Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
This is a poor attempt to compare Buddhism and Christianity (those denominations that believe in original sin). Christians who do not believe in original sin, if you have scripture that shows your view, please post. It's in comparative religion because I want to see all three sides. Mainly, to understand the nature of original sin in the heart in Christianity (which I saw differently when I practiced) and the nature of the defiled mind in Buddhism which is not to be confused as original sin.
As my understanding:
Mainstream Christianity
Original sin is that we have a sinful nature and this creates a temptation for us to sin
How I understood it when practicing was we didn't have original sin; however, because we do sin, we are always in a state and cycle of repentance, pertinence, communion, and resurrection.
Buddhism
My understanding of the Defiled Mind is that the mind, because of external and internal means, is filled with attachments. Like original sin, it does take a cycle but unlike Christianity, ending the cycle of rebirth and practices to end rebirth to be at the understanding of the nature of life without external means to do so.
So.
My question:
Is Christianity similar (not the same-similar) to Buddhism in the temptation to sin?
Regardless the history, what, when, and where. If so, how is it similar? If not, how is it dissimilar?
One has to do with the heart and the other with the mind. I get that.
One has to do with sacrificing oneself and the other practice. I get that.
They both seem to say "we (our heart or mind) have a internal problem. We need to fix it by X"
Why do we have to have a defiled heart or mind to change our lives for the better?
Christians talk about sacrifice. We need to sacrifice ourselves in Christ to live in his resurrection while Buddhism says life is suffering. While our goal isn't to live in suffering, Mahayana says that we are to be in suffer (not to) to help others out of it before we get out of suffering.
Yes, we suffer. Yes, we want to get rid of it.
Christians? Why do you see suffering as a part of yourself? Why do you need to suffer to live in Christ? Can you live in Christ without needing to suffer what he has suffered? Do you need to pay consequences for actions you have not made?
Buddhist? It's hard to ask ya'll questions since I believe everything The Buddha taught. So this is an exploration question. Why do we need to have a defiled mind or see life as suffering in order to relieve rebirth?
Guys, why is suffering such a big issue in both religions? I know we need to end it and so forth but to put ourselves in a spiritual condition (thinking that we have original sin) or (thinking that we have to train the mind) to where we are always needing to end what is not there to begin with if we perceive suffering and life differently?
Sorry, lots of questions. Hopefully the answers are of good insight with scripture, sutra, sutta, and resource quotes as well.
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