Hoax: Kesaksian Rahib Budha bertemu Yesus

seperti yang selama ini diceritakan:



Tahun - tahun awalku

Pada umur 13 tahun saya keluar sekolah dan mulai bekerja di perahu nelayan. Kami menangkap ikan juga udang di beberapa sungai besar dan kecil di daerah Irrawaddy. Pada umur 16 saya jadi pemimpin perahu.
Saat itu saya tinggal di utara pulau Mainmahlagyon (Mainmahlagyon artinya pulau wanita cantik), di bagian utara Bogale dimana saya dilahirkan. Tempat ini kira kira 100 mil barat daya Yangoon (Rangoon) ibu kota negara kami.Suatu hari waktu saya berumur 17 tahun, kami menangkap banyak sekali ikan dalam jala kami. Saking banyaknya ikan yang kami tangkap, seekor buaya besar tertarik perhatiannya. Buaya itu mengikuti perahu kami dan mencoba menyerang kami. Kami jadi ketakutan sehingga dengan panik kami mendayung perahu kami menuju tepian sungai secepatnya. Buaya itu mengikuti kami dan menyerang perahu kami dengan ekornya.Walaupun tidak ada yang mati dalam kejadian ini, serangan itu mempengaruhi kehidupan saya. Saya tidak mau lagi menangkap ikan. Perahu kecil kami tenggelam kena serangan buaya itu. Malam itu kami pulang ke kampung naik perahu tumpangan. Tak lama sesudah itu, bos ayah saya memindahkan ayah saya ke kota Yangoon (sebelum disebut Rangoon).Pada umur 18 saya dikirim kesebuah biara menjadi Rahib muda. Kebanyakan orang tua di Myanmar berusaha mengirimkan anak laki-laki mereka ke biara Budha, setidaknya satu kali, karena merupakan suatu kehormatan mempunyai anak laki-laki melayani dengan cara ini. Kami telah mengikuti adat ini ratusan tahun.

Seorang murid yang bersemangat

Pada saat saya mencapai umur 19 tahun 3 bulan (tahun 1977) saya jadi Rahib. Rahib atasan saya di biara itu memberi saya sebuah nama Budha baru yang sudah menjadi adat/kebiasaan di negara saya. Saya dipanggil U Nata Pannita Ashinthuriya. Pada waktu kami menjadi Rahib kami tidak lagi menggunakan nama yang diberikan orang tua pada waktu lahir. Biara tempat saya tinggal disebut Mandlay Kyaikasan Kyaing . Nama Rahib kepala ialah U Zadila Kyar Ni Kan Sayadaw (U Zadila adalah gelar). Dia Rahib yang sangat terkenal di seluruh Myanmar pada waktu itu. Setiap orang tahu siapa dia.
Dia sangat dihargai oleh orang-orang dan disegani sebagai guru besar. Saya katakan dulu karena pada tahun 1983 dia tiba-tiba mati dalam kecelakaan mobil yang fatal. Kematiannya mengejutkan semua orang. Saat itu saya sudah 6 tahun jadi Rahib. Saya berusaha jadi Rahib terbaik dan mengikuti semua ajaran Budha. Pada suatu tingkat tertentu saya pindah ke sebuah kuburan yang kemudian saya tinggali dan bermeditasi secara kontinyu. Beberapa Rahib yang sungguh-sungguh mengikuti kebenaran Budha melakukan hal yang saya lakukan ini. Beberapa bahkan pindah ke hutan dimana mereka hidup menyangkal diri dan miskin. Saya cari penyangkalan diri, fikiran dan keinginan, untuk menghindari penyakit dan penderitaan dan membebaskan diri dari kehidupan duniawi.
Di kuburan saya tidak takut setan, saya berusaha untuk mencapai kadamaian batin dan sadar diri sampai sampai bila ada nyamuk hinggap ditangan saya membiarkannya menggigit tangan saya dari pada mengusirnya.Bertahun-tahun saya berusaha untuk jadi Rahib terbaik dan tidak menyakiti mahluk hidup. Saya belajar pelajaran Budha suci ini seperti semua nenek moyang kami lakukan sebelum saya. Kehidupan saya sebagai Rahib berjalan terus sampai suatu waktu saya menderita sakit keras. Saya ada di Mandalay waktu itu dan harus dibawa ke rumah sakit untuk perawatan. Dokter melakukan beberapa pengecekan pada saya dan memberitahu saya bahwa saya terjangkit penyakit kuning dan malaria bersamaan. Sesudah sebulan di rumah sakit saya malah makin gawat. Dokter memberi tahu saya bahwa tak ada harapan sembuh untuk saya dan mengeluarkan saya dari rumah sakit untuk mempersiapkan kematian.
Inilah penjelasan singkat masa lalu saya. Sekarang saya ingin menceritakan beberapa hal luar biasa yang terjadi pada diri saya sesudahnya.

