Evangelism to Easterners

• Brief Overview on Eastern • Sanathana Dharma Religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, • Sanathana – eternal Jainism, and Sikhism) • Dharma (Dhri) – which binds/upholds

• Major Obstacles • Monotheistic, Atheistic, Polytheistic, and Pantheistic belief systems. • Witnessing to Easterners

Hinduism Hinduism

Scriptures • Yajur Veda • Brahmanas: Satapatha, Taittiriya • Shruti (‘heard’) – by rishis • Vedas Samhitas (hymns) • Aranyakas: Brihadaranyaka Brahmanas (prose) • Upanishads: Isa, Brihadaranyaka, Katha, Svetasvathara Aranyakas (forest literature) Upanishads (philosophical lit.) • Atharvaveda Veda • Brahmanas: Gopatha • Smriti (‘remember’) – tradition • Aranyaka: Not known • Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharatha, Ramayana, Puranas etc. • Upanishad: Mundaka, Mandukya

• 4 Vedas- Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva Hinduism Hinduism

• Vedanta • The six schools of thought • Advaita (Adi Shankara (8th AD) – non- • Purva Mimamsa (‘investigation’) dualism) • Vedanta (Uttara Mimamsa) • “Man is identical with Brahman or the Eternal Soul” • Samkhya (‘enumeration’) th • Yoga (samkhya plus God) • Dvaita (Madhavacharya (13 AD) -

• Nyaya (system of logic) monotheism) • “Man is the servant of God” • Vaisheshika (‘particularity’/atomism) • Vishitadvaita (Ramanuja (12th AD)– attributive non-dualism) • “Man is a ray or spark of God”

Hinduism: Basic Tenets Hinduism: 4 Questions

• Soul is neither created nor destroyed (BG 2:20) • Cycle of creation and destruction of universe.(Srimad Bhagavadam • Origin – No absolute beginning – eternal. 3.11) • Law of Karma (Karma defined as duty one must do) • Meaning – Life is to pay off the karmic debts. The reason why • Reincarnation (BG 2:22) you are in this life is because of previous life. • Moksha • Vedic (ritualism) • Upanishadic (mysticism/knowledge) • Puranic & Gita (Bhakthi/devotion)

Hinduism: 4 Question Buddhism

• Problem of Evil • In Pantheistic view, although they claim there is evil, there exists no basis for evil and good because all is one reality. • Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, • Other views account the presence of evil to one’s bad karma. a prince (5th Century BC), also known as Shakyamuni

• Future – Moksha or rebirth • Buddha means ‘enlightened one’ • Vedic (ritualism) • Upanishadic (mysticism/knowledge) • Puranic & Gita (Bhakthi/devotion) Buddhism Buddhism

• Seeing sights of aging, sickness, and death, he • Finally he attains enlightenment. realized that everything is impermanent. • Gautama eventually died after eating spoiled food; • Eventually, he abandoned his wife and son in an attempt cremated at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. to attain enlightenment.

• Not satisfied by the methods of his self-mortification, he decided to meditate to attain enlightenment or die of starvation.

Buddhism: Basic Tenets Buddhism

• Major traditions of Buddhism: • 4 Noble Truths • Theravada (minority- spreading south) • Truth of Suffering (Dukka) • Buddha was a mere man. He is not to be worshipped. • No self (annatta) • Only monks can attain nirvana; lay people can only attain a better birth by serving the • Truth of the origin of Suffering (Desire/Attachment, Ignorance monks (misconception/delusion), Aversion(not accepting what is not • No higher deities (or boddisattvas) to help humans. desired)) • Scriptures used is Pali Canon (Tripitaka). • Mahayana (majority- spreading north) • Buddha is an eternal being. • Truth of the cessation of Suffering (Nirvana – means blown out) • No Self; but there is not extra-mental reality. • Lay people also can attain nirvana. • Truth of the 8 noble paths • There are boddhisattvas who can help with human spiritual problems (Avalokiteswara). • Scripture used in addition of Tripitaka, Lotus Sutra.

Buddhism Buddhism

• Major traditions of Buddhism: • 8 Noble Paths • Vajrayana (Tibetian) • Right view – understanding truth of existence. • Known for Dalai Lama (incarnations of Avalokiteshvara). • Right intention – willing to achieve nirvana • Boddisattvas are important in this tradition than enlightened Buddha. • Right speech – saying that which is required and only what is required • These have female counterparts. • Right action – doing what is required and only what is required • Monks have higher change to attain nirvana. • Right livelihood – being a monk • Reality is a projection of mind. • Scripture used is Tibetan book of the Dead. • Right effort – directing one’s energy properly • Right mindfulness – meditating properly • Scriptures: • Right concentration – maintaining continuous focus. • Tripitaka (Vinaya - Discipline, Sutra - Discourses, Abhidharma – Philosophy and also Dhammapada) (Taken from Winfried Corduan, Neighboring Faiths, p.321.) • Lotus Sutra Buddhism Buddhism: Basic Tenets

• 10 vows of a monk • Ahimsa (take no life) • No existence of soul (annatta) – There is no soul, there is no self. • Not to steal There is no ‘I’, ‘mine’, ‘we’. • Not to commit sexual immorality • Not to lie • Not to take intoxicating drinks • A human is a combination of five aggregates: body or form, • Not to eat in excess or after noon feelings, perceptions, mental formations or thought process, and • Not to attend any entertainment consciousness, which is the fundamental factor of the previous • Not to decorate oneself three. • Not to sleep in high/wide beds • Not to touch gold or silver • Karma defined as ‘voluntary actions that has consequences’. (Taken from Winfried Corduan, Neighboring Faiths, p.321.)

