DIALOGUES BETWEEN BUDDHISM AND OTHER RELIGIONS

Question 24: IF WE TREAT ANIMALS CRUELLY, ARE WE GUILTY OF THE SAME SIN AS TREATING HUMANS CRUELLY? Answer: The feelings of joy and suffering we cause to living beings are the measure of our merit and sin. Regardless of species, if we bring joy to a being, we gain merit; if we cause suffering, we incur sin. The suffering felt by sentient beings includes two aspects: • Physical pain, including feel...

Question 23: IF ANIMALS ARE A PUNISHMENT UNDER THE LAW OF KARMA FOR THE WICKED, DOES GOD DO NOTHING TO SAVE THEM? Answer: As we have said, God created everything and then allowed it to unfold independently, leaving each of us responsible. When we live with virtue, kindness, and compassion, God's truths will operate automatically according to divine justice. Those who have lived cruel, selfish...

Question 22: WHAT IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH A PERSON IS REBORN AS AN ANIMAL? Answer: For a person to be reborn as an animal, the following factors are involved:· This is a cruel person who has done many evil deeds, is selfish, greedy, stubborn, or insults those who are worthy of respect (as each religion has its own venerable figures).· Near death, they displayed unusual signs, such as a disturbed a...

Question 21: DID GOD CREATE ANIMALS SOLELY TO SERVE HUMANS? Answer: If we keep a dog as a companion, we may notice that they are much like us; they have emotions, intelligence, survival instincts and the ability to feel happiness andsuffering, just as we do. It's just that they are in a lower position than us, so they are dominated by us and treated like slaves. Many animal rights organization...

Question 20: WHAT IS THE REBIRTH PROCESS OF AN ANGEL?Answer: When it is time for an angel to leave the realm of heaven and be reborn into the human world to continue their journey of self-cultivation and guiding others, the following factors may be involved:· The angel may feel a strong inner urge to be reborn into the human world.· The angel would discuss life, mission, and the specifics of their...

Question 19: ARE THERE MANY ANGELS? Answer: Certainly, there are many. Numerous people have cultivated virtues, helped others through suffering, and guided others beyond mistakes. After passing, these individualswill be rewarded by being born into a heavenly realm with form; however, it is not the ultimate realm yet. While they enjoy the happiness of heaven, they remain aware that their mission is...

Question 18: SO, DOES THIS MEAN THAT SOME PEOPLE ASCEND TO THE HEAVENS AND THEN REINCARNATE BACK INTO THE HUMAN REALM? Answer: We often hear that those who ascend to heaven will dwell with God eternally. However, this is true only for those who have achieved a mind wholly aligned with God’s. For others whose souls are virtuous but not yet perfectly pure, God still grants them the reward of residin...

Question 17: IT IS SAID THAT THOSE WHO LIVE A VIRTUOUS LIFE WILL BE WELCOMED TO DWELL WITH GOD AFTER DEATH. SO, DOES GOD RESIDE IN A SPECIAL REALM TO WELCOME THESE VIRTUOUS PEOPLE? Answer: God has multiple realms. At the lower levels, there are realms with forms: magnificent palaces, beautiful landscapes, enchanting fragrances, and radiant lights. At the highest level, however, there exists an abs...

Question 16: SOMETIMES, WHEN BEING TREATED WITH CRUELTY AND UNFAIRNESS, MANY PEOPLE BECOME DISSATISFIED AND TURN TO ADVOCATING FOR LOVING ONLY THEMSELVES, WHICH HAS BECOME A HARMFUL TREND. WHY IS THIS? Answer: Self-love is an instinct that can be harmful to the community and humanity as a whole. Throughout history, spiritual leaders have encouraged people to love one another, help those in need, c...

Question 15: LET'S LOOK AROUND THE WORLD; IT SEEMS THAT FEW PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO HELP AND EDUCATE EACH OTHER. WHY IS THAT? Answer: Humanity has primarily chosen to be indifferent and irresponsible towards one another, and as a result, we must endure themisfortunes and disasters that continue to befall this world. Those who understand that life requires us to support each other through hardshi...

Question 14: THEN WHY DOESN'T ANYONE GUIDE HUMANS TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES SO THAT THEY AVOID THE SUFFERING CAUSED BY WRONGDOING? Answer: The suffering and mistakes of others are tests of human responsibility. When we see others in pain, we must choose how to respond. When we witness others making mistakes, we must decide how to react. Suppose we are indifferent, leaving others to suffer or c...

Question 13: IF HUMAN DESTINY OPERATES ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT, IS HUMAN WILL STILL NECESSARY? Answer: Humans are both creations of God and independent of God, so human will is the driving force behind the workings of Cause and Effect (the Law of Karma). Humans choose how they live, how they treat each other, and how they treat nature; the Law of Cause and Effect operates in respo...

