How would you explain to a Christian who is deeply troubled that you have become a Buddhist? That Christianity is the Truth, the Only Way, Jesus Christ died to save us (whereas Shakyamuni Buddha did not) therefore belief in Salvation comes before everything else
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The snapshot, off-hand and immediate response to the question of how to explain to someone who is "deeply troubled that you have become a Buddhist", is to deal with them the same way you would with someone who was deeply troubled by any other matter. But, while true, that answer is not very satisfying or complete.
This question, in many variations, is one which we often hear. Once, when I was asked a similar question from a Buddhist, I responded with another question, "Do you really want to know, or are you only wanting me to help you, by providing you with some hard-hitting ammunition and cutting phrases and questions, so that you can win the argument?" When asked a similar question by a non-Buddhist, I responded, "Do you really want to talk about the Truth, or are you only recruiting new members for your organization?" In these situations, each of us has to closely examine his own motives, and use all the wisdom and compassion he can muster, in dealing with them.
Too often such discussions can quickly degenerate into a debate, which neither side can actually win, and which, in the end, causes more harm than good. But, then again, so can ignoring the issue, so, once again, we must find the fine line of the middle path. And, in any case, with friends and family, it is often impossible to avoid discussion, that can easily turn confrontational.
Great thinkers, great theologians, and great debaters have taken this as their subject for many centuries. It would seem to me that, since the same questions are still being asked, that all those great thinkers and great debaters have not really accomplished all that much, and that we are not apt to add to it, with our own small efforts. Debate is clearly not the way to proceed. One observation, though, which may help to keep things in perspective, is that, while firmly believing that "Christianity is the Truth, the only way.", etc., many Christians firmly also believe that only their particular sect or denomination within Christianity is the Truth and the only way. For example, Catholics, Baptists, Church of Christ, Mormons, Methodists and Pentecostals are all Christian, yet often one group completely disregards the others as being false faiths, which, in their eyes, are no better than Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Taoism or other religions...even pagan religions, or no faith at all. It is an unfortunate human characteristic to tend to group all of humanity into just two groups, "us" and "not-us".
This, however, is not strictly a trait of Christianity. It is seen, to some degree in all religions, even within Buddhism, sad to say.
Generally, though, Buddhists have more acceptance and tolerance of differences within or without. There have been many wars waged, and millions have died, based on differences of belief, both with one religion going against another religion, and even between one sect of the same religion going against another. But there has never been a Buddhist war. Compare the Crusades, which began when the Holy Land was conquered and occupied by non-believers, or the so-called "holy wars" of Islam, with the present similar situation in Tibet, and compare the responses.
A wise saying is, "For those inclined to look for differences, they will find differences. For those who are inclined to look for similarity, they will find similarity." One good approach is to look for similarities.
Once, when approached by a person of another faith, who wanted to debate the points of our religions, I told him, "I have a better idea. Sit down and let's talk about your life and my life, about your struggle and my struggle, my thoughts and feelings and your thoughts and feelings. If either of us has a true religion, it will show itself between the lines of this conversation." He responded, "I think it just did!"
Some faiths encourage, or even require the follower to try to convince or 'convert' others. Buddhism has no such requirement. This has a logical basis, one which can even be supported with passages from the Bible, such as the ones which deal with not judging others, or the ones which warn against trying to remove the speck from someone else's eye, while a log is in one's own eye. Self-correction, and self-responsibility are common bonds, though. Both of these passages, by the way, are also in Buddhist scriptures. There are so many similar teachings that, if a person of another faith is not careful, he will find himself attacking his own position and beliefs. And, unless we are also careful, we can end up in the same situation as well.
There is only one way of proving the genuineness of the Buddhadharma. That lies in who and how we are, who and how we are becoming, and how we live, not merely in what we say that we believe, or what we might wish to be seen by others as believing. When Buddha Shakyamuni was asked from where he had gotten his authority to teach, he kept silent, and merely pointed to the earth. One should cultivate to the point where one is able to keep silent, and just point to the earth or anything upon it, and there will be the Dharma.
One does not need to be concerned with having the right amount of learned knowledge, nor skill in debate, nor clever tactics for convincing others. One has to only be concerned with the cultivation of a good heart and a clear mind. Then, so long as one speaks honestly, and from the heart, he will not go wrong. Again, from the words of the Bible, no need to plan ahead of time what you are going to say. Words spring from the wellspring of a full heart. Whether you call that wellspring "Bodhicitta" or "Holy Spirit", seems, at least, secondary.
