III. Suffering
A. Buddhist Teaching
The Buddhist teaching regarding suffering is based on the "Four truths":
1. Suffering is an essential part of life. Troubles are basic and inherent to life.
2. The cause of suffering is human desire.
Man suffers because of his desire for personal enjoyment and possessions, but especially because of the desire to continue to exist as an individual, separate and distinct from others. The highest destiny of man, according to many Buddhists, is to cease existence as a separate and distinct individual, and enter the state of Nirvana. The earthly life is an illusion, but due to ignorance man continues to desire to exist. This desire causes rebirth to other lives and since life involves suffering, we continue to suffer.
3. The solution to suffering is to eliminate earthly desires, especially the desire to exist as an individual.
4. The steps to defeat these desires are the "Eightfold Path" (see point IV below).
B. The Bible Teaching about Suffering
It is true that suffering is a part of life. (Job 5:7) "But man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward."
This basically agrees with the first "truth" of Buddhism.
Suffering exists as the consequences of man's sin or as a temptation to sin.
(1 Peter 2:19-22) Jesus suffered, though he was guilty of no sin. We should suffer in the same way.
1 Peter 4:14-16, Some suffering is the result of our evil doing, but instead we may suffer because others do some evil to us. So not all suffering is the result of our own sins. Sometimes we suffer because others sin.
Hence, suffering may or may not be the result or our own wrong desires.
Buddhism teaches us to eliminate all natural desires. The Bible says that every natural desire has a good and proper way to be fulfilled.
The proper goal of man is, not to eliminate all desires from his life, but to know God's will and control the desires accordingly.
The way to overcome suffering is, not to strive to defeat it yourself, but to trust in God and serve Him.
Romans 8:16-18 - If we suffer with Christ we receive a reward far greater than the suffering. [James 1:12; 2 Corinthians 4:16f; Matthew 5:10ff]
Buddhism does not have a solution to suffering. Only the Bible provides a true solution.
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IV. Achieving the Goal of Life
A. Buddhist Teaching
Conservative Buddhists follow the "Eightfold Path"
This is a way of life consisting of 8 steps in which one disciplines himself till all earthly desires are eliminated. The idea is to avoid two extremes: avoid indulging in luxury and pleasures, but also avoid self-torture or depriving oneself of necessities.
The eight steps are: right views, aspirations, speech, conduct, mode of livelihood, effort, awareness, and concentration. Great self-control is needed to develop these to necessary perfection.
This process depends on human effort without divine aid (remember, conservative Buddhism has nothing to do with God).
Liberal Buddhists teach that there are many different methods to accomplish the purpose of life.
The leading concept of realizing perfection among liberal Buddhists involve Bodhisattvas. These are people who earn perfection (as above), but postpone Nirvana in order to provide perfection for others. Other Buddhists, at lower stages of perfection, can obtain Nirvana by appealing to their favorite Bodishattva - honoring, praying, repeating his name. Thus his merit is transferred to them. This is much easier than the conservative view, for not all must earn perfection.
B. The Bible Teaching
Man cannot save himself without God.
Jesus is the Savior.
Liberal Buddhism says some men can save other men. The Bible says no man can save himself, nor can anyone else save him except Jesus.
Romans 3:23 , All men have sinned. How can another man who sinned die to pay the penalty for my sins? He deserves to die for his own sins. Jesus was the Divine Son of God who died for our sins though He was sinless (1 Peter 2:21-24).
It is not true that some must be perfect to be saved but others can be saved on lesser conditions. All must be saved by accepting the same conditions.
Acts 10:34,35, God is no respecter of persons; in every nation, he who fears God and works righteousness will be acceptable.
Conclusion
Buddhism worships either no god or else false gods. Many Buddhists believe that man must achieve the solution to his own problems over a period of many lives by human effort.
The gospel provides the only true way to worship the only true God. It provides a way for man to be forgiven by the death of the Son of God who paid the penalty for our sins. To receive the benefit, we must trust Jesus and obey Him in this life. Then we have the hope of eternal life.