Penglihatan Yang Mengubah Hidup Saya Selamanya

Sesudah saya dikeluarkan dari rumah sakit saya kembali ke tempat di mana para Rahib yang lain mengurus saya.
Saya makin hari makin lemah dan makin susut karena badan busuk dan bau kematian, dan akhrinya jantung saya berhenti berdenyut. Tubuh saya dipersiapkan untuk kremasi dan melalui tata cara pemurnian agama Budha.Walaupun tubuh saya mati tapi saya ingat dan sadar dalam fikiran dan roh saya. Saya ada dalam badai besar. Angin kencang meniup seluruh daratan sampai tidak ada pohon atau apapun yang berdiri, semua rata, saya berjalan sangat cepat di jalan rata itu untuk beberapa lama. Tak ada orang lain, hanya saya sendiri, kemudian saya menyeberang sebuah sungai. Di seberang sungai itu saya melihat danau api yang sangat sangat besar. Dalam agama Budha kami tidak ada gambaran tempat seperti ini. Pada mulanya saya bingung dan tak tahu bahwa itu adalah neraka sampai saya lihat Yama, raja neraka (Yama adalah nama untuk raja neraka dalam kebudayaan Asia) mukanya seperti singa, badannya seperti singa , tetapi kakinya seperti seekor naga (roh naga). Dia mempunyai beberapa tanduk di kepalanya. Wajahnya sangat mengerikan dan saya sangat ketakutan. Dengan gemetar, saya tanya namanya.
Dia jawab " Saya adalah raja neraka, si Perusak!"

Danau Api Yang Sangat Mengerikan

Raja neraka memberi tahu saya untuk melihat ke danau api itu. Saya memandang dan melihat jubah warna kunyit yang biasa dipakai rahib Budha di Myanmar. Saya memandang dan melihat kepala gundul seorang laki-laki.
Waktu saya lihat wajah orang itu saya mengenalinya sebagai U Zadila Kyar Ni Kan Sayadaw (rahib terkenal yang mati kecelakaan mobil tahun 1983). Saya tanya raja neraka mengapa pemimpin saya, diikat dalam danau penyiksaan ini.
Saya tanya " Mengapa dia ada dalam danau api ini? Dia seorang guru yang baik. "Dia bahkan mempunyai kaset pengajaran yang berjudul 'Apakah anda manusia atau anjing?'
Yang sudah membantu ribuan orang mengerti bahwa sebagai manusia sangat berharga jauh dibandingkan binatang.
Raja neraka itu menjawab, "Betul, dia seorang guru yang baik, tetapi dia tidak percaya pada Yesus Kristus... Itulah sebabnya dia ada di neraka. "
Saya diberi tahu untuk melihat orang lain yang ada di dalam api itu. Saya lihat seorang laki-laki dengan rambut panjang dililitkan dibagian kiri kepalanya. Dia juga mengenakan jubah.
Saya tanya raja neraka "Siapa orang itu?"
Dia menjawab, " Inilah yang kau sembah, Gautama(Budha)".
Saya sangat terganggu melihat Gautama di neraka.
Saya protes, " Gautama orang baik, mempunyai karakter moral yang baik, mengapa dia menderita di dalam danau api ini?"
Raja neraka menjawab saya "Tak peduli bagaimana baiknya dia. Ia ada di tempat ini karena dia tidak percaya pada Allah yang kekal"
Saya kemudian melihat seorang yang lain yang tampaknya memakai seragam tentara. Dia terluka di dada-nya.
Saya tanya " Siapa dia?"
Raja neraka berkata "Ini Aung San, pemimpin revolusi Myanmar ".
Saya kemudian diberi tahu, "Aung San di sini karena dia menyiksa dan membunuh orang-orang Kristen, tapi terutama karena dia tidak percaya Yesus Kristus."
Di Myanmar ada pepatah, "Tentara tak pernah mati, hidup terus."
Saya diberitahu bahwa tentara neraka mempunyai pepatah "Tentara tak pernah mati, tapi ke neraka selamanya.."

Saya amati dan melihat orang lain didanau api itu. Dia orang yang sangat tinggi dan memakai baju baja militer. Dia juga menyandang pedang dan perisai. Orang ini terluka di dahinya. Orang ini lebih tinggi dari siapapun yang pernah saya lihat. Dia enam kali panjang jarak siku sampai ujung jarinya waktu dia luruskan kedua lengannya , ditambah satu jengkal waktu dia rentangkan tangannya. Raja neraka itu berkata orang ini namanya Goliath. Dia di neraka karena dia menghina Allah yang kekal dan hambanya Daud. Saya bingung karena saya tidak tahu siapa itu Goliath dan Daud.
Raja neraka berkata, "Goliath tercatat di Alkitab orang Kristen.. Kamu tidak tahu dia sekarang, tapi kalau kamu jadi Kristen, kamu akan tahu siapa dia. "

Saya dibawa ke sebuah tempat di mana saya lihat orang kaya dan miskin menyiapkan makan malam mereka.
Saya tanya " Siapa yang memasak makanan untuk orang-orang itu?"
Raja itu menjawab "Yang miskin harus menyiapkan makanan mereka, tapi yang kaya menyuruh yang lain untuk memasak untuk mereka."Ketika makanan sudah tersedia untuk yang kaya, mereka duduk untuk makan. Segera setelah mereka mulai makan asap tebal keluar. Yang kaya makan secepat sebisa mereka agar mereka tidak pingsan. Mereka berusaha keras untuk dapat bernafas karena asap itu. Mereka harus makan cepat-cepat karena mereka takut kehilangan uang mereka. Uang mereka adalah tuhan mereka.Seorang raja yang lain kemudian datang pada saya. Saya juga melihat satu mahluk yang kerjanya menjaga api di bawah danau api agar tetap panas.Mahluk ini bertanya pada saya "Apa kamu juga akan masuk ke danau api ini? " Saya jawab, " Tidak! saya di sini untuk hanya mengamati!"Bentuk mahluk yang menjaga api itu sangat menakutkan. Dia punya 10 tanduk dikepalanya dan sebatang tombak di tangannya yang pada ujungnya ada 7 pisau tajam.
Mahluk ini berkata "Kamu betul, kamu datang ke sini hanya untuk mengamati. Saya tak temukan namamu disini".
Katanya "Kamu harus kembali dari mana kamu datang tadi"
Dia menunjukan arah pada saya tempat terpencil rata yang saya lewati sebelumnya waktu datang ke danau api ini.

