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Under the Noahide laws, it is possible to assume that Hinduism and Buddhism are sufficiently monotheistic in principle for moral Hindus and Buddhist to enter the gentile’s gate into heaven. 諾亞律可視佛教為一神教只要它滿足倫理原則，以作為外邦進入天堂的大門。
Elijah Interfaith, Sharing Wisdom Fostering Peace #MakeFriends
Sharing Wisdom: Wisdom of Rabbi Adin Steinsalz
Peace without Conciliation: The Irrelevance of "Toleration" in Judaism
From: Common Knowledge
Volume 11, Issue 1, Winter 2005
pp. 41-47 |
In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:
The Irrelevance of "Toleration" in Judaism
By the standards of Jewish law as applied to Jews, Hinduism (and Buddhism) do not count as monotheistic traditions. 按照給猶太人的猶太律法，佛教不算一神教。However, the essential point of the Noahide laws is that the standards of Jewish law do not apply to non-Jews. 但是諾亞律的精華在於猶太法不適用外邦。Radically pure monotheism is expected by Judaism only from Jews. 嚴格一神僅限於猶太。The Noahide laws do not preclude gentile religions from developing softer, more complex, and compromised forms of monotheism. 諾亞律不排除外教發展更加溫和微妙妥協的一神觀。Under the Noahide laws, it is possible to assume that Hinduism and Buddhism are sufficiently monotheistic in principle for moral Hindus and Buddhist to enter the gentile’s gate into heaven. Jewish law regards the compromises made or tolerated by the world’s major religions as ways of rendering essentially monotheistic theologies easier in practice for large populations of adherents. The fierceness of Islamic opposition to such compromises has no counterpart in Judaism. In Islam, it is seriously blasphemous for anyone of whatever faith to combine belief in the one God with popular ideas about other heavenly powers or with subtle theological doctrines such as the Trinity. Islam cannot tolerate such compromises because the truth that they violate is applicable universally and not simply to Muslins. The problem is that Islam is radically monotheistic (like Judaism) yet is also (unlike Judaism, which is the religion of one people) universalistic as well.
Is Buddhism Kosher?
Is Buddhism Kosher?佛教是潔淨的嗎？
Question: I would be interested in your view regarding Buddhism. For example, do you believe that all Buddhists are nothing more than idol worshippers and that they must be converted to follow the Seven Noahide Laws, and/or do you feel that that there is something of value in Buddhist methods for spiritual cultivation?
Answer By Tzvi Freeman
You will find throughout our people's history a process by which some elements of alien cultures are adopted while others are rejected. Not a very formalized process — the rules are rather vague and tenuous — but nevertheless successful in avoiding the syncretism that has dissolved other cultures while imbibing all that is good from the world about us. You will find distinct traces of ancient Egypt, Babylonia, Athens, Rome, Persia, Cordoba, Istanbul, Florence and every other civilization in which Jews have lived. But you'll only find those aspects which are in confluence with the body and soul of Torah. The rest we spat up like ipecac.
Interestingly, as much as we took from those alien cultures, they were even more affected than we were.
Today, this refinement process is extending to Buddhism. Many Jews began their spiritual trek with the path of Buddha and continued by discovering their own heritage in Torah. A twofold process occurs: Buddhism has evolved more in the past thirty years than in all its history before, to the point that what is presented today in America as Buddhism is already more Jewish than it is Buddhist. And, secondly, when those practicing "Jubus" return to Jewish practice, they reject those aspects that are anathematic to Torah, while making good use of those aspects that are complimentary.
Many of the Buddhist practices and world-concepts are in direct opposition to the Torah concept of singular Divine providence. When it comes to Tibetan rites, for example, Shamanism abounds. Even if the intellectual Buddhist conceives of these notions in a highly abstract fashion, they are still the notions of idolatry against which our father Abraham struggled. For a Jew to burn incense in front of a statue is horrifying, no matter what he will say are his inner intents. Similarly, the proclamation, "In Buddha I find refuge" is a catastrophe for the Jewish soul.
On the other hand, the mental rigor and personal discipline of these practices have proven of great benefit to many in their praying and meditation (both of which are organic to Judaism). Furthermore, it is likely that the essential teachings of the original teacher who is now called Buddha contain much of the ancient wisdom that was lost. Buddha lived at the time of the Babylonian Exile, as did Lao Tse (according to some historians) and Pythagoras. At that time, the Jews were deliberately transported to the frontiers of the Persian Empire. Along with them, they took their Torah knowledge and undoubtedly spread it to others. Perhaps we are now only sifting Solomon's lost jewels out of the mud in which they have been buried for two and a half millennia. On this, read The Palace & the Pigeons.
As for those who were born into Buddhist culture, I believe that they will find a particular path within the framework of the Noahide guidelines that leads them to the truth within their own heritage. In fact, I see at least one group in Japan quite close to this already.
I hope this helps. Please write if you feel there is something I have missed out.
What is Mantra?
Gen 25:6 but to the sons of Abraham’s concubines, Abraham gave gifts. He sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, to the east country.
gifts:
H4979
מתּנה
mattânâh
mat-taw-naw'
Feminine of H4976; a present; specifically (in a good sense) a sacrificial offering, (in a bad sense) a bribe: - gift.
