This week we conclude our series on World Religions and we are looking at Buddhism. Buddhism has almost become a fashion statement in the western world; so many celebrities have come out publically to say that they have embraced or are sympathetic to the teachings or the Buddha. Buddhism predates Christianity by about 500 years and offers its followers a pathway to life that many in the West find attractive. When the Dalai Lama come to Australia (he’s been 10 times) he pulls huge crowds. Why is this?
In many senses the Buddhist religion is a fairly closed shop to many in the west. What is at the very core of Buddhism is not well known by the average person. However parts of Buddhist teaching has seeped into our vocabulary. Words like “karma” and “mindfulness” are becoming more and more common in day to day language. At the recent Mind, Body and Spirit festival at Olympic Park, you could visit the Mindful Meditation Centre and where you were told that by doing so you could increase your positive thinking and feelings of joy. Buddhism has done a superb job in marketing itself to the western mindset. Today many now see the Christian religion as simply an institution that has been compromised by scandal and therefore people have abandoned the faith in droves, it appears that Buddhism has how rushed in and filled up the void. This is because Buddhism offers the very thing that the Christian faith offers. Peace, calm, tranquillity, happiness joy etc.
Yet is there more to this than meets the eye? If so we will attempt to unpack some of these things this Sunday.
Pastor Warren Griffin