Keputusan Untuk Memilih Jalan

Saya jalan cukup lama, sampai saya berdarah. Saya sangat kepanasan dan kesakitan. Akhirnya setelah berjalan sekitar 3 jam saya sampai di sebuah jalan yang lebar. Saya berjalan sepanjang jalan ini beberapa lama sampai menemukan persimpangan. Satu jalan arah kiri, lebar. Jalan yang lebih kecil menuju ke sebelah kanan. Ada tanda disimpang itu yang berbunyi jalan kiri untuk mereka yang tidak percaya pada Tuhan Yesus Kristus, jalan yang lebih kecil menuju ke kanan untuk yang percaya Yesus.Saya tertarik melihat ke mana tujuan jalan yang lebih besar itu, jadi saya mulai melaluinya. Ada 2 orang berjalan kira-kira 300 yard di depan saya. Saya coba mengejar mereka agar dapat jalan bersama, tetapi sekerasnya saya coba tak dapat mengejar mereka, jadi saya putar balik dan kembali ke simpang jalan tadi.Saya terus perhatikan kedua orang yang berjalan tadi. Waktu mereka mencapai ujung jalan tiba-tiba mereka ditikam. Kedua orang itu berteriak sangat kesakitan.
Saya juga menjerit keras waktu melihat apa yang terjadi pada mereka Saya sadar akhir dari jalan yang lebih lebar sangat berbahaya untuk mereka yang menjalaninya.

Melihat Surga

Saya mulai melangkah ke jalan Orang Percaya. Sesudah berjalan sekitar 1 jam, permukaan jalan berubah jadi emas murni. Sungguh murni sampai-sampai waktu saya lihat kebawah saya dapat melihat bayangan saya dengan sempurna.Kemudian saya lihat seseorang berdiri di depan saya. Dia memakai jubah putih. Saya juga mendengar nyanyian merdu.Oh, alangkah indah dan murninya!Sangat jauh lebih baik dan berarti dibandingkan penyembahan yang kita dengar di gereja manapun di dunia. Orang berjubah tersebut meminta saya berjalan bersamanya.
Saya bertanya padanya, "Siapakah namamu?" tetapi dia tidak menjawabnya.Baru sesudah saya tanya dia 6 kali orang itu menjawab, "Saya yang memegang kunci ke surga. Surga tempat yang sangat sangat indah. Kamu tak dapat pergi ke sana sekarang tetapi kalau kamu mengikuti Yesus Kristus kamu dapat pergi ke sana sesudah hidupmu selesai di bumi".

Orang itu bernama Petrus. Petrus kemudian meminta saya untuk duduk dan menunjukkan pada saya sebuah tempat di sebelah utara. Petrus berkata, "Lihat ke utara dan lihatlah Allah menciptakan manusia".
Saya melihat Allah kekal di kejauhan. Allah berkata pada seorang malaikat, "Mari kita ciptakan manusia."
Malaikat itu memohon pada Allah dan berkata, " Jangan menciptakan manusia. Dia akan berbuat dosa dan mendukakan Engkau." (dalam bahasa asli Burma berarti: "Dia akan mempermalukan Engkau")
Tetapi Allah tetap menciptakan manusia. Allah meniupkan nafasNya dan manusia itu hidup. Dia memberi nama orang itu "Adam". (catatan: agama Budha tidak percaya penciptaan dunia atau manusia sehingga pengalaman ini sangat besar pengaruhnya pada rahib itu).

Dikembalikan Dengan Nama Baru

Kemudian Petrus berkata, "Sekarang bangunlah dan kembalilah melalui jalan di mana engkau datang. Katakan pada orang-orang yang menyembah Budha dan menyembah berhala. Beri tahu mereka bahwa mereka akan pergi ke neraka bila mereka tidak berubah. Mereka yang membangun kuil/kelenteng dan berhala juga akan ke neraka. Mereka yang yang memberikan persembahan pada para rahib untuk mendapatkan jasa untuk mereka sendiri juga akan ke neraka. Mereka yang menyembah rahib dan memanggil mereka "Pra" (gelar kehormatan bagi rahib) akan ke neraka. Mereka yang menyanyi dan memberikan hidupnya untuk berhala akan ke neraka. Mereka yang tidak percaya Yesus Kristus akan ke neraka."

