You wrote, "In the Gospel of Mathew, Christ sums up His teaching thus: ‘[I]n everything, do to others what you would have them do to you’.
Here's what Jesus actually said,"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (NIV translation)
Jesus said that sums up THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS, not as you wrote "His teaching".
It may be lost on you, but Jesus brought a new covenant and radical revelations that reach beyond the Law and the Prophets. What you pulled out of context is not a summary of the Sermon on the Mount. (Matt. 5-7)
For context, these are the verses that follow:
The Narrow and Wide Gates
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
True and False Prophets
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
True and False Disciples
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"
Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, his life, ministry and teachings have virtually nothing in common with Buddhism or convoluted philosophies on "nothingness" which purportedly require years of practice in order to gain. Certainly, Jesus taught nothing remotely similar to "...all kinds of truth are ultimately untrue". On the contrary, He taught quite plainly, "I AM the Truth".
Beautifully presented, Simion, as always. I've been reading Buddhist philosophy for a lifetime, and never more clearly presented. Thank you.
Thank you for the kind words and support, Ed!
"To realize our feeling of being a self does not correspond to anything in reality is the insight that brings suffering to an end"
I don't think that will end all suffering. Even Buddha suffered through disease and death.
A view is a model of the world. That is why it is empty, because it is only a model.
https://handofclay.substack.com/p/to-model-or-not-to-be?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=fkv4g
I offer this correction:
You wrote, "In the Gospel of Mathew, Christ sums up His teaching thus: ‘[I]n everything, do to others what you would have them do to you’.
Here's what Jesus actually said,"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (NIV translation)
Jesus said that sums up THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS, not as you wrote "His teaching".
It may be lost on you, but Jesus brought a new covenant and radical revelations that reach beyond the Law and the Prophets. What you pulled out of context is not a summary of the Sermon on the Mount. (Matt. 5-7)
For context, these are the verses that follow:
The Narrow and Wide Gates
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
True and False Prophets
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
True and False Disciples
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"
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Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, his life, ministry and teachings have virtually nothing in common with Buddhism or convoluted philosophies on "nothingness" which purportedly require years of practice in order to gain. Certainly, Jesus taught nothing remotely similar to "...all kinds of truth are ultimately untrue". On the contrary, He taught quite plainly, "I AM the Truth".