The bad “-isms” of Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama started Buddhism in the 6th century B.C. in India as a protest against Hinduism’s Brahman priests who abused their power over the people.  Buddhism has so many sects whose beliefs are all over the map, but here are some of their most basic teachings in contrast to God’s truth:

• Buddhism teaches that man can exercise his own mental discipline to overcome suffering in the world and bring about his own spiritual advancement. (Buddha The Gospel, “The Annihilation of Suffering” chapter–“And what, O brethren, is the path that leads to the annihilation of suffering? It is the holy eightfold path that leads to the annihilation of suffering, which consists of right views, right decision, right speech, right action, right living, right struggling, right thoughts, and right meditation. In so far, O friends, as a noble youth thus recognizes suffering and the origin of suffering, as he recognizes the annihilation of suffering, and walks on the path that leads to the annihilation of suffering, radically forsaking passion, subduing wrath, annihilating the vain conceit of the I-am, leaving ignorance, and attaining to enlightenment, he will make an end of all suffering even in this life.”)
• God’s word teaches that man overcomes suffering only through Christ, for Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation [troubles, suffering]: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” [John 16:33].  The Bible also says “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” [1 John 5:4-5] and that man’s spirit is dead without Jesus (Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13).
• Buddhist teachings praise Siddhartha Gautama as higher than all men and all gods. (Buddha The Gospel, “Words of Instruction” chapter– “Adoration be to thee, O noble sage, adoration be to thee, O thou best of beings; in the world of men and gods there is none equal to thee. Thou art the Buddha, thou art the Master, thou art the muni that conquers Mara; after having cut off desire thou hast crossed over and carriest this generation to the other shore.”)
• The Bible says Jehovah is the supreme God– “For thus saith the LORD [Jehovah] that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD [Jehovah]; and there is none else. …Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.  I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. [Isaiah 45:18, 22-23].
• Buddhism says people exist in an endless cycle of rebirths (reincarnation) that are determined by karma. (Buddha The Gospel, “Name and Form” chapter– “Therefore, O bhikkhus, as there is no self, there is no transmigration of a self; but there are deeds and the continued effect of deeds. There is a rebirth of karma; there is reincarnation. This rebirth, this reincarnation, this reappearance of the conformations is continuous and depends on the law of cause and effect. Just as a seal is impressed upon the wax reproducing the configurations of its device, so the thoughts of men, their characters, their aspirations are impressed upon others in continuous transference and continue their karma, and good deeds will continue in blessings while bad deeds will continue in curses.”)
• The Bible says “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment,” [Hebrews 9:27] and “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad,” [2 Corinthians 5:10].  Our acceptance or rejection of Christ determines our eternal state (John 3:36).
• Buddhism teaches that man needs salvation from this endless cycle of rebirths and this salvation (nirvana) only comes by fulfilling an “Eightfold Path.” (Buddha The Gospel, “Enlightenment” chapter– “The Enlightened One saw the four noble truths which point out the path that leads to Nirvana or the extinction of self: The first noble truth is the existence of sorrow. The second noble truth is the cause of suffering. The third noble truth is the cessation of sorrow. The fourth noble truth is the eightfold path that leads to the cessation of sorrow.)
• God’s word says man is in need of salvation from his sins and this salvation can only come by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Our works cannot save us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith [in Jesus Christ]; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast,”  [Ephesians 2:8-9].
• They teach that when an individual obtains nirvana, they are like a god. (Buddha The Gospel, “The Widow’s Mite and the Three Merchants” chapter– “Those who through the exercise of various virtues become pious householders will be born again [reincarnated] as men, for all beings will reap the fruit of their actions. But he who increases his wealth is like unto one who practices eminent virtues. The virtuous, excellent man attains in heaven to the glorious state of the gods.”)
• The Bible says man will never be a god and the desire to be like a god comes from Satan when he said to Eve “…Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil,” [Genesis 3:5].

“[L]et God be true, but every man a liar.” (Romans 3:4)

Source: Paul Carus, Buddha the Gospel, Chicago, The Open Court Publishing Company, 1894.