T
Tariki
Guest
Many Christians seem to see "Christ" as the only way to salvation.
Within the Buddhist faith is a word "apaya", normally translated as "skillful means". This word is derived in part from a famous text called the Lotus Sutra where the Buddhist teachings - the Dharma - are likened to falling rain. The rain falls undiscriminately on all............and each will respond according to their nature. A daffodill will never become an oak tree! Or, as the Zen master once said..........."see that bamboo, how long it is........see that bamboo, how short it is........that is their nature."
I think perhaps St Paul came close with his "I become all things to all men" words.
"Christ" can just be a word. Christ/Jesus may be the "only" way, yet this can be interpreted narrowly or widely.
I remember long ago watching a TV show where two eminent Christian theologians were debating with Lionel Blue, the rabbi. The Chairperson of the debate asked the theologians to say just what Christ meant to them, to which one replied: "I would say that knowledge of Christ, belief in Christ, allegiance to Christ, makes a person a son of God in a totally unique sense. And only such belief can make one such a son of God." I remember the words of Lionel Blue, spoken in reply with quiet strength and determination..........."Do you mean to imply by this that the Jewish people in the death camps of Auschwitz and Treblinka who shared their last slice of bread with each other were not God's children in the fullest possible sense?" The theologian did not stand his ground..........and began to speak of the parable of the wedding feast where the original guests failed to turn up and others were then gathered from further afield to join the party! I remember Lionel Blue speaking again, perhaps with a little less grace and humour (!) ........."oh no no no............we Jews, Buddhists, Hindus......we want to come into heaven through the front door, not be sneaked in through the back as some sort of second thought when others have failed to arrive......"
Anyway, just how broad is the "One way" ?
Within the Buddhist faith is a word "apaya", normally translated as "skillful means". This word is derived in part from a famous text called the Lotus Sutra where the Buddhist teachings - the Dharma - are likened to falling rain. The rain falls undiscriminately on all............and each will respond according to their nature. A daffodill will never become an oak tree! Or, as the Zen master once said..........."see that bamboo, how long it is........see that bamboo, how short it is........that is their nature."
I think perhaps St Paul came close with his "I become all things to all men" words.
"Christ" can just be a word. Christ/Jesus may be the "only" way, yet this can be interpreted narrowly or widely.
I remember long ago watching a TV show where two eminent Christian theologians were debating with Lionel Blue, the rabbi. The Chairperson of the debate asked the theologians to say just what Christ meant to them, to which one replied: "I would say that knowledge of Christ, belief in Christ, allegiance to Christ, makes a person a son of God in a totally unique sense. And only such belief can make one such a son of God." I remember the words of Lionel Blue, spoken in reply with quiet strength and determination..........."Do you mean to imply by this that the Jewish people in the death camps of Auschwitz and Treblinka who shared their last slice of bread with each other were not God's children in the fullest possible sense?" The theologian did not stand his ground..........and began to speak of the parable of the wedding feast where the original guests failed to turn up and others were then gathered from further afield to join the party! I remember Lionel Blue speaking again, perhaps with a little less grace and humour (!) ........."oh no no no............we Jews, Buddhists, Hindus......we want to come into heaven through the front door, not be sneaked in through the back as some sort of second thought when others have failed to arrive......"
Anyway, just how broad is the "One way" ?
