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I have been thinking of the difference between Jesus and the Buddha and of their respective effect. It seems to me that Jesus upheld an uncompromising stand by not denying the absolute truth to anyone, while the Buddha administered his teachings according to the listeners' capacity. Their respective lives ended completely different, I believe due to this fact. By not compromising the Absolute Truth Jesus was a threat that could not be passed over by the authority. He had to be halted. While the Buddha had kings among his devotees and was very much respected throughout society. The Buddha apparently wasn't a big threat to the established order. This is so interesting. It led me to think about what you said about your vision. It is still not yet happening beside your own heart and mind. I believe if that will happen and when that happen it suddenly will be very clear to the world what you/we are all about, and then, for the first time really, become a real threat to society. It seems to me that when liberation really takes off, when we abandon our ego clinging, then the effect will be actually felt and seen in the world and it will be opposed by the world. So the struggle that was mainly a inner matter before (ones ego opposing ones own liberation) will now become a very real battle against society that now feel threatened by your uncompromising stand.
Why give sedatives to children? We can understand why, as the Buddha described in the aphorism of the burning house in the Lotus Sutra, but if, like Jesus, we hold out no “alternative lesser teachings” the result will be radically different. When the Buddha gave each person that came to him appropriate teachings suited for that particular person, Jesus gave the highest teaching to all that came to him, not compromising his passion for anyone. I believe such a person as Jesus will not be tolerated in society because he stands in opposition to all that society wants to keep intact. He will be a threat, a deadly threat that must be opposed. While if a teacher give teachings that suit each and every one depending on their understanding they will be celebrated and praised by all society, mainly because they do not pose a threat. That's why I believe the Buddha lived long and Jesus was put to the cross. I believe if anyone speaks the truths unadorned they will be hated and actively opposed, and I believe the result is vastly different from compromising the truth. So, why give sedatives? Isn't that just fitting in?
All mysteries are revealed. The truths of the Buddha, the mysteries of Christ, the symbols of Hinduism, the submission to Allah prescribed by Islam, the sayings of saints, the koans, the scriptures, the unfolding of God's plan in the Bible, the Holy Mother, and many, many more aphorisms.
With ease of mind, Gautama sat down at the root of the tree with the intention of not moving till he gained final understanding or die trying. When the morning star rose he gained final liberation: “All that is subject to arising is subject to cessation.”
Sitting by the Ganga I saw that I had done what needed to be done in life. Now I could die without regrets. Nothing more needed to be done. Fully accomplished.
There was no more a future for me. I was alive but no plans ahead. Life laid open, vast and like a no-mans-land stretching itself out in front of me.
“…And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
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