Saints.
Yeah "offensive" was a little harsh. "Incorrect" would be a more appropriate and less charged term describing his description.
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Lord Alucard Ere Casanova
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 7:49 am
About that "many roads around the mountain" statement, I agree with it. Keep in mind that if a person walks around the mountain by going West then turning East, he arrives on the other side looking East. If he goes around the East, then turns West, he arrives facing the West. If he goes straight over, he arrives looking down. If he goes straight through, he arrives looking straight.
In other words, there may be many ways to get to the other side of the mountain, but different paths may lead to a different perspective, a different view of the mountain and/or surrounding areas, upon arrival.
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 9:36 am
my real problem with it is the smug self-righteous attitude with which is seems to have been said. that he considers himself an expert on things he clearly doesn't understand. i'm not going to say he's "wrong" nessisarilly, but i think that, like the thread-maker said, he is being arrogant and misunderstanding the religions he is talking about.
i see this all the time, and the best solution i see is to explain that he seems to be mistaken about something, ask him what he means, correct him, and see how he takes it. if you do this with an open mind yourself, it could at the very least lead to an interesting discussion. but in the end wheter he chooses to continue thinking that he knows everything is up to him. all that's left to do then is move on.
i feel upset a little when mistaken information about what i am about is spread all over the place too. but i do what i can to keep the correct information flowing and correct any mistakes, and just don't sweat the small stuff.
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 1:39 pm
What the priest actually did was put his own ignorance on display. No need to be offended.
All paths may lead to the same place, but if one keeps changing paths, they'll get nowhere. And yes, the view will be quite different depending of the path chosen.
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 2:45 pm
Personally, I think we would have to hear the Priest's tone and possibly even hear the rest of the conversation to know if he was being either arrogant or ignorant. I disagree with the statement, but considering what Christianity is supposed to be about he might have made it knowing more than most of the people that heard him say it. There's even a book called "The Buddhist Christ" because of how similar the Christian teachings/purpose and Buddhism can be. I have never had the time nor funds to buy and read it, but when glancing through while in Barnes and Noble it looked decent. Granted, a mere glancing through isn't enough to give a decent analysis.
Just something I happened to remember while studying Shinto, if I remember correctly the Japanese have a somewhat similar, although different, quote concerning Buddhism. "Born a Shintoist, die a Buddhist." It has to do with reincarnation. Shinto does not include reincarnation and Buddhism does. I could be wrong about this, it was some time ago that I was studying Shinto, but I've thought of that quote every time I opened this thread so I thought I'd share it.
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Lord Alucard Ere Casanova
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 2:50 pm
davidm843 What the priest actually did was put his own ignorance on display. No need to be offended. All paths may lead to the same place, but if one keeps changing paths, they'll get nowhere. And yes, the view will be quite different depending of the path chosen. you cannot "change paths", you just take different directions. every path leads somewhere, and you cannot go backwards. in the end, if someone takes directions in their path toward many different things, they will still get just as far to where they are goin as someone who follows one religion all the way along.
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 3:55 pm
Chieftain Twilight you cannot "change paths", you just take different directions. every path leads somewhere, and you cannot go backwards. in the end, if someone takes directions in their path toward many different things, they will still get just as far to where they are goin as someone who follows one religion all the way along. Ummm... Yeah. The next time you go on a road trip, keep deviating from the established route and see how fast you get to your destination. rolleyes
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Lord Alucard Ere Casanova
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 4:31 pm
All roads lead home. Whether or not you choose to take that direction is your own choice.
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 5:06 pm
Master Shadow Kilo All roads lead home. Whether or not you choose to take that direction is your own choice. Suuurrre they do. But if that's the case, then why even leave home if all the roads are bring you back? rofl
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Lord Alucard Ere Casanova
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 5:38 pm
What do you learn if you stay at home? If you never walk along the roads, how do you know what it's like to go for a walk at all? How can you know the feeling of wind blowing through your hair, or the sun upon your back? How can you know the scent of a field of fresh flowers if you never leave your own little shelter?
We leave home, we learn, we grow, we return, and then we leave home again. This is not just a metaphor. So long as you gain one thing when you walk out that door, you have just made walking out the door worthwhile. That one thing doesn't have to be something physical, but neither does it have to be new knowledge. You could go for a walk just to experience one of the things I listed. Although I don't care for seeing sunlight, I do enjoy the warmth upon my back. I enjoy the feeling of the wind, the scent of flowers, and the exercise from walking. That is why I walk three miles, 1.5 downhill and 1.5 back up, daily. I always end up right back here at home, but I am satisfied by the effort it takes and the feeling the sun, wind, and flowers give me.
That is why I leave home. Do you not?
To answer the question without room for metaphor, will take it all literally. Let's say you are out of food. Leave home, go to store, get groceries, drive back. Was there a purpose for it? Yes. If you want a new home- you leave home, find a new one, move your stuff there, and sell your old home. Was there a purpose for it? Yes.
There are many good reasons to leave home and, personally, I feel sorry for people that never do. It's hard to enjoy the world if you never get to know it.
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