I wonder what Christ would think of Christianity and their Christians. I also wonder what Buddha would say about Buddhism and their Buddhist?
Two practices or 'religions' built or formed around the teachings of the fore mentioned individuals after their deaths. Both taught and used words to describe the same outcomes like 'Kingdom of Heaven' or 'Nirvana'.
Christ and Buddha taught the concept of no-self, in which all of their followers have not quite succeeded to recognise, due to them still identifying with their religion. This is of course fine and a nice place to be as there is a kind of safety and comfort in belonging, which goes back to our tribal innate instincts. Although, was the purpose in following the teachings to find comfort or was it to have the opportunity of seeing the truth.
You will often hear certain religious leaders or preaches claim that their way is the only way, the true way and all others are living a lie. Yet ironically these tend to be branches that have spilt away from the original teachings.
In my experience they are both just tools, great tools and there are many tools but tools nevertheless. Tools that can assist us in taking and committing to a certain path so we can navigate safely up the mountain.
However, to reach the peak where we get to see for ourselves the vastness of all, to be able to absorb ourselves in the awareness of unlimiting awareness & nothing else is no mean feat.
To be free and empty we have to release all the dogma, all the conscious self identity that you have been conditioned to believe and more importantly to awaken to all the hidden subconscious selves.
How can we achieve no-self when we haven't yet had the courage to free ourselves from our own identity.
The skill is in the teachings, in the knowing when to jump off. Paradoxically, this usually needs guidance from someone who has already jumped, as when climbing a mountain there will seemingly be many false peaks to navigate, but ultimately the jump has to be a solo one and without a parachute.
Happy jumping.
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