Are Buddhists leaving Buddha, just as Christians have left Christ?

Question

I notice a lot of interest in the literature of Buddhism. I find it rather strange because Buddha got the job done by leaving his books behind while he went to increase the light with meditation.

Are they not following the bad example of many Christian denominations who have decided to ignore the Spiritual light in the Original Kingdom Gospel to focus on the books that came along after Jesus was gone?

If you want to confirm my comment, just look at what Jesus said about "light" and what he said about "sacrifice." All positive on the first, and quite negative on the second. And more on this topic on my bio.

So are Buddhists about to follow the Christian path of ignoring the light, only to adore the books that came along later?

Answer 1

Humans often need something concrete to cling to, we are too scared to embrace our individual relationship with God. Also this approach would weed out the power hungry people who "mediate" between us and God, they like books (writing, interpreting, editing) because this gives them authority. Buddhists are probably as prone to this as other religions.

Answer 2

No-

Answer 3

Buddhist scripture is longer than 2 entire encyclopedia britannicas. Few Buddhists have read the entire thing. Few Buddhists see the need to read the entire thing. Buddhism emphasises practice over theory, so I don't see this as a problem. It's said the Abhidhamma theorised the teachings too much to become nonsensical, however abhidhamma experts swear that it works. Buddhism is about what works for you, and meditation (ie. practice) is the one thing essential to all Buddhists. So practice won't lose out to books.

Buddha didn't go out to just teach meditation. He taught about ethics, how the mind and body work, how to make a harmonious society etc. etc. He's dead now, so books now carry on the message (assuming they represent his original words).

Answer 4

I think your question highlights one of the problems with Christianity today.

Jesus (and there is no doubt historically that he existed at the very least as an extremely enlightened teacher) was, if you read the true meaning of his words, rallying against organised religion, the meaningless rules of old testament times, yet 2000 years later his words have been twisted to become the very thing he was against. A religion based on fear as opposed to a spirituality based upon rising above the materiality of the world and finding your true potential.

The Bible was also not put together until approx 300 years after his death by men who had their own agenda. Alot of unnecessary material was included and alot of necessary stuff left out. Jesus did not want his ideas to stagnate, but to be adapted to suit the modern world.

It is this reason we all think you Christians are crazy

Answer 5

If a Christian is leaving Christ. That person was no Christian in the first place. Jesus has never given up on anyone!

Answer 6

Christians  are not leaving Jesus  they have asked him to come  into their life  and live  ink them  I do not know enough about Budda  to no  if Buddhist are leaving him.