Petrus memberi tahu saya untuk kembali ke bumi dan bersaksi tentang semua apa yang telah saya lihat. Dia juga berkata, " Kamu harus bicara dengan nama yang baru. Sejak saat ini kamu harus dipanggil Athet Pyan Shinthaw Paulu (Paulus yang kembali hidup)."
Saya tidak mau kembali. Saya ingin tinggal di surga. Seorang kemudian malaikat membuka sebuah buku. Pertama-tama mereka mencari nama masa kecilku (Thitpin) dalam buku, tapi mereka tak menemukannya. Kemudian mereka mencari nama yang diberikan pada saya waktu masuk agama Budha (U Nata Pannita Ashinthuriya) , tapi juga tidak tertulis disitu.
Kemudian Petrus berkata, "Namamu tidak tertulis di sini, kamu harus kembali dan bersaksi tentang Yesus pada orang-orang yang beragama Budha. " Saya berjalan kembali melalui jalan emas. Saya dengar lagi nyanyian yang merdu, yang tak pernah saya dengar sebelumnya. Petrus berjalan dengan saya sampai saatnya saya kembali ke bumi. Dia menunjukkan pada saya tangga untuk kembali ke bumi antara surga dan langit. Tangga itu tidak sampai ke bumi, tetapi berhenti di udara.Pada saat di tangga saya lihat banyak sekali malaikat, ada yang naik ke surga dan ada yang turun ke tangga. Mereka sangat sibuk. Saya tanya Petrus, " Siapakah mereka?".
Petrus menjawab, "Mereka pesuruh Tuhan. Mereka melaporkan ke surga nama-nama mereka yang percaya Yesus Kristus dan nama-nama mereka yang tidak percaya. "
Petrus kemudian memberi tahu saya, sudah waktunya untuk kembali.

Hantu!

Tiba-tiba saya mendengar sebuah tangisan. Saya dengar ibu saya sedang menangis, " Anakku, mengapa engkau meninggalkan kami sekarang?"
Saya juga mendengar orang-orang lain menangis. Saya kemudian sadar saya sedang terbujur dalam sebuah peti. Saya mulai bergerak.Ibu dan ayahku berteriak, "Dia hidup, dia hidup!"
Orang lain yang agak jauh tidak percaya. Kemudian saya taruh tangan saya di kedua sisi peti itu dan duduk tegak. Banyak orang ketakutan. Mereka menjerit, "Hantu!" dan berlari secepat kaki mereka membawanya.
Mereka yang tertinggal, diam dan bergemetaran.Saya merasakan saya sedang duduk dalam cairan yang tak sedap baunya, cairan tubuh, cukup banyak untuk dapat mengisi 3,5 gelas. Itu adalah cairan yang keluar dari perut dan bagian dalam tubuhku ketika tubuhku terbujur di dalam peti mati. Inilah sebabnya orang tahu bahwa saya sudah betul-betul mati. Di dalam peti mati ini ada semacam lembaran plastik yang ditempelkan pada kayu peti. Lembaran plastik ini untuk menampung cairan yang keluar dari mayat, karena tubuh orang meninggal banyak mengeluarkan cairan seperti yang saya alami.Saya diberi tahu kemudian bahwa hanya beberapa saat lagi saya dikremasi dalam api. Di Myanmar orang mati dimasukan kedalam peti mati, tutupnya kemudian dipaku, dan kemudian dibakar. Ketika saya kembali hidup, ibu dan ayahku sedang melihat tubuhku untuk terakhir kalinya. Sesaat lagi tutup peti akan segera dipaku dan saya akan dikremasikan. Saya segera mulai menjelaskan hal-hal yang saya lihat dan dengar. Orang-orang merasa heran.Saya ceritakan orang-orang yang saya lihat di dalam danau api itu, dan memberi tahu hanya orang Kristen yang tahu kebenaran, bahwa nenek moyang kita dan kita sudah tertipu ribuan tahun! Saya beri tahu mereka segala sesuatu yang kita percayai adalah kebohongan.Orang-orang merasa heran sebab mereka tahu rahib macam apa saya dan bagaimana bersemangatnya saya dalam pengajaran Budha. Di Myanmar ketika seseorang meninggal, namanya dan umurnya ditulis disamping peti mati. Ketika seorang rahib meninggal, namanya, umurnya dan masa pelayanannya sebagai rahib dituliskan di samping peti mati. Saya sudah ditulis mati tetapi seperti yang anda lihat, sekarang saya hidup!

Penutup

Sejak "Paul yang kembali hidup" mengalami kisah di atas dia tetap menjadi saksi yang setia kepada Yesus Kristus. Para Gembala di Burma mengabarkan bahwa dia sudah membawa ratusan rahib lain untuk beriman kepada Yesus.Kesaksiannya jelas sekali tak berkompromi. Oleh sebab itu, pesan dia telah menyakitkan banyak orang yang tidak dapat menerima hanya ada satu jalan ke surga, Yesus Kristus.Walaupun menghadapi penolakan yang sangat besar, pengalamannya sungguh nyata sehingga ia tak pernah ragu maupun bimbang. Setelah sekian tahun dalam lingkungan biara Budha, sebagai pengikut ajaran Budha yang setia, beralih menyatakan Injil Kristus sesudah kebangkitannya dari mati dan mendesak rahib yang lain untuk meninggalkan semua dewa-dewa palsu dan menjadi pengikut Yesus dengan sepenuh hati. Sebelum sakit dan matinya dia tidak punya pengetahuan sedikitpun tentang ke-Kristenan. Semua yang dia dapatkan selama 3 hari dalam kematian adalah baru dalam fikirannya.. Dalam mengabarkan pesannya sebanyak mungkin pada orang-orang.Lazarus modern ini mulai membagikan audio dan video kaset mengenai kisahnya. Polisi serta pihak berwenang di Myanmar sudah berusaha sekuatnya untuk mengumpulkan kaset-kaset ini dan memusnahkannya.Kesaksian yang baru saja Anda baca adalah salah satu terjemahan dari kaset itu. Kami diberi tahu bahwa sekarang sangat berbahaya bagi warga Myanmar untuk memiliki kaset ini. Kesaksiannya yang tak kenal takut telah membuatnya dipenjara, di mana yang berwenang telah gagal menawarkan dia untuk bungkam. Sesudah dilepaskan dia terus bersaksi tentang apa yang dia lihat dan dengar.Keberadaannya sekarang tidak jelas. Seorang nara sumber di Burma mengatakan bahwa dia di penjara dan bahkan mungkin sudah dibunuh, sumber lain mengabarkan bahwa dia sudah dilepaskan dari penjara dan sedang meneruskan pelayanannya.

