Let’s start writing before I forget.
First of all, posting this for someone to read.
Romans 8:18-21
18.I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
19.The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
20.For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
21.that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
My thoughts: I believe even before your eternal life, you will enjoy the fruit of what you are sowing right now. Every incident in life would make us grow in a certain way.
Matthew 19
The Rich Young Man
16.Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
17."Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
18."Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,'[d] and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'[e]"
My thought: I kind of ponder upon the similarity of Christianity and Buddhism at that time. If we look at Exodus 20,
3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
13 "You shall not murder.
14 "You shall not commit adultery.
15 "You shall not steal.
16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
My thoughts: And so now I know why Christians go to church on Saturday or Sunday.
So now we shall look at the eight percepts of Buddhism. The main difference of percepts and commandments is that they are to be taken as recommendations. This means the individual is encouraged to use his/her own intelligence to apply these rules in the best possible way. Second, it is the spirit of the precepts -not the text- that counts, hence, the guidelines for ethical conduct must be seen in the larger context of the Eightfold Path.
The first five precepts are:
Prevent taking life of beings. Every living being has a right to life and it should be honoured by one and all.
Prevent taking things not given. One should neither steel nor accept things meant for someone else.
Prevent sensual misconduct. One should not only refrain from sexual misconduct but also avoid excessive sensual pleasure of any kind (like gluttony).
Prevent making false statements. This not only includes lying but also slander and speech that might cause harm to others.
Prevent taking substances that cause intoxication. This precept is important in the sense that it could be the cause of other four precepts being broken.
The Theravada Buddhists however also observe three more precepts on special holy occasions.
Prevent taking food at unsuitable time – from noon one day to sunrise next day
Prevent any form of entertainment as well as items used to beautify one.
Prevent the use of high, luxurious beds.
Taken from here and online bible sources.
Part 3,
Two weeks ago someone said,
Some people always said in order to understand it; you have to go through it. To help those drug addicts the best you could, it is better if you have experienced it before.
[My thoughts: you will be in a better position to help people because you understand them, so it is true]
But I am here to tell you that that is a lie. It is not true. Why? Because it would immediately disqualified Jesus from helping people.
[My thoughts: These make sense as well. I have never thought of it that way.]
I and the Father are one. (John 10:30)
Jesus Christ was the visible image of the invisible God. Christ said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).
Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. (John 14:10)
[My thoughts: Why are we comparing ourselves to someone that is perfect. Although we are created in the image of God, we are not perfect because we sin and sinned. ]
I guess I would stick to “Some people always said in order to understand it; you have to go through it.” part for now.
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