A prominent religious leader recently said that sex, however pleasurable it might be in the short run, leads to long-term trouble. He argued that celibacy is the way that leads to “more freedom.”
If you’re thinking that the leader was ridiculed for his comments, think again. The Associated Press described him as “waxing eloquent.” It probably helps that the “him” in question was the Dalai Lama.
Speaking in Lagos, Nigeria, the Tibetan leader said that giving in to “sexual pressure [and] desire” produces “short period satisfaction [that often] leads to more complication.”
While sexual desire is “natural,” the Dalai Lama said, our “human intelligence” should help us to understand the “ups and downs” that couples experience. In extreme cases, these “ups and downs” can take the form of “murder” and “suicide.” He even went on to say that attachment to our “partner” and even our children can become “an obstacle or hindrance [to our] peace of mind.”
Well, there are some things in these comments Christians can agree with. There’s also an awful lot that underscores the differences between Buddhism and Christianity.
For example, Christianity also commends celibacy. The apostle Paul wrote that whereas a married man is anxious about “how to please his wife,” the “unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord.” The avoidance of what Paul called “division of interest” is why Catholic priests are celibate.
But while both religions have a place for celibacy, their reasons are very different. For starters, in Christianity, celibacy isn’t chosen for the sake of the individual’s peace of mind. Nor to be detached from the world. Instead, it is something a person chooses to do for the sake of the Kingdom of God as a way to better serve God and his neighbor.
In addition, while Christianity acknowledges that marriage and family are full of “complications” and “ups and downs” that can cause suffering, it proclaims their goodness and sanctity.
Whereas in Buddhism, salvation consists of “becoming indifferent to the world, which is the source of evil,” in Christianity, “the world is God’s good creation, redeemed by Christ.”
For Christians, human institutions and their attachments are to be embraced, not renounced. This is especially true of the family.
As author Christopher West writes in his book Theology of the Body Explained, Christianity sees the union of husband and wife as “the fountainhead of civilization [and] the wellspring of culture.” Rather than being an obstacle to spiritual well-being, the conjugal relationship of spouses, when “open to God’s inspiration and ordered toward love and life . . . builds families and, in turn, a culture of love and life.”
Of course, as our hedonist culture has rejected the Christian view of sex, the result, as West observes, is the “disintegration of marriage” and “a culture of utility and death.”
Given the mess we have made of sex and marriage, the Dalai Lama’s detachment might look like a good alternative. But it pales in comparison to the joy experienced by husbands and wives who embrace God’s plan for creating a culture of love and life.
Yes, worldviews matter — a lot.
From BreakPoint®, December 12, 2008, Copyright 2008, Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with the permission of Prison Fellowship Ministries. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or distributed without the express written permission of Prison Fellowship Ministries. “BreakPoint®” and “Prison Fellowship Ministries®” are registered trademarks of Prison Fellowship
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The Dalai Lama has only a limited light which in his part of the world is viewed supreme,with all due respect Christiantiy reflects a greater light by the example of a man who died and rose again to conquer sin and death, Mr. Buddha never did this feat.
Here are two books I would recommend reading. They contrast Buddhism with Christianity: The Good Heart: A Buddhist perspective on the Teachings of Jesus. In 1994 His Holiness The Dalai Lama was invited to lead World Community for Christian Meditation. The group meditated together and His Holiness was asked to comment on several Christian scriptural readings. The book is an open is a transcription of an open dialogue that took place sharing the ideas and interpretation of scriptural passages from different viewpoints. Different Christian denominations were present. Book: The Good Heart, A Busshist perspective on The Teachings of Jesus. Publisher: Wisdom Publications of Boston
A second book I would recommend is by a learned Buddhist monk, Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh. Publisher Riverhead Books NYC
Luke 17:21 (Whole Chapter)
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
This is a very key passage in the bible. The Jewish religous leaders of the day were acting as emissaries (i.e. go betweens) between the people and God. There were many rituals involving sacrifices offered by the priests for the benefit of the people.
This passage speaks of a personal relationship each person has with God. This was why the priests felt threatened by the teachings of Jesus.
In Buddhism too, there is a focus on personal wordship practices.
I agree with stagfrog... Mr. colon should do more research before attempting to do comparisons between religions. What His Holiness the Dalai Lama is saying is that one needs to keep things in perspecitive including relationships. Often relationships become obessions that are not healthy. In actuality, there is no contradtion between what the Dalai Lama says and Christianity (see Thomas of Doubt quotes). What both religions are saying is that one's commitment to the following of reelious precepts and wordship should come first.
Secondly, the comments about "becoming indifferent to the world" were taken out of context. In Buddhism, there is a strong focus on Compassion and Kindness to all sentient beings (human and non-human). This is analgous to the Christian teaching of Love all others as you love yourself.
In the end, a mark of a great religion is how much it inspires others to live their life in a loving and compassionate way. People may argue about theological points all they want but their behavior towards others speaks volumes about their true nature.
1cor5: 12What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church?
do we now know something that paul didnt know?
stagfrog
you can take the man out of politics....................but you cant take the politics out of the man!!!!!!!
Are you saying that Mr. West is wrong in his description of God's expectations of marriage?
genesis 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
And of course the many passages where the Church is described as the Bride.
Who is Christopher West? He's not the Bible. Does Christopher West define what Christianity stands for, or does the Bible?
Here's what the Bible says:
1 Corinthians 7:1 I now deal with the subjects mentioned in your letter. It is well for a man to abstain altogether from marriage. (WEY)
1 Corinthians 7:9 If, however, they cannot maintain self-control, by all means let them marry; for marriage is better than the fever of passion. (WEY)
1 Corinthians 7:27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to get free. Are you free from the marriage bond? Do not seek for a wife. (WEY RSV)
1 Corinthians 7:38 So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn't give her in marriage does better. (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV)
Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)
Are there other passages that are specifically prescriptive with regard to marriage?
stagfrog, you might offer the correction rather than just complaining about the (alleged?) misrepresentation. There are at least a few people around here open to learning something.
Everything is posted here. We believe that all ideas may be expressed, although we will certainly use Scripture to prove wrong those ideas that are incorrect, as Mr. Colson did.
Biblical celibacy is good for the purpose of drawing nearer to God.
The Buddha is not a god. Hindu gods are false. Therefore, the Dalai Lama's opinions do not have Scriptural backing.
Hear, O Israel, the LORD your GOD, the LORD is one!
I hope you post this, but you probably won't: Chuck's view or interpretation of Buddhism is first off, wrong! The statement "becoming indifferent to the world, which is the source of evil" is not even close to what Buddhists believe. It's amazing how Chuck can take a positive from the Dali Lama and begin making comparasions betweeen the two religions. I agree, they are different, but it's not right or even fair to compare two and completely mis-represent one of them. Mr. Colon should do a little more research and reading about Buddhism before making such glib, uneducated remarks.