Nara Sumber:

Athet Pyan Shinthaw Paulu. Saya dari negara Myanmar. Saya ingin berbagi dengan anda kesaksian saya ini tentang apa yang terjadi pada saya, tetapi sebelumnya saya ingin menceritakan sedikit latar belakang saya sejak saya kecil. Saya dilahirkan tahun 1958 di kota Bogale, di daerah delta Irrawaddy Myanmar selatan (dahulu Burma). Orang tua saya penganut agama Budha yang beriman (taat) seperti kebanyakan orang di Myanmar , memanggil saya si Thitphin (yang artinya pohon).Kehidupan di mana saya bertumbuh sangat sederhana.

http://yesuskristus.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=44

dan seperti biasa, ini terbukti HOAX ! :

The tale of the resurrected monk

A SPECIAL Lookout Ministries Report:

THE TALE OF THE RESURRECTED MONK

Since at least early 2000, emails have been circulating on the Internet passing on the dramatic story: ’BACK FROM THE DEAD The Remarkable Testimony of a Buddhist monk in Myanmar (Burma) who came back to life a changed man!’

With CCG Ministries’ involvement in Asia, including Myanmar, we have been very interested in this story and its authenticity.

It appears that it gained ’life’ on the Internet through the promotion of a Christian missionary organisation, Asian Minorities Outreach, now apparently called: Asia Harvest, headquartered in Texas, USA. This group has a website hosted in Singapore.

[Please read the concluding statement regarding Asia Harvest’s position as a result of receiving a copy of this report. The statement is at the end of this page.]

For quite some time this story appeared on the front page of the organisation’s website. Then the actual story was removed from their website, but a remaining reference to it encouraged people to request a copy of the story by email. The following explanation was given by the group for the change:

’A Quick Note: We have been asked by many people why this testimony is no longer available on our website. We were ordered to remove the story by the government of Singapore, who had apparently received complaints from Buddhists. As our website is housed in Singapore at the moment, we didn’t have much choice.’

AMO/Asia Harvest introduced the story with the following introduction:

’The story that follows is simply a translation of a taped testimony from a man with a life-changing story. It is not an interview or a biography, but simply the words from the man himself. Different people react in different ways when they hear this story. Some are inspired, some skeptical, a few will mock and ridicule, while some others have even been filled with rage and anger, convinced these words are the ravings of a mad man or an elaborate deception. Some Christians have opposed the story simply because the radical and miraculous events described herein do not fit their feeble image of an Almighty God.’

It is interesting to note the approach they take in the introduction. Anyone who questions the story is immediately labelled as a sceptic, a mocker or ridiculer, someone filled with rage and anger, or worse a Christian whose concept of God is feeble and who does not believe that an Almighty God can be radical and perform miracles.

This could be seen by some as a form of bullying and intimidation to dismiss any form of thought and questioning of the story. It is not a healthy or biblical approach to dealing with questions about such a dramatic story, nor does it encourage people to use their minds.

Interestingly, when we asked AMO/Asia Harvest to send us a copy (one of several copies we have, but this one directly from them) we also asked some questions: ’How did you first get to hear of the story; how have you checked it out for authenticity; what effect has this story had on Christians/churches in Burma and also on the Buddhist community and government there etc. What sort of response has there been to this account from Christians and Christian leaders around the world?’

We received no direct or specific answers to these, and other, questions. In the introduction to the story we are told:

’We were first made aware of this story from several Burmese church leaders who shared it with us. These leaders had looked into the story and had not found any suggestion of it being a hoax. It was with this in mind that we decided to step out and circulate the story. We do not do so for any monetary gain, or with a motivation of self-promotion. We just want to let the story speak for itself, and invite Christian believers to judge it according to Scripture. If God wants any part of it to be intended for His glory or to encourage His people, then we pray His Spirit will work in the hearts of the readers in those ways.

Some people have told us they think the monk in this story never actually died, but that he just lapsed into unconsciousness, and the things he saw and heard were part of a fever-driven hallucination. Whatever you think, the simple fact remains that the events of this story so radically transformed this man that his life took on a complete 180-degree shift after the events described below. He has fearlessly and boldly told his story at great personal cost, including imprisonment. He has been scorned by his relatives, friends and colleagues, and faced death threats for his unwillingness to compromise his message. What motivated this man to be willing to risk everything? Whether we believe him or not, his story is surely worth listening to and considering. In the cynical West many people demand hard evidence of such things, evidence that would stand up in a court of law. Can we absolutely guarantee, beyond doubt, that all of these things happened? No, we cannot. But we feel it is worth repeating this man’s story in his own words so that readers can judge for themselves.’

