Buddhism and Orthodoxy

Thoughts on Buddhism and Orthodox Christianity.

"Dukkha" (suffering, dissatisfaction, stress, anxiety, restlessness) exists. Buddhism says the cause of this is decrepitude, sickness, and death. Buddhism does not give a root cause of decrepitude, sickness, and death.

Orthodox Christianity teaches that decrepitude, sickness, and death occurs because of the unnatural state of man's separation from God, who is the source of life. Our will is opposed or not in alignment with God’s will, which is the cause of this unnatural state.

Both in Buddhism and Orthodoxy, the reaction to dukkha is often to commit more and greater sins (self centeredness, egotism, selfishness, seeking pleasure, causing pain to others, etc.).

A main difference between Buddhism and Orthodoxy is that the Buddha taught that we could cure dukkha on our own with various techniques. Orthodoxy teaches that the self cannot do this alone, but needs the Grace of God through the Holy Spirit to accomplish this transformation.

Nevertheless, the techniques recommended by Orthodoxy (living a life "in Christ"; theosis, etc.) are similar to those recommended by Buddhism. In Orthodoxy, these exercises draw us closer to God -- in Buddhism, one is drawn closer to "enlightenment".

Both in Buddhism and Orthodoxy the first step towards healing is to recognize the problem and begin to die to one's self. Orthodox Christians call this repentance or metanoia. Buddhists call this "prajna" (ditthi and sankappa).