Buddhism: Basic Tenets Jainism

• Everything is changing constantly. • Founded by Nataputta Vardhamana known as Mahavira. • He was also from Kshatriya caste. • Nirvana is neither existence nor nonexistence. • He became an ascetic after the death of his parents. • Mahavira continued to be an ascetic till death unlike Buddha. • No creator God. There is no use or need of a God as first cause and • He wore no clothes, sought no shelter, wore a veil over his mouth, ate only that was thrown out. for attaining nirvana. • Eventually he attains enlightenment – he is called jina (conqueror). Jain means ‘one who follows the conqueror.’ • Mahavira’s followers tried to imitate his ways of asceticism.

Jainism: Basic Tenets Jainism: Basic Tenets

• Infinite number of souls. Uncreated Universe. • Ahimsa (non-violence) to all living creatures is central. • Karma (microscopic particle; consciousness interacts with karma. Karmic particles are attracted through actions in life.) • Concept of Tirthankaras – There were 24 other beings who Goal is to remove these particles to attain enlightenment. attained enlightenment. These act as deities to answer prayer.

• Non Absolutism – No one can know truth absolutely! Jainism Sikhism

• Two main traditions: • Founded by Guru Nanak; relatively young religion. • Digambaras (sky clad) • Extreme self-mortification similar to Mahavira’s • Wear no dress (women excluded) • Born 1469 to a Hindu father and Muslim mother. • Women cannot attain salvation due to their natural deficiencies.

• Shvetambaras (white clad) • Wear white robes with face masks. • He taught, “no Hindu and no Muslim.” Only one God. • Women can attain salvation

Sikhism: Basic Tenets Sikhism: Basic Tenets

• Only one God designated ‘Ekankar’ or Ek-Aum-Kar (one and one only) • Scripture used is Adi Granth or Guru Granth Sahib. Bible in Adi-Granth • “Practice within your heart the teachings of the Koran and the Bible;” (GGS, 1083) • Both concepts of a personal and impersonal Pantheistic god are expressed in their scriptures • “Do not say that the Vedas, the Bible and the Koran are false. Those who do • Soul emanates from God and goes back to God. not contemplate them are false.” (GGS, 1350)

• Teaches Karma (defined as what you sow) and Reincarnation • “The Vedas and the Bible do not know the mystery of God.” (GGS, 1021).

Sikhism: Basic Tenets Summary Religion Origin Meaning/Purpose Problem Future Of Life of Evil Hinduism Cycles of creation Eternal soul; to pay off - Due to past sins - Rebirth or Moksha and destruction karmic debt - Illusionary (merge with God) Salvation not possible without the grace of one true God and chanting Jainism Eternal Universe Eternal soul; to remove the Nature of life - Rebirth or Moksha (Determinism?) (No creation) karmic particles accrued • If it pleases God, one attains salvation. If it pleases God, then even stones can swim. If it pleases God, the body is preserved, even without the breath of Buddhism Cycles of creation No Soul; no meaning in life; - Nature of life - Rebirth or Nirvana life. If it pleases God, then one chants the Lord Glorious Praises. If it pleases and destruction eliminate all attachments/ - Illusionary desires God, then even sinners are saved. He Himself acts, and He Himself contemplates. He Himself is the Master of both worlds. He plays and He Sikhism Many cycles of Chant/Say the name of God Ultimately no evil - Rebirth or merge creation and all the time and virtuous with God enjoys; He is the Inner-knower, the Searcher of hearts. As He wills, He causes destruction living. actions to be done…Tell me what can a mere mortal do? Whatever pleases God Christianity God created To Know God (John 6:29; Phil Caused by Sin (Gen 3:17; - Heaven or Hell is what He causes us to do. (GGS, pg 277) universe 3:8) Rom 8:21, 5:12) Witnessing to Easterners Major Obstacles

• Be mindful • Eastern religions (esp. Hinduism and Buddhism) are • Atrocities committed by church/leaders diverse. • All religions are/teach the same things • Not many are well versed with their own scriptures. (Jain analogy of the blind men and elephant) or • Religion is built into family and society (Hard for a person to accept Christianity) • There are many roads to the same Ultimate Reality. • Many have no prior exposure to Christ (Minimize Jargons).

Major Obstacles

• Salvation by Karma/Works (point out its inefficacy) • Reliability of the Bible • Deity of Jesus Christ • Spiritual Warfare (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Witnessing to Easterners Closing Remarks

• Approach subtly • There are 3 views of life: • No bible thumping! • • No “Holier than thou” (eg. Use “we’re” sinners than “you’re” Annihilation or Universal Salvation sinners). • Reincarnation; many live • No “My aim is to convert you to ‘my’ religion” • One life, eternal future. • Love/relate genuinely • Probe sincerely (ask them about their beliefs) • If there is only one life and then eternal future; This IS a “serious problem”. • Proclaim boldly (with conviction) • • Witness prayerfully Hebrews 9:27 • Acts 4:12 Closing Remarks

• Romans 1:16 • Paul at Areopagus Q & A • … it is appointed for man to die once and after that to face judgment… (Hebrews 9:27) [email protected]

• Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)