..................................................................................
The snapshot, off-hand and immediate response to the question of how to explain to someone who is "deeply troubled that you have become a Buddhist", is to deal with them the same way you would with someone who was deeply troubled by any other matter. But, while true, that answer is not very satisfying or complete.
This question, in many variations, is one which we often hear. Once, when I was asked a similar question from a Buddhist, I responded with another question, "Do you really want to know, or are you only wanting me to help you, by providing you with some hard-hitting ammunition and cutting phrases and questions, so that you can win the argument?" When asked a similar question by a non-Buddhist, I responded, "Do you really want to talk about the Truth, or are you only recruiting new members for your organization?" In these situations, each of us has to closely examine his own motives, and use all the wisdom and compassion he can muster, in dealing with them.
Too often such discussions can quickly degenerate into a debate, which neither side can actually win, and which, in the end, causes more harm than good. But, then again, so can ignoring the issue, so, once again, we must find the fine line of the middle path. And, in any case, with friends and family, it is often impossible to avoid discussion, that can easily turn confrontational.
Great thinkers, great theologians, and great debaters have taken this as their subject for many centuries. It would seem to me that, since the same questions are still being asked, that all those great thinkers and great debaters have not really accomplished all that much, and that we are not apt to add to it, with our own small efforts. Debate is clearly not the way to proceed. One observation, though, which may help to keep things in perspective, is that, while firmly believing that "Christianity is the Truth, the only way.", etc., many Christians firmly also believe that only their particular sect or denomination within Christianity is the Truth and the only way. For example, Catholics, Baptists, Church of Christ, Mormons, Methodists and Pentecostals are all Christian, yet often one group completely disregards the others as being false faiths, which, in their eyes, are no better than Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Taoism or other religions...even pagan religions, or no faith at all. It is an unfortunate human characteristic to tend to group all of humanity into just two groups, "us" and "not-us".
This, however, is not strictly a trait of Christianity. It is seen, to some degree in all religions, even within Buddhism, sad to say.
Generally, though, Buddhists have more acceptance and tolerance of differences within or without. There have been many wars waged, and millions have died, based on differences of belief, both with one religion going against another religion, and even between one sect of the same religion going against another. But there has never been a Buddhist war. Compare the Crusades, which began when the Holy Land was conquered and occupied by non-believers, or the so-called "holy wars" of Islam, with the present similar situation in Tibet, and compare the responses.
A wise saying is, "For those inclined to look for differences, they will find differences. For those who are inclined to look for similarity, they will find similarity." One good approach is to look for similarities.
Once, when approached by a person of another faith, who wanted to debate the points of our religions, I told him, "I have a better idea. Sit down and let's talk about your life and my life, about your struggle and my struggle, my thoughts and feelings and your thoughts and feelings. If either of us has a true religion, it will show itself between the lines of this conversation." He responded, "I think it just did!"
Some faiths encourage, or even require the follower to try to convince or 'convert' others. Buddhism has no such requirement. This has a logical basis, one which can even be supported with passages from the Bible, such as the ones which deal with not judging others, or the ones which warn against trying to remove the speck from someone else's eye, while a log is in one's own eye. Self-correction, and self-responsibility are common bonds, though. Both of these passages, by the way, are also in Buddhist scriptures. There are so many similar teachings that, if a person of another faith is not careful, he will find himself attacking his own position and beliefs. And, unless we are also careful, we can end up in the same situation as well.
There is only one way of proving the genuineness of the Buddhadharma. That lies in who and how we are, who and how we are becoming, and how we live, not merely in what we say that we believe, or what we might wish to be seen by others as believing. When Buddha Shakyamuni was asked from where he had gotten his authority to teach, he kept silent, and merely pointed to the earth. One should cultivate to the point where one is able to keep silent, and just point to the earth or anything upon it, and there will be the Dharma.
One does not need to be concerned with having the right amount of learned knowledge, nor skill in debate, nor clever tactics for convincing others. One has to only be concerned with the cultivation of a good heart and a clear mind. Then, so long as one speaks honestly, and from the heart, he will not go wrong. Again, from the words of the Bible, no need to plan ahead of time what you are going to say. Words spring from the wellspring of a full heart. Whether you call that wellspring "Bodhicitta" or "Holy Spirit", seems, at least, secondary.