Elijah Interfaith, Sharing Wisdom Fostering Peace #MakeFriends
Sharing Wisdom: Wisdom of Rabbi Adin Steinsalz
Peace without Conciliation: The Irrelevance of "Toleration" in Judaism
From: Common Knowledge
Volume 11, Issue 1, Winter 2005
pp. 41-47 |
In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:
The Irrelevance of "Toleration" in Judaism
By the standards of Jewish law as applied to Jews, Hinduism (and Buddhism) do not count as monotheistic traditions. 按照給猶太人的猶太律法，佛教不算一神教。However, the essential point of the Noahide laws is that the standards of Jewish law do not apply to non-Jews. 但是諾亞律的精華在於猶太法不適用外邦。Radically pure monotheism is expected by Judaism only from Jews. 嚴格一神僅限於猶太。The Noahide laws do not preclude gentile religions from developing softer, more complex, and compromised forms of monotheism. 諾亞律不排除外教發展更加溫和微妙妥協的一神觀。Under the Noahide laws, it is possible to assume that Hinduism and Buddhism are sufficiently monotheistic in principle for moral Hindus and Buddhist to enter the gentile’s gate into heaven. Jewish law regards the compromises made or tolerated by the world’s major religions as ways of rendering essentially monotheistic theologies easier in practice for large populations of adherents. The fierceness of Islamic opposition to such compromises has no counterpart in Judaism. In Islam, it is seriously blasphemous for anyone of whatever faith to combine belief in the one God with popular ideas about other heavenly powers or with subtle theological doctrines such as the Trinity. Islam cannot tolerate such compromises because the truth that they violate is applicable universally and not simply to Muslins. The problem is that Islam is radically monotheistic (like Judaism) yet is also (unlike Judaism, which is the religion of one people) universalistic as well.
Is Buddhism Kosher?
Is Buddhism Kosher?佛教是潔淨的嗎？
Question: I would be interested in your view regarding Buddhism. For example, do you believe that all Buddhists are nothing more than idol worshippers and that they must be converted to follow the Seven Noahide Laws, and/or do you feel that that there is something of value in Buddhist methods for spiritual cultivation?
Answer By Tzvi Freeman
You will find throughout our people's history a process by which some elements of alien cultures are adopted while others are rejected. Not a very formalized process — the rules are rather vague and tenuous — but nevertheless successful in avoiding the syncretism that has dissolved other cultures while imbibing all that is good from the world about us. You will find distinct traces of ancient Egypt, Babylonia, Athens, Rome, Persia, Cordoba, Istanbul, Florence and every other civilization in which Jews have lived. But you'll only find those aspects which are in confluence with the body and soul of Torah. The rest we spat up like ipecac.
Interestingly, as much as we took from those alien cultures, they were even more affected than we were.
Today, this refinement process is extending to Buddhism. Many Jews began their spiritual trek with the path of Buddha and continued by discovering their own heritage in Torah. A twofold process occurs: Buddhism has evolved more in the past thirty years than in all its history before, to the point that what is presented today in America as Buddhism is already more Jewish than it is Buddhist. And, secondly, when those practicing "Jubus" return to Jewish practice, they reject those aspects that are anathematic to Torah, while making good use of those aspects that are complimentary.
Many of the Buddhist practices and world-concepts are in direct opposition to the Torah concept of singular Divine providence. When it comes to Tibetan rites, for example, Shamanism abounds. Even if the intellectual Buddhist conceives of these notions in a highly abstract fashion, they are still the notions of idolatry against which our father Abraham struggled. For a Jew to burn incense in front of a statue is horrifying, no matter what he will say are his inner intents. Similarly, the proclamation, "In Buddha I find refuge" is a catastrophe for the Jewish soul.
On the other hand, the mental rigor and personal discipline of these practices have proven of great benefit to many in their praying and meditation (both of which are organic to Judaism). Furthermore, it is likely that the essential teachings of the original teacher who is now called Buddha contain much of the ancient wisdom that was lost. Buddha lived at the time of the Babylonian Exile, as did Lao Tse (according to some historians) and Pythagoras. At that time, the Jews were deliberately transported to the frontiers of the Persian Empire. Along with them, they took their Torah knowledge and undoubtedly spread it to others. Perhaps we are now only sifting Solomon's lost jewels out of the mud in which they have been buried for two and a half millennia. On this, read The Palace & the Pigeons.
As for those who were born into Buddhist culture, I believe that they will find a particular path within the framework of the Noahide guidelines that leads them to the truth within their own heritage. In fact, I see at least one group in Japan quite close to this already.
I hope this helps. Please write if you feel there is something I have missed out.
What is Mantra?
Gen 25:6 but to the sons of Abraham’s concubines, Abraham gave gifts. He sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, to the east country.
gifts:
H4979
מתּנה
mattânâh
mat-taw-naw'
Feminine of H4976; a present; specifically (in a good sense) a sacrificial offering, (in a bad sense) a bribe: - gift.
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