Disciple?: I have heard that you are two of the wisest men in the land and so I have come
to you in hopes of advise. I am scared for my future and for the future of my newborn
daughter. Can you tell me what is in store for us or give me an assurance me that we
will be all right?
Jesus: Do not worry about your life. Do not worry about food, drink, the body. Life is
more than these things. Believe in your heavenly Father. He knows what you need and will
provide you with it if you practice and have faith in his teachings. Strive for the
kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.
Buddha: No. Comfort in the present and future must come from inside the self , not from
a God. In meditation you will find the truth of life that will set you free from
worry.
Don't chase after the past,
Don't seek the future;
The past is gone
The future hasn't come
But see clearly on the spot
That object which is now,
While finding and living in
A still, unmoving state of mind.
This focus on the present is the beginning of the path to enlightenment which is comfort
through understanding. When you are able to keep your mind focused on the present in a
'still, unmoving state of mind' you have reached enlightenment, where you will be beyond
all emotion including suffering and worry.
Jesus: That is not so. A search for the entire true of life can never make you content
in your life because you can never know everything there is. That is for God alone to
know. To enter the kingdom of heaven you must have faith in our Father. You must
trust in His wisdom even in hard times. For to know all and understand all you would
be a god. And putting yourself on a platform with God is disrespectful and
blasphemous. But if you follow His laws your suffering will end in the hereafter.
Buddha: Truth is available to all people not just gods. For truth is in all things in
the universe. We only have to learn not to react with emotion to see it. If you can
master not reacting through meditation you will see the true nature of the universe that
lies behind the illusion of emotion. In this truth you will see the cause and effect
relationship of all things and in that an order which will bring you understanding and
comfort.
Disciple?: What are the truths and teachings you speak of?
Jesus: In everything do to others as you would have them do to you. Always live by
this rule and respect your Father and you will one day be allowed to walk beside Him in
the kingdom of heaven.
Buddha: In this we do not much differ. The most fundamental truth is to have
compassion for all creatures. Without this you can never end suffering . "If a man
foolishly does me wrong, I will return to him the protection of my ungrudging love. In
trying to cause another anguish you only hurt yourself. A wicked man who spits at
heaven spoils not the heaven, but defiles himself when the spittle comes back on him."
Disciple?: But how can I know who is right?
Jesus: You can know I speak the truth because I am our Father's Son and I carry his
word. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the pure in heart for
they will see God."
Disciple?: That seems fair. But if I believe in God I cannot be saved because I have
already gone against these without even knowing it.
Jesus: You can still be saved my son. For I am the Son of God and I am here to heal you
and absolve your sins.
Disciple?: You even have the power to cleanse my rotted leg?
Jesus: Yes I do. Be made clean!
Disciple?: OH MY ? ! My eyes deceive my mind! How can this be?!?
Jesus: The power of God my son.
Buddha: My dear boy do you not see that no matter what power he might have he cannot
truly free you from suffering? In your reaction to his healing you started again the
cycle that leads to suffering but he leaves you no way to end it. Suffering is "any
craving that is unsatisfied." If you are never allowed to find out how this can be,
because you can't question, you will always suffer from your desire. To destroy this
suffering you must free the self from the thirst of desire. But you can never do that
if you're eyes are fighting with your mind, if you are fighting with yourself. There is
an eight fold path which leads to the destruction of sorrow. Right understanding1 and
thought2, that lead to wisdom. Right speech3, action4, and livelihood5, that lead to
morality. Right effort6, minfulness7, and concentration8, that lead to concentration.
But accepting his power on faith as unexplainable keeps you from the first step on the
path, understanding. As does reacting favorably to the laws he states because they
"seem" fair. If you react to them as fair and take them as true because "He" says so,
you give up your power to be enlightened in your search for the truth. Without that to
end your suffering you will go to his heaven with your desires numbed or constantly
filled, but never quenched, and you will never truly be happy
Disciple?: I am still thoroughly confused. Is there no definite answer!?
Buddha: Not that we can give you. It is a question of faith in what could be or proof
in what is.
Jesus: Whether you trust in yourself or in the Almighty.
Buddha: Whether you think comfort comes from the process of learning or simply having
the answer.
Jesus: It is a question of right and wrong.
Buddha: It is a question of what you know in your heart of hearts.
Disciple?: Thank you Jesus and Buddha. Although I am still deeply confused I know that
only I have the answer. So I will be off to find out who and what, I believe.
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