In Reply to: actually posted by porceleindoll on March 15, 2003 at 22:34:24:
pd, i am not an expert on hinduism or buddhism, but i think you will find their concept of "maya" is indeed teaching that this current physical reality is illusion. buddhism does teach detachment as the path to nirvana...ultimately the dissolution of the self into "the great deathless lake of nirvana." hinduism's regard for the individual is also veiwing it as a negative, ultimately to be worked out of...the "not self" being swallowed up into brahman, atman, the oversoul or whatever. christianity's veiw is quite different. we are each "called by name", and destined to spend eternity in relationship w/ him. but our consciousness is made in his image, and of great value, not something to be lost. in mt. the startling statement "as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren you have done it unto me" puts our actions in this world in a very different perspective.
the thought that all religions are different routes up the same mountain, as you put it is quite confusing. are osama binladen, and Jesus, and guru maharaji all teaching towards the same goal?? this makes no sense at all to me. sounds comforting on the surface, but if one looks at its implications, it seems highly illogical. "there are many spirits gone out into the world.."
your thoughts?