Question asked by Easley
dear pastor, i have some questions thrown to me which i dont know how to answer, please help.
1) why ask help from a Buddha when one can ask help from a god (taoist god or etc), where problems are solved more faster, easily and instantly.
2) so whats next after one became a Buddha? isnt it boring where you only sits on a lotus and chant everyday? isn't better to go to heaven and enjoy the bliss granted by god? -ask by a non buddhist-
3) my friend who received teachings from another guru, insist that meat eating is legal even for monks as long as they chant before they eat their flesh. they say if they do not eat the meat, the dead animal is not liberated. therefore eating meat is a necessity.
how should i retaliate to his answers? this is very wrong.. right?
4) someone from other buddhist sect insist that i joined them, i refuse and then they gave me a mantra, they say the mantra would 'guarantee' to grant me my wish faster compare to all the mantra ive been using now, after i complete it for a cretain period. how would Pastors reply because i was at loss of words that time.
5) a person comes and tells you that, his guru is the reincarnation of Lama Tsongkapa, we should follow no other guru other than the reincarnated Lama Tsongkapa, teaching by other guru are not recommended. how would pastors reply?
please tell.
Dear Easley,
The questions are full of fallacies and frankly, they should not be entertained. However, I’ll give you a brief answer to each question. You really have to study the Dharma seriously and practise diligently. Then you can reply to questions based on knowledge, practice and experience.
1. Buddhas have total omniscience and can see further than the gods. The gods may have clairvoyant powers but they may not be able to help you in the long run. Gods are still in samsara which means that they are not enlightened and there is a limit as to how far they can help. Buddhas are fully enlightened which means they can help you ultimately, that is, lead you to full enlightenment. Why settle for a quick fix when you can be completely free of your “problems” even if you take a longer time to achieve it? But Buddhas only show the way. You have to walk the path yourself.
2. The gods may have long lives and enjoy a blissful existence but eventually they will exhaust their merits and fall to the lower realms. This realisation makes them suffer a lot. Buddhas do not just sit on lotuses and chant. They teach the Dharma. They are constantly benefiting beings. Why do people think it is “boring” to be a Buddha and “enjoyable” to be a god? These are ordinary perceptions which are purely conjectural. How do you know the “bliss” enjoyed by a god is greater than that of a Buddha’s?
3. Different monastic traditions have their own rules regarding the eating of meat. We should learn about their different practices with respect and should not criticise them.
4. What wish are you talking about? Enlightenment? If you are already following a certain tradition and are happy with your practice, why would you want to join another sect just because they have a magic mantra that can give you what you want? Where’s the proof? As a Buddhist, what do you want? If it’s enlightenment, can a mantra give you that? And you don’t have to practise, meditate and transform your mind? You have to think for yourself.
5.Tell the person that you respect his/her tradition, but you are very happy with your own tradition and that he/she should respect that. We should not be impressed by people claiming to be some body. Examine your own guru’s qualities and if you are satisfied he has all the good qualities, regard him/her as Buddha Shakyamuni or Lama Tsongkhapa. There’s no difference.