Sacred texts are repositories of wisdom and blessing that call for deep meditation on them. They can also instruct us in the profound ways of coursing in spirituality, to touch that deep fountain of truth and wholeness that humanity so hungers for.
Romans 12:9-12 —
[9] Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. [10] Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. [11] Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. [12] Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Dhammapada 183 —
Sabba papassa akaranam,
kusalassa upasampada,
sacitta pariyodapanam
etam buddhana sasanam.
Cease to do evil,
learn to do good,
purify the mind—
this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
This morning I was meditating on Romans 12:1-13 and was impressed by the Lord on just how resonant verses 9-12 are with verse 183 from the Dhammapada, a much-loved anthology of pithy sayings of Gotama Buddha. It seems that what apostle Paul admonished here, while obviously contextually divergent, is reminiscent of what the Buddha was advising in his teaching.
The structure of Paul’s admonishment mirrors that of the Buddha but with greater detail on “purifying the mind” referencing love, honour, zeal, fervent in spirit, service, rejoicing, hope, patience and constant prayer in the context of a life of faith in God. In a powerful way, I see Paul essentially teaching something that all Buddhas teach albeit in a different context.
For a Christ witness and disciple, one is indeed enlightened—to the person-event-work of Christ, who is incarnate Word and crucified Saviour and resurrected Lord, and indeed our Alpha and Omega in whose enlightened perfection we participate, by and in the power of His Holy Spirit.
Without Christ and His atoning redemptive sacrifice, complete purification is impossible, not just of kamma and defilements but of the primordial power of sin and all its repercussions.