The teller of the tale on the tape stated:

’…My name is Athet Pyan Shinthaw Paulu. I am from the country of Myanmar…I was born in 1958 in the town of Bogale, on the Irrawaddy Delta area of southern Myanmar [formerly Burma]. My parents, who were devout Buddhists like most people in Myanmar, named me Thitpin [which means ’tree’ in English]… At the age of 18 I was sent to a Buddhist monastery to be a novice monk…When I turned 19 years and 3 months old (in 1977), I became a normal monk. The senior monk at my monastery gave me a new Buddhist name, which is the custom in our country. I was now called U Nata Pannita Ashinthuriya…The name of the monastery I lived at is called Mandalay Kyaikasan Kyaing. The senior monk’s name was called U Zadila Kyar Ni Kan Sayadaw [U Zadila is his title]. He was the most famous Buddhist monk in all of Myanmar at the time. Everyone knew who he was. He was widely honored by the people and respected as a great teacher. I say he "was" because in 1983 he suddenly died when he was involved in a fatal car accident. His death shocked everyone. At the time I had been a monk for six years.’

’My life proceeded as a monk until I got very, very sick. I was in Mandalay at the time and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment. The doctors did some tests on me and told me I had both Yellow Fever and malaria at the same time! After about one month in the hospital I was getting worse. The doctors told me there was no chance for me to recover and discharged me to make arrangements to die…After I was discharged from the hospital I went back to the monastery where other monks cared for me. I grew weaker and weaker and was lapsing into unconsciousness. I learned later that I actually died for three days. My body decayed and stunk of death, and my heart stopped beating. My body was prepared for cremation and was put through traditional Buddhist purification rites.’

Paul then claimed to have entered hell where he saw ’a terrible, terrible lake of fire’ after having crossed a flat plain and a river. He wasn’t sure it was hell ’until I saw Yama, the king of hell [Yama is the name ascribed to the King of Hell in numerous cultures throughout Asia]. His face looked like the face of a lion, his body was like a lion, but his legs were like a naga [serpent spirit]. He had a number of horns on his head. His face was very fierce, and I was extremely afraid. Trembling, I asked him his name. He replied, "I am the king of hell, the Destroyer."’

He claims that the king of hell told him to look into the lake of fire. There he saw the senior Buddhist monk, U Zadila Kyar Ni Kan Sayadaw, who had died in a car accident in 1983. Yama told him that the monk was in hell because he did not believe Jesus Christ. He also saw Guatama the Buddha in hell, there because he did not believe in the Eternal God.

He also claimed he saw Aung San, the revolutionary leader of Myanmar (father of current opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi). The Myanmar hero was there ’because he persecuted and killed Christians, but mostly because he didn’t believe in Jesus Christ.’

After claiming to see the Old Testament Goliath, many rich and poor people, the stoker of hell’s fires to keep things hot there, Paul was apparently told his name wasn’t listed for staying, he had been to hell just as an observer, and was told to go back over the river and along the plain. He eventually turned off and walked along a small, narrow road, which was for believers in Jesus Christ. After walking along this road for about an hour its surface turned to gold and he saw a man in white robes in front of him. This man identified himself as ’the one who holds the key to heaven… The man’s name was Peter.’

Peter showed him God’s creation of Adam and then told him: ’"Now get up and go back to where you came from. Speak to the people who worship Buddha and who worship idols. Tell them they must go to hell if they don’t change. Those who build temples and idols will also have to go to hell. Those who give offerings to the monks to earn merit for themselves will go to hell. All those who pray to the monks and call them ’Pra’ [respectful title for monks] will go to hell. Those who chant and ’give life’ to idols will go to hell. All those who don’t believe in Jesus Christ will go to hell." Peter told me to go back to the earth and testify about the things I had seen. He also said, "You must speak in your new name. From now on you are to be called Athet Pyan Shinthaw Paulu ["Paul who Came Back to Life."].’

After Peter led him back to earth he became aware of ’the sound of weeping. I heard my own mother cry out, "My son, why did you leave us now?" I also heard many other people weeping. I realized I was lying in a box. I started to move. My mother and father started shouting, "He is alive! He is alive!" Other people who were farther away did not believe my parents. I then placed my hands on the sides of the box and sat upright. Many people were struck with terror. They cried out, "It is a ghost!" and ran away as fast as their legs could carry them.

Those who remained were speechless and trembling. I noticed I was sitting in smelly liquid and body fluids, enough to fill about three and a half cups. This was liquid that had come out of my stomach and my insides while my body was lying in the coffin. This is why people knew I had indeed been dead. Inside the coffin there was a type of plastic sheet fixed to the wood. This sheet is placed there to retain a corpse’s liquids, because many dead bodies release much fluid like mine did.

I learned later that I was just moments away from being cremated in the flames.

I immediately started to explain the things I had seen and heard. People were astonished. I told them about the men I had seen in the lake of fire, and told them that only the Christians know the truth, that our forefathers and us have been deceived for thousands of years! I told them everything we believe is a lie. The people were astonished because they knew what kind of a monk I had been and how zealous I had been for the teachings of Buddha.

In Myanmar when a person dies their name and age is written on the side of the coffin. When a monk dies, the monk’s name, age and the number of years he has served as a monk are written on the side of the coffin. I had already been recorded as dead but as you can see, now I am alive!

