Buddhism & Mormonism
Introduction
I can't explain why I first decided to investigate Buddhism; I have always been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and with no particular doctrinal disagreements or religious confusion, I wasn't searching for anything specific the day I walked into The City of the Dharma Realm, a Buddhist monastery near downtown Sacramento, California. I was amazed to learn that it had been there for 30 years or so. I had personally been in Sacramento for about 15 years and had never so much as heard of it - until I saw the little ad in the newspaper announcing a class on how to bow to the Buddha. It just seemed interesting, so I immediately picked up the phone and called for information.
The City of the Dharma Realm seemed very ordinary at first - it was originally a hotel - but inside I found kind, respectful people, and a quiet, reverent atmosphere that ultimately led to my return on several occasions.
Below are some of my personal findings, gleaned from books, websites, audio talks, and personal experience, presented with the hope that Christians might gain a level of understanding and respect for Buddhism beyond the general disdain and misinformation spread about by churches, and that everyone might come to see the close practical and doctrinal ties that Buddhism and Mormonism share.
Actually, I recall now that the main reason I looked into Buddhism was that I realized that I didn't know much about it, and I didn't want to be like all the members of other Christian faiths out there who judge me wrongfully, based on misinformation they have received. LDS leaders are always telling us that we should learn about others, especially religions, from the members themselves.
What is Buddhism?
Buddhism began as an offshoot of Hinduism when, sometime around 500 B.C. [1], a man by the name of Siddharta Gautama set out as an ascetic monk to find a way to end suffering. It began in India, but eventually made its way to China, Japan, and Tibet, where, due to their relative isolation from one another, different forms of Buddhism emerged.
The core Buddhist doctrines are derived from the Pali Canon, a large collection of books that is believed to be the actual teachings of Siddharta Gautama, although it was written 400-500 years after his death. The monks and leaders of the different branches of Buddhism have released many doctrinal dissertations on these texts over the years, which are much easier to come by than the actual texts themselves.
The beliefs of Buddhists differ as greatly as the beliefs of Christians, although some schools are more common than others. What struck me the most about this was when I asked a nun about how the different Buddhist groups view each other. I expected to hear the same thing that Christian churches say about each other: namely, that we're right and they're all wrong, etc. The nun's actual response shocked me: she said that although they have different approaches to the Buddhadharma (ie, the teachings of the Buddha), they are all working together for the same cause - to relieve the world of suffering - and so they do not bicker or argue with one another. I was shocked not only because it us such a peaceful approach to religion, but also because this is exactly the view that Mormons take, as well. (I will address the beliefs of Mormonism later in this article.)
The most common misconception I think people have about Buddhism is that they view it as a "religion" that worships the Buddha. While Buddhism is considered a religion by some, it is actually a philosophy that guides ones behaviour in thought and action. Buddha statues and images only serve as reminders of the Buddhas teachings, as well as a reminder of the Buddha-nature of all beings (in the Mahayana tradition - one of the most common branches of Buddhism). Buddhists do not pray to the Buddha, or to anyone else, unless of course they also practice another religion, like myself.
Notes - What is Buddhism?
1. Although experts disagree on the actual date of Siddharta Gautama's life, with some believing he may have lived as late as 350 B.C., most seem to pin it down sometime around 500 B.C.
What do Buddhists believe?
To begin with, the different traditions of Buddhism have some very different practices and beliefs [1]. The main traditions are known as Therevada and Mahayana, but the general rule is that there are countless dharma-doors (ways to live the teachings and achieve enlightenment) with no one being better than another. Although there are similarities across the board, the teachings of the Mahayana tradition seem to more closely resemble those of Mormonism.
In general, the important shared beliefs are that Siddharta Gautama became a Buddha by achieving enlightenment, and that we may all attain enlightenment by following his teachings which consist of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. "The Buddha is a refuge," says Ven, S. Dhammika [2] "because his life and attainments remain living proof that Enlightenment is possible, that human perfection is the true purpose of life."
Notes - What do Buddhists believe?
1. Please see the article "Buddhist Schools and Lineages" on Buddhanet.net for a comprehensive and detailed discussion of the differences between the various sects of Buddhism.
2. This quotation was taken from the introduction to the "Daily Readings from the Word of the Buddha" section of Buddhanet.net.