‘Buddha’ means Enlightened One. To see all beings as Buddhas would mean that everyone would understand the truth about the way things are. Buddhists do not claim that one path is right or wrong, or use “I” or “person” to mean a permanent personality. They consider a person to be “a flow of being,” subject to constant physical and psychological change, which continues through life beyond death. Buddhists believe that a person is in reality a chain of life, a “continuity of constant becoming that carries on beyond physical death”. It is believed that the dead are reborn according to their ‘Karma’. People are reborn into one of the realms of existence, including heaven or hell. In the end, all beings will go to the “deathless” state of being or ‘Nirvana’.
To hear all sounds as ‘Mantras’ could mean that you understand truth and are in touch with or communicate with everything around you on your journey to Nirvana. Chanting songs and reciting scripture to help daily meditation is important for the Buddhist’s way of life. Monks are always chanting passages of scripture as part of their daily worship and respect for the Buddha and to help them keep an unclouded holy lifestyle.
‘Christ is the light of life. Anyone who sees truth in Him through ‘good works’ will have eternal life.’
Although the style and doctrines differ between Christian religions, there are fundamental principles that are similar including, initiation, worship, ministry and good works. In order to write a Christian equivalent of the stated Buddhist quote, I focused on the light of Christ, worship and good works or deeds. Christians celebrate their faith with the singing of hymns, reading Bible scriptures and spending time in prayer and reflection. This is worship, which is the path to finding faith in Christ. To see everything as ‘Nirvana’ would be like a Christian that is always filled with the joy of Christ’s light. “I am the light of the world; anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark but have the light of life.” Enlightenment to Jesus Christ’s gift to us, salvation and everlasting life, is central to Christianity. Christian believers are given the strength to rise above suffering and the unpleasant things that trouble human existence because of their faith and hope that is associated with life after death. It is key for all Christians to believe that their ‘good works’ will be rewarded with the promise of everlasting life. Faith Hope Love and Charity will help them achieve this goal.
