For Jehovah's Witnesses, Approaching / Speaking to Buddhists.?

Question

How would I explain to a Buddhist that I am no part of Christendom?

I already read, in the 'Reasoning' book, some information about them.

What other books do we have that I may read more about them and their faith ?

How would I explain to 1, the type of Ministry that we do?

Answer 1

Exactly what is it that you want to get across?  My mother is Buddhist and my father is Christian.  I am a believer of every true way to the God of the Universe.  Tell me what you want to get across to a Buddhist believer.  I will listen and help you but don't be rude about anything.  When it comes to my parents, I do not tolerate anything.  What is this Reasoning Book you have that has information about Buddha?  I want to read this book.  

Grayure, almost to impossible would depend on where they live and what kind of culture that surrounds their life don't you think.  My mother of course is buddhist but she lives here in the USA.  Many Christian cultures surrounds her life but not in her world.  In a buddhist world you can shut out the outside life forces that destroys inner peace.  Mind you not all people can reach that stage unless you have the willpower that comes from the Divine.  You also have very good sharing on the differences between two beliefs.  Mostly yes the older generation that have their wisdom will be less to believe anything less than what one can have and achieve.  Now I hope your (Jehovah's Witnesses) wanting to preach to this buddhist believer's are with honest and good motives and just not to herd as one herds cattle's into corrals.  If its for teachings and sharing purposes that is a good motive.  Buddhist teachings have many good qualities that one can share too.  Open mindedness is the best quality to get another to listen and learn.  I  am unbiased and my parents want me to be that way.  Every one has their own rights to walk their path of life.  We all can find that *stainless world* free of suffering and evil;  We also can enter that world.  Buddha did.  With my love to all of you, Aimie.

Answer 2

Please don't take offence at this answer, as i have a great deal of respect for JWs, am very impressed by your personal integrity and scriptural knowledge, and believe your faith is closer to that of the Bible than that of supposedly mainstream Catholics and Protestants.

I am neither a Witness nor a Buddhist, but speaking from outside both camps and with sympathy for both, i think they are going to have a very hard time relating to each other for a very important reason.  Witnesses believe in conditional immortality and therefore see the annihilation of the self as a bad thing.  Buddhists see themselves as aiming for that very goal - the annihilation of the self.  You are going to find it almost impossible to persuade a Buddhist to have any sympathy with your eschatological views at all.  Speaking personally, i find the prospect of conditional immortality completely removes any motivation i might otherwise have to become a Witness.  That would be by far your biggest problem with a Buddhist too.

Answer 3

Dear "Bamboo Bambi":

"Our Kingdom Ministry," 8/1999, p. 8:

What Will You Say to a Buddhist?

1 In some lands more than half of those getting baptized are from a Buddhist background. What is attracting these ones to the truth? How can you present the good news to a Buddhist?

2 Show Genuine Concern: Many former Buddhists have said that it was not profound reasoning that attracted them to the truth. Rather, they were touched by the genuine personal concern shown to them. An Asian woman living in the United States was so impressed with the friendliness of the sister who called on her that she agreed to study. She could not speak English well, but the sister was patient. When the woman was tired or unable to study, the sister would simply make a friendly visit and arrange for the next session. Eventually the woman, her two sons, and her aged mother got baptized. She returned to the land of her birth and assisted many others to learn the truth. One of her sons now serves at the branch office. What blessings resulted from reflecting Jehovah’s ‘kindness and love for man’!—Titus 3:4.

3 Buddhist Thought: Buddhists generally are tolerant of other ideas, but they do not consider it necessary to adhere to specific dogma. So their individual beliefs vary. A common theme in one branch of Buddhist teaching is that life is full of suffering, but by means of enlightenment, one can stop the continuous cycle of rebirth into unsatisfactory lives. It is said that to be liberated from this cycle, one must achieve Nirvana, a state that cannot be described because it is not a place or an event but, rather, a void in which pain and evil are nonexistent. (See 'What Happens to Us When We Die?', pages 9-10.) What does this tell us? That it would be counterproductive to engage people in debates on Buddhist philosophy. Instead, discuss common problems that are of concern to all.

4 Emphasize Mutual Interests: Since Buddhists generally equate life on earth with suffering, the concept of everlasting life on earth may strike them as absurd. Still, all of us share the desire to enjoy happy family life, to see suffering eliminated, and to know the meaning of life. Note how such mutual needs can be highlighted.

5 You might try this introduction:

▪ “Today we live in a world where many innocent people suffer. What do you believe is needed to bring an end to pain and misery for all? [Allow for response.] There is an ancient promise that is very comforting to me. [Read Revelation 21:4.] Of course, that time has not yet come, but when it arrives, we would like to see it, wouldn’t we?” Then offer a publication that explains how suffering will end.

6 To an older person, you could say:

▪ “Perhaps you are as concerned as I am about the current flood of degraded ideas and the effect that these are having on our children. Why is there such an increase in immorality among young people? [Allow for response.] Did you know that this was foretold in a book that started to be written long before the founding of the Muslim, Christian, and Hindu religions? [Read 2 Timothy 3:1-3.] Note that these conditions prevail despite continuous learning. [Read verse 7.] This publication helped me to understand the truth that most people never learn. Would you like to read it?” Offer an appropriate book or brochure.

7 Buddhists generally respect the Bible as a sacred writing. So read from it directly. (Heb. 4:12) If the person feels uneasy about the influence of Western culture, mention to him that all of the Bible writers were Asians.

8 Which Publications Work Best? Published especially for Buddhists, the tract 'Will Suffering Ever End?' is printed in Chinese, Japanese, Sinhalese, and Thai. In addition, many publishers have successfully used the following literature: the books 'Mankind’s Search for God', 'The Secret of Family Happiness', and 'Questions Young People Ask—Answers That Work'; the brochures “Look! I Am Making All Things New,” and 'What Is the Purpose of Life—How Can You Find It?'; and, if still available, Kingdom News No. 35, "Will All People Ever Love One Another?" Most Buddhists who are now learning the truth study the "Bible Teach" book.

9 Although Buddhist missionaries are said to have arrived in Athens nearly 400 years before Paul preached there, it is uncertain whether he ever met a person influenced by Buddhist thought. However, we do know how Paul felt about witnessing to people of all sorts. He made himself “the slave to all” so that he “might by all means save some.” (1 Cor. 9:19-23) We can do the same by showing personal interest in people and by emphasizing the hope that we hold in common as we witness to everyone we meet.

Please see also "Our Kingdom Ministry,"  Febr. 1998:  p. 5-6.

Jehovah will bless your ministry, and take the matter to him in prayer.

Christian love -

Mr. Cal

<watchtower.org>

Answer 4

I have to go to the meeting right now. I will sure dig this up when I get back. Plus I will ask some of the Elders while there. Plus Vot is digging for you too. Love y'all sending love to my sisters.  

Answer 5

*fishes through personal library*

The book Mankind's Search For God is good material.

Sis, my special literature is all for Moslems. I have two tracts made for a specific group too, but I can't for the life of me remember since I only have professed Christians in my territory the past 3 years.

The tracts are in Turkish (so I donno what they say in English), but if you could ask what these tracts are called in English- their references are T-71 and T-74.

They might be for Moslems too :-P

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Edit that: I see both tracts have "Allah" in them, so they must be for Moslems too.

So.... Mankind's Search For God? :-D