Listening to Your Mother
by Kathy Brown on February 22nd, 2010 | 0 comments
The apology of Tiger Woods to his family and fans gives us insight into a mysterious religion. Part of his treatment for sexual addiction is returning to his mother’s Buddhist teaching and arriving at a “spiritual balance”. Who could be against minding your mother?
The origin of Buddhism is Hinduism. Both are difficult to assess because they have morphed over the years. Simply put, neither depend on the worship of one True God. The existence of God “tends not to edification” and is in no way significantly acknowledged. The doctrines of Buddhism may be summed up in Four Nobel Truths: (1)life is basically suffering or dissatisfaction (2)the origin of that suffering lies in craving or grasping (3)the cessation of suffering is possible through ending the craving (4)the way to cease craving and so attain escape from continual rebirth (reincarnation) is by following Buddhism. An additional requirement for compassion has been added, due to the obvious selfishness inherent in the original principles. A Buddhist is on a quest, attempting to arrive at “nirvana.” This is a level of experience where denial of urges and avoidance of self-gratification are accomplished. Personal ignorance and inability to obtain the state of peace is like the Christian notion of sin. The Five Precepts, rather than the Ten Commandments, include prohibition of killing, stealing, illicit sexual relationships, wrong speech, drugs or alcohol. Meditation, rather than prayer, is the primary means by which spiritual advancement is made. There is a notion of a type of salvation that every worshipper receives, after a life (or lives) in search of the harmonious equilibrium. Although Buddha may be sighted as the Messiah-type for followers, he did not claim divinity. He considered himself an example for the faith.
The most interesting observation, perhaps, is that this religion has the components inherent in Biblical explanations. As with every Truth imposter, however, it relies on works. “Getting clean” depends on one’s own effort. There is no notion that a Creator loves those He made and has provided, Himself, the means to return to a right relationship with Him. There is no cross testifying that justice and mercy have been reconciled in the final accounting of life’s trials. There is no blood-splattered reminder that the penalty for personal transgressions is costly. Forgiveness is an autonomous concept detached from relationships or restorative fellowship.
Although self-discipline is Tiger’s biggest asset, and he has shown himself to be an extraordinary achiever, the real consequence of illicit behavior is guilt and shame, as he admitted. No matter how hard he thinks or strives, the elements of redemption are not within his worldview. This is all bad news for Tiger Woods, if he listens to his mother.
From Hebrews 9:22
" . . . and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
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