jesus is different

I’ve been doing a good bit of research into the religious panorama of humanity recently, and have been struck by one recurring idea especially; namely, the multi-faceted uniqueness of Jesus the Messiah, and the religion of his followers. Let me briefly elaborate some of the points I have come across when examining the Eastern Monistic/Pantheistic belief systems:

The first difference is immediate and obvious. I’ve already stated it—difference. Jesus teaches truth and lies, good and evil, and he teaches them in juxtaposition, judging and differentiating between opposing ideals, actions, forces. The Tao, the Middle Way, Dharma, all are founded upon undifferentiation. Primarily, a Buddhist, Hindu or Taoist seeks “salvation” through recognizing the Oneness, the undifferentiated source of all being, which is truly non-being. Jesus points his followers to a Source that is other than the universe and all its manifestations, a Source that is a personality differentiated from other personalities, yet not diminished (a point of importance for another time), a Source that creates, upholds, and judges differences. The Father is the One who is Three, and has created the innumerable things that are truly unique and have existence in and of themselves, not merely different faces of the One Reality. Many of the following differences flow from this one; the truth that difference is real.

In a universe where evil is real and evokes judgment, Jesus brings a message of forgiveness. In fact, according to the accounts of his teachings from his followers, he enacted forgiveness for humanity. This is a profound difference when looking to the East. In a universe of karma there is no forgiveness. All “evil” is repayed through karma in the ridiculous (as in, hopeless) cycle of samsara (death and re-birth). In the karmic universe forgiveness is impossible because there is no one who can forgive. The Oneness is not wronged by “sin”, and interpersonal offenses are inconsequential—karma will repeat no matter the response of the offended. And, the offended is better off forgetting than forgiving, as forgiving requires judgment, which is differentiation and sets one back in the quest for union with the non-being of nirvana. Jesus, however, teaches that “sin” offends and grieves the One Person. This is bad news from the perspective of judgment, which is more piquant than karma. This is the best news of all from the perspective of forgiveness. If a person, even the Ultimate Person, is offended, forgiveness is available. It is the best news because not only is forgiveness a real possibility, but a real offer through the mystery of Atonement.

Another very interesting dynamic of Jesus’ uniqueness is the development of real democracy and free-market. Of course, some of his teachings lend themselves quite well to socialism and like-minded philosophies, but the point here is the development of the individual’s value which created the seedbed for democratic trees. In the teachings of Jesus, each individual is highly valuable, a son or daughter of the Ultimate Person. This Fatherhood is not simply by nature of Creator/creation, but an intimate affection, and real relationship. For Jesus, the rich, the poor, the disfigured and handicapped, alongside the beautiful and strong are of infinite worth, deserving of supreme love. The Hindu world-view fosters the caste system, where one’s position is determined by karma and unchangeable—in fact, more bad karma is incurred through reaching for a better life. Buddha taught us to forsake desire as the cause of suffering. No people without strong, even passionate desire would ever develop a democracy or a free-market. This is a fairly simple treatment of this idea, but I will leave it at that. Of course, not all that comes with democracy or free-market is perfect, but that is another discussion altogether.

Let this be the final point for the time being. Jesus encouraged great desire. Buddha, Lao-Tze, and the Hindu Saddhus preach that desire is the greatest, first, even only real evil. This plays out in another way. A Monist believes he is everything, he is ultimate being, his destiny is to be reunited in non-being with Ultimate Reality. He is encourage to do nothing. In all his omni-existance, he is to live without desire. Desire is the source of all action. Yes, he is taught to practice compassion, but that, if he follows it, will lead him to desire. Every moving of the human innards is desire, a wish for change, a longing for immortality, the hope for the eternal moment of love requited… The Monist is great in his all-being, but does nothing. The Christian, however, is little. She is full of sin and desperate for salvation—desperate because she cannot attain it for herself. She is smaller than Jesus and his Father. She is smaller than angels, she is smaller than the world. Yet, she is to do, and will do great things. She will ardently pursue a thing and attain it. She will be moved with compassion and tear down the Berlin Wall, end widow burning in India, eradicate slavery from the globe. She will do this in the throws of desire. Yes, she will suffer, but she will relieve the suffering of others in so doing. This is the message of Jesus: “Desire passionately and cast yourself at the mercy of a forgiving God. You will be forgiven all and loved dearly. You will live on and so will your deeds of desire, the joy you wreaked on the world!”

I end for now. At another time, I may pick this up and go further. Hopefully, I will return to cast Jesus’ differences with the other monotheistic (and polytheistic, for they nearly all believe in one supreme deity) religions.

Rock on!
Desire in an open universe.