Asia Harvest added an epilogue to this story in which they stated:

’Since ’Paul who came back to life’ experienced the above story he has remained a faithful witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. Burmese pastors have told us that he had led hundreds of other monks to faith in Christ. His testimony is obviously very uncompromising. Because of that, his message has offended many people who cannot accept there is only one Way to Heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. Despite great opposition, his experiences were so real to him that he has not wavered. After many years in the Buddhist monkhood, as a strict follower of Buddhist teachings, he immediately proclaimed the Gospel of Christ following his resurrection and exhorted other monks to forsake all false gods and follow Jesus Christ with all their hearts. Before the time of his sickness and death he had no exposure to Christianity at all. Everything he learned during those three days in the grave was new to his mind.

In a bid to get his message out to as many people as possible, this modern-day Lazarus began distributing audio and video cassette tapes with his story on them. The police and Buddhist authorities in Myanmar have done their utmost to gather these tapes up and destroy them. The testimony you have just read has been translated from one of those cassette tapes. We are told it is now quite dangerous for citizens of Myanmar to be in possession of these tapes.

His fearless testimony has landed him in prison at least once, where the authorities failed in their bid to silence him. Upon his release he continued to testify of the things he saw and heard. His current whereabouts are uncertain. One Burmese informant told us he is prison and may have been killed, while another informant was told he is now released from prison and is continuing his ministry.’

This is quite a dramatic tale and it has impressed many people. It was even reported in the well-known Christian Singaporean magazine: IMPACT (June/July 2000, p.45). It has continued to be circulated and passed on through emails.

But is it true? If it is, it SHOULD be circulated - whatever the consequences. But what if it is NOT true. Should it them continue to be circulated never-the-less? We believe not!

It should be noted that there are several versions of the story circulating. One version, which was circulating in March and April of 2000, begins with an ’Extract’:

’Myanmar: Buddhist monk raised from the dead - 300 monks turn to Jesus. "In 1998, a Buddhist monk died. A few days later, his funeral was held, at which he was to be cremated. From the smell, it was obvious that his body had started to decompose - he was very clearly dead!" according to the report from missions agency Asian Minorities Outreach. "We have attempted to verify this report which reached us from a number of sources, and are now convinced that it is accurate," they write.

Hundreds of monks and relatives of the dead man attended the funeral. Just as the body was about to be burned, the dead monk suddenly sat up, shouting ’It’s a lie! I saw our ancestors burning and being tortured in some sort of fire. I also saw Buddha and many other Buddhist holy men. They were all in a sea of fire!’ ’We must listen to the Christians,’ he continued emphatically, ’they’re the only ones who know the truth!’

The events shocked the whole region. Over 300 monks became Christians and started to study the Bible. The resurrected man continued to warn everyone to believe in Jesus, because he is the only true God. Tapes of the monk’s report were distributed throughout Myanmar. The Buddhist hierarchy and the government were soon alarmed, and they arrested the monk. He has not been seen since and it is feared that he was killed to keep him silent. It is now a serious crime to listen to the tapes, because the government wants to dampen the sensation.’

On Sunday 19th November 2000, CCG Ministries’ Director, Adrian van Leen, interviewed and spoke with the ’resurrected’ Paul in a hotel function room in Yangon in the company of four Myanmar Christian leaders.

That interview raised serious questions as to the authenticity of the story under consideration.

As our Director wanted to ensure accuracy and fairness, and also because he had to work through translators (three of the Christian leaders understood and spoke English), questions and answers were double checked and confirmed before being noted.

One of the four Christian leaders, a Karen Baptist pastor, accompanied Paul and was there as a friend to be a support to him. That pastor explained, later in the evening, that he believed Paul had not died, but had been unconscious, perhaps even in a coma, for a few days, and probably did have some strange experiences or visions. He had been trying to help Paul since he came out of prison, and so had come to know him fairly well and for quite some time.

Paul gave us his name (and later wrote it down, Martura Paul, along with his address in one of Yangon’s village suburbs). He told us (clearly and confirmed it again) that he was born in Yangon on Christmas Day, December 25th 1966, and that he died in Mandalay at the age of 19 in May or June 1993! He was asked about this several times because there are some obvious contradictions here. His taped story states he was born in 1958 - while he reiterated to us that he was born in 1966! He stated several times that he died at the age of 19 in mid-1993. If he had been born in 1958 and died aged 19 it would have been 1977 (when, according to the tape’s transcript Paul become a ’normal monk’); if he had been born in 1966 and died 19 years later it would have been 1985. This also contradicted the claim that he had died in 1998 (see ’Extract’), stating that such a claim was a lie and not part of his original tape! He was adamant about his age and that he had died in 1993!

One of the translators at our interview/discussion, was a senior Pastor and Christian community leader. While he was senior Pastor in a large Baptist Church in Mandalay, he recalled Paul visiting and wanting to tell his story in the Pastor’s church. This occurred in 1992 or 1993!

Paul told us that he first told his story on tape in 1996. He only made one tape/copy - on a small domestic tape recorder. This tape was then sent off to a recording studio in Yangon for duplication.

Both the visit to the Pastor in Mandalay (before 1995) and his claim of recording of his testimony on tape in 1996 clearly show he could not have died in 1998!

He clearly contradicted himself during the interview/discussion, and contradicted his taped statement, regarding his age and dates for birth and death.

He told us that he had been dead or in a coma for three days, and then had a further three days in his coffin - making it a total of six days in which he was apparently dead. He affirmed that he had spoken to the Apostle Peter, who ordered him back to earth.

