DIALOGUES BETWEEN BUDDHISM AND OTHER RELIGIONS

Question 49: BUDDHISM OFTEN MENTIONS REBIRTH AND REINCARNATION. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS FURTHER?Answer: Evidence of reincarnation has been found in various parts of the world. Many individuals can recall their past lives and recount their detailed experiences, which have been investigated and confirmed as authentic. Just as Isaac Newton revolutionized physics and astronomy after observing a single fa...

Question 48: HOW CAN ONE PRACTICE TO ACHIEVE INNER PEACE?Answer: The human brain is inherently programmed to think continuously, making thinking a deeply ingrained instinct. However, this unceasing stream of thoughts creates an environment for various emotions, feelings, and mental disturbances to thrive. Even if one wishes to stop thinking, it is not easy because the brain’s instinct to think is...

Question 47: WHAT CRITERIA SHOULD RELIGION USE TO TEACH MORALITY EFFECTIVELY? Answer: Religions often build faith in God or Divine Beings, encouraging people to believe that all their actions are constantly observed, judged, and either rewarded or punished by these Divine Beings. Clergy/monastics must explain the role of the Divine as enforcers of moral justice, rewarding good and punishing evil r...

Question 46: HOW CAN WE UPGRADE THE THEOLOGICAL REASONING OF RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A TRUTH BENEFICIAL TO ALL? Answer: This requires profound expertise in both spiritual practice and religious reasoning. Without deep and authentic spiritual cultivation, one cannot develop a sharp and expansive perspective on religious doctrine. Only those who genuinely dedicate themselves to spirit...

Question 45: HOW CAN WE MAINTAIN PEOPLE’S FAITH IN RELIGION AND GOD TODAY? Answer: If religion is a truth that benefits humanity, it should be preserved. If it is not such a truth, there is no need to make efforts to sustain it. This is the crucial question we must answer definitively before dedicating our lives to any religion. If we conclude that religion is not a truth that benefits humanity, w...

Question 44: WHY DO MANY PEOPLE OPPOSE RELIGION, REJECT THE IDEA OF GOD, AND ADVOCATE FOR ATHEISM?Answer: Several reasons have contributed to the rise of movements opposing religion, denying God’s existence, and advocating for atheism, including:- As scienceprogresses, many phenomena can be explained through physical, chemical, biological, and mathematical principles, leading many people to reject...

Question 43: MANY RELIGIONS WORSHIP GOD WITH THE SAME MEANING, SO WHY CAN’T THEY UNITE INTO A SINGLE RELIGION? Answer: Many religions across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Asia worship God with similar understandings, differing only in the name used to refer to God. However, these religions cannot merge into a single unified religion for several reasons:- Each religionuses a distinct n...

Question 42: WHAT DOES LIBERATION MEAN?Answer: Liberation is a transcendent, extraordinary, absolute inner state of purity filled with boundless compassion and infinite wisdom. It is beyond time and space constraints, frees one from the cycle of death and rebirth (samsara), and is devoid of all suffering. In this state, one becomes spiritually profoundly connected with all beings, understands ever...

Question 41: WHAT DOES A BUDDHIST THINK WHEN OBSERVING EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE? Answer: When observing everything in the universe, a theist may think of God as the Creator of all things and feel gratitude for the life God has bestowed. In contrast, a Buddhist perceives the essence of life as suffering, as taught in the Four Noble Truths. We see worms or crickets burrowing and scavenging for foo...

Question 40: IS IT POSSIBLE TO SUMMARIZE THE TEACHING OF BUDDHISM IN A FEW SIMPLE SENTENCES FOR EASY UNDERSTANDING? Answer: There is a verse from the Dhammapada sutra that captures the essence of Buddhist practice: “Avoid all evil deeds. Perform only good deeds. Keep your mind pure. This is the teaching of the Buddha.” The teachings of Buddhism are vast and profound, making it nearly impossible to...

Question 39: WHY DO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT BUDDHISM IS NOT A RELIGION BUT MERELY A PHILOSOPHY OR WAY OF LIFE? Answer: Every religion has two essential aspects: faith and a philosophical/ethical framework. Buddhism is no exception. However, Buddhism's moral and philosophical system is so vast, profound, and comprehensive that many people become overwhelmed by it and overlook the faith-based a...

Question 38: HOW IS THE MORALITY OF MONASTICS CULTIVATED IN BUDDHISM? Answer: In Buddhism, monastics cultivate morality through the following principles:- The ultimate goalis no-self (anattā). Monastics must carefully consider every action, thought, and word to ensure it's not driven by ego or self-centeredness.- Even whenachieving some results in meditation, practitioners must remind themselv...

Question 37: WHAT CAUSES A MONASTIC TO DECLINE IN MORAL CHARACTER AND MAKE MANY MISTAKES? Answer: Due to the unique role of monastics as representatives of the Divine, they often receive great respect from others, sometimes to an excessive degree. Only those with a tranquil mind and the utmost humility can endure the prolonged reverence of devotees without succumbing to arrogance. For everyone els...

