Expert: Bodhicitta - 11/23/2006

Question
I have a few friends who were Theravada Buddhists before this. And one day, all of them converted to Christianity and invited me to convert too. I was very shocked and asked why. They said that :

1. Buddhism does not heal a fall of a man. Its a all-depends-on-you-and-if-you-fail-you're-done-for.

2. Buddhism does not provide devotees with great trust. Buddhism does not provide a caring sage that vows to answer or heals broken or lost souls that can be done through prayers. Unlike Christianity that welcomes prayers to God with open arms, Buddhism does not. Buddhism encourages on personal.

3. Buddhism make them feel like they are not being cared or watched. While other religions promised the care of a caring divine towards its devotees ( For example Christ promises answred prayers), Buddhism does not.

I'm also stunned by these claims but after a while of deep thinking, i realised that this was somehow true, but unacceptable at the same time. Can you please explain to me and guide me how to face these problems? Thanks for your effort.

Metta.

Answer
Dear Ler
If your friends do not find a heart connection with Buddhism and follow other paths then what can we do? They should follow their heart we should follow our own. At the end of the day Buddhism is a search for truth and a search in the heart. Any intellectual examination of checklists of good and bad points of religion is not going to help much is it?

To understand Buddhism you must feel a heart connectionand then you must meditate. It is very simple.

Metta
Bodhicitta