Question 12: IF GOD CREATED AND THEN LET GO, ALLOWING EVERYTHING TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY, WOULD THAT MEAN EVERYTHING WOULD DESCEND INTO CHAOS?Answer: Since God is truth, and truth never disappears, even if God relinquishes control, everything will still operate according to God’s truth rather than descend into chaos. The truth God embeds in the universe encompasses countless principles – many of...

Question 11: IF WE DISCARD THE IDEA THAT GOD CREATED EVERYTHING, THEN WHAT WOULD STILL DEFINE GOD?Answer: We could take a more flexible approach, considering that God is not responsible for creating everything but instead has the role of overseeing the realms. In Eastern beliefs, the Jade Emperor (God) is viewed as a manager rather than a creator. Alternatively, we could understand God differently...

Question 10: WHY DO MANY SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHY, DOCTRINES AND BELIEF SYSTEMS REJECT THE IDEA OF GOD? Answer: This is the reaction of those who reject the extreme notion that "humans are entirely products of God. Many religions havetaken this idea too far, focusing solely on the aspect of 'humans as products of God' while neglecting the other side – that humans are also independent of...

Question 9: THE CONCEPT THAT HUMANS ARE BOTH PRODUCTS OF GOD AND INDEPENDENT OF GOD IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. COULD YOU EXPLAIN FURTHER? Answer: Let’s consider the relationship between parents and children – it’s pretty similar. Parents give birth to, raise, and teach their children, making it seem like children are entirely products of their parents. But in reality, that's not the case. As...

Question 8: MANY PEOPLE SEEM NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THEY'RE GIVEN ANOTHER HUMAN LIFE TO CULTIVATE THEMSELVES. WHY DON'T THEY UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR SELF-CULTIVATION? Answer: This question touches upon the core of truth: humans are God's creations and independent of God. If humans were solely products of God, human will would be meaningless as God would arrange everything. If humans were c...

Question 7: IF WE HAVE NOT ACHIEVED THE QUALITIES OF GOD BY THE TIME WE DIE, HOW CAN WE BE WITH GOD?Answer: God is both compassionate and strict. If our minds haven’t developed qualities similar to God’s by death, we certainly can’t be with God (strictness). However, God grants us further opportunities to continue our cultivation (compassion), allowing us to return as human beings and keep progres...

Question 6: HOW CAN WE TRANSFORM OUR MIND TO ALIGN WITH GOD’S MIND? Answer: If we believe that God’s mind has certain qualities, we must gradually strive to transform our minds to reflect these qualities. Here are the qualities of God that we believe in: · Boundless love for all beings · Profound wisdom that comprehends everything · Unrestricted by space, yet encompassing all space · Unrestricted...

Question 5: DOES THIS MEAN THAT GOD’S MIND IS THE SAME AS THE ENLIGHTENED MIND IN BUDDHISM?Answer: If we conclude this outright, many might object, insisting that religions must maintain distinct identities. Still, we cannot deny that if God is absolute, God’s mind must also be absolute. This absolute mind aligns closely with Buddhism’s ultimate goal. Most religious followers wish to dwell with Go...

Question 4: IT MAY BE EASIER FOR RELIGIONS THAT WORSHIP GOD TO FIND HARMONY, BUT HOW CAN BUDDHISM, WHICH DOES NOT WORSHIP GOD, FIND COMMON GROUND WITH OTHER RELIGIONS? Answer: It is not entirely accurate to say that Buddhism does not revere God. Buddhism seeks the essence—the mind—of God rather than focusing on a particular name for God. While we worship God, do we ever contemplate God’s mind? We...

Question 3: ARE DIFFERENCES IN RELIGIOUS DOCTRINES THE GREATEST BARRIER TO HARMONY AMONG RELIGIONS?Answer: There is always a way forward if we genuinely seek harmony. The only obstacle is stubbornness; if we cling to differences to criticize one another, all doors to harmony close. For example, most religions venerate God, yet due to regional variations in naming God, they may struggle to accept o...

Question 2: WITH SO MANY DIFFERENCES, HOW CAN RELIGIONS ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER TO FOSTER UNITY FOR HUMANITY? Answer: For religions to accept one another, we must gradually learn to respect the founders of other faiths, recognizing that religious founders with sacred missions brought goodness to humanity in their respective regions and times. Each founder’s teachings may vary according to unique histor...

Question 1: WHAT MAKES RELIGIONS DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER? Answer: Religions differ in the following aspects: • Founders who initially established the religions • Deities or Divine figures worshipped by followers • Scriptures and doctrines that guide followers' spiritual path and practice • Religious rituals and languages used in prayers and chants • Internal precepts and codes specific to e...

PREFACE People cherish peace and unity as the world becomes increasingly civilized and advanced. One significant challenge in achieving world peace is to minimize the differences between religions and foster understanding and acceptance among them. In the past, concepts such as "religious outsiders," "other religions," or "heresy" were often viewed with aversion as so...