Question 36: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A RICH, PROFOUND, AND ENLIGHTENED SPIRITUAL LIFE? Answer: The specifics of spiritual life may vary across different religions, but they share the common characteristic of cultivating inner tranquility, drawing closer to the qualities of the Divine being revered. The Divine qualities that each clergy member should strive to cultivate include: - Purity of mind:...

Question 35: CLERGY/MONASTICS ARE TYPICALLY VIEWED AS BEING ON A HIGHER PLANE THAN ORDINARY HUMANS, BUT IS THIS ALWAYS THE CASE IN REALITY? Answer: Religions generally have training programs for their clergy/monastics to help them achieve qualities that are, at least partially, divine, making them worthy of the reverence and trust of their followers. However, due to differences in individual psych...

Question 34: CLERGY ARE OFTEN REVERED AND OFFERED DONATIONS. IS IT EASY TO LEAD THEM TO A LAVISH LIFESTYLE?Answer: Temples are typically beautiful because they are places where people expresstheir utmost reverence for the Divine. They are also places where people gather to practice their faith and experience the spiritual atmosphere together. Out of respect for the Divine and for the benefit of th...

Question 33: CAN PRAYER ALONE ENABLE CLERGY TO ACHIEVE THE NECESSARY MORAL QUALITIES? Answer: Prayer can only invoke divine support to some extent but cannot wholly help one overcome the negative instincts hidden within one's mind, as humans remain independent from the Divine. Prayer is an initial catalyst for building moral qualities, but cultivating these qualities is long and challenging an...

Question 32: ARE CLERGY THOSE WHO SERVE AS INTERMEDIARIES BETWEEN GOD AND THE BELIEVERS, MANAGING THE FLOCK OF BELIEVERS ON GOD'S BEHALF?Answer: Yes. Every religion requires dedicated clergy who are no longer preoccupied with family duties. This allows them to devote themselves entirely to spiritual cultivation and caring for the spiritual well-being of their followers. This clergy class is cr...

Question 31: HOW SHOULD WE UNDERESTAND THE CREATION STORY AS AN EDUCATIONAL PARABLE? Answer: The Creation story offers several meaningful lessons as follows:-od created the physical world before creating humans. This implies that a suitable living environment must exist before the emergence of a corresponding species. This concept is scientifically plausible and morally educational, emphasizing a...

Question 30: IT IS EASIER TO UNDERSTAND GOD’S CREATION IN A LITERAL SENSE. IS THIS BECAUSE IT MAKES GOD SEEM CLOSER TO HUMANS?Answer: This is precisely why literal interpretations of God’s Creation have often been more prevalent than figurative ones. When we are distressed, a God with human-like attributes feels more approachable, as if He is listening to our prayers, compared to a metaphorical, i...

Question 29: DID GOD CREATE THE HEAVENS, THE EARTH, THE UNIVERSE, AND HUMANS? Answer: According to the Bible, God created the heaven and the Earth (humans later) in six days. However, the depiction of the heavens and earth, as described in the Bible, is much simpler than our current understanding of astronomy. It is because scientific knowledge was limited in ancient times. Today, theologians have...

Question 28: WHEN FACING EXTREME SUFFERING AND DESPAIR WITH NO WAY OUT, IS PRAYER THE ONLY SOURCE OF COMFORT? Answer: When we have no other options, we can respond in one of two ways: accept our situation with composure or pray for divine assistance. The ability to accept adversity, injustice, loss, and pain is a mark of those who have cultivated their inner strength. Such people possess a resilie...

Question 27: WILL HUMANITY WELCOME ANY MORE PROPHET IN THE FUTURE? Answer: People tend to resist the arrival of new prophets or spiritual leaders, fearing it might dilute their current teachings. However, as the world constantly changes, human psychology is also influenced by scientific, technological, political, and philosophical advancements. Old languages, ancient scriptures, and antiquated exa...

Question 26: DOES THE CONCEPT OF SALVATION IN THEOLOGY CONTRADICT THE PRACTICE TOWARDS ENLIGHTENMENT IN BUDDHISM? Answer: If we wish to see them contradict each other, we can reason in a way that createsdivision. However, if we seek harmony, we can find many complementary aspects within these teachings. It all depends on our goodwill and intentions. If we want to emphasize the contrast, we might s...

Question 25: WHY IS IT SAID THAT THERE ARE MANY HUNGRY AND SUFFERING SOULS EVERYWHERE WHO CAN’T FIND A STABLE PLACE TO RESIDE AFTER DEATH? Answer: According to folklore from regions all over the world, souls, spirits and ghosts always linger around us. Some people can see and interact with them, but others cannot, which has given rise to eerie and fascinating ghost stories in many cultural traditi...