Paul told us that he had been in prison once, from January 1997 to October 1999.

When told that there had been several versions of his tape (with different people in Myanmar recounting different versions/details) he at first said there could not be other versions of his story because he had made only one tape. Then he admitted there were some differences on some tapes circulating around Myanmar - but explained it away. He made one taped account and gave the tape to others to have duplicated professionally. It was during the duplication process that variations and alterations apparently occurred - so he believed!

He stated (and repeated) that through his testimony some 7,000 Buddhist monks had converted to Christianity! This is considerably more than stated in the IMPACT Magazine and the ’Extract’ with one of the Asian Minorities Outreach/Asia Harvest transcripts (300).

When asked if it was possible to talk to any of the (300 or 7,000) converted Buddhist monks Paul declared he didn’t know any and had no contact with any! He could not put us in touch with any one converted as a result of his story.

He acknowledged that his father and mother had been present at his funeral and cremation preparation - and at his dramatic ’resurrection’. When asked if they would be willing to talk to us and confirm any parts of his story, he told us that they probably would - BUT he didn’t know where his father lived, and wasn’t sure about where his mother was either (though he knew they were not together). Their uncertain whereabouts had nothing to do with any government or Buddhist persecution. Paul was just rather vague as to where they were living. They could not help us confirm any of his claims.

When asked if there were any Christian church leaders who could confirm his story or put us in contact with any Buddhist monks who had converted because of Paul’s story, we were again told that he knew of no one.

He told us that he did not attend any church, have fellowship or hold membership in any church (something more important for Christians in Myanmar than in Western society at present). Paul told us that almost all the churches in Myanmar had rejected his story - especially the mainline (non-charismatic, non-Pentecostal) churches. He told us that Pentecostal churches had accepted his story, but when asked which ones he admitted there were only three or four - and said he could only name one: the Full Gospel Church. He also admitted that he had only spoken once at those three or four churches and had never been asked back. In fact, none of the churches - including any Pentecostal churches, wanted to have anything to do with him - according to Paul himself!

After telling us that he had given his ’testimony’ in about three or four churches, and some private homes, Paul told us that he no longer told his story anywhere, and had not done so since coming out of prison, because it would bring trouble and opposition (presumably from the government - though he did not exactly make that clear). He did not want any more trouble for himself, nor did he want to cause trouble for any one else.

When asked what work he did, he acknowledged that he was unemployed and had no work. When then asked how he made or earned a living, he stated that he gave his testimony at home groups and was given donations for doing so - and apparently made more than enough to get by on! This, of course, completely contradicted claims made just before this statement, that he had only spoken at a few places and no longer spoke anywhere because he did not want to cause trouble!



Throughout the dinner, interview and discussion on Sunday evening November 19, 2000, Paul was open with our Director and the other Christian leaders present. He wrote down his name and address and allowed a photo to be taken (and to be published). Burmese Paul.jpg (32919 bytes)All present tried to make him feel accepted and questions were presented in a non-threatening manner. His friend who accompanied him that evening tried to help Paul and often interrupted and gave advice or tried to make helpful comments for him.

Paul constantly contradicted himself during the evening with statements he had made moments before, as well as statements made on the taped version of his story. Again and again he was asked for confirmation and clarification - only to confirm the contradictions. His friend even stopped him several times and told he could not say what he had just said, because it contradicted earlier statements - but it made no difference - he would continue with the contradictions.

Apart from the contradictions made by Paul in front of witnesses, there are still serious questions about the content of his supposed visions or visit to hell and heaven, as well as questions about editorial comments made by Asian Minorities Outreach/Asia Harvest.

AMO/Asia Harvest has made statements about Paul being radically transformed and having a 180-degree shift in his life, and him continuing to be a fearless witness for Christ, of him being persecuted, scorned by family, friends and colleagues, and facing death for his unwillingness to compromise. But some Myanmar Christian leaders have asked (as we do also) on what do they base this, apart from his say so? What evidence do they have?

Statements that Paul had been arrested and imprisoned - probably several times, not seen since, and that it was feared that he had been killed to keep him silent - are all highly emotive. The only accurate thing (as far as we can tell, but it has not been confirmed with the authorities) is, it seems, that Paul DID go to prison for a couple of years. The reasons for this, however, are NOT absolutely certain. The rest of the comments are untrue. After coming out of prison he did not go into hiding or disappear mysteriously. He moved into a small suburban village on the outskirts of Yangon, and became openly known to neighbours in the area. There was no effort to hide his identity or anything else.

Those who have lived near Paul and known him over the 12 or more months have seen no apparent evidence of him being persecuted, scorned or forsaken.

AMO/Asia Harvest has stated that the story was first told them by several Burmese church leaders, and that since being initially told they ’have attempted to verify this report which reached us from a number of sources, and are now convinced that it is accurate.’ IMPACT Magazine reported that a spokesman for AMO/Asia Harvest stated: ’We believe it to be true as there are many witnesses to these events.’

CCG Ministries’ Director, Adrian van Leen, before, especially during, and after his visit to Myanmar in November 2000, has spoken to a number of Myanmar Christian leaders - including a number who are involved in inter-church/inter-denominational work, as well as leaders of several denominations (and had the interview/discussion with the central character in this story, Paul, himself). He spoke with leaders from Yangon and across Myanmar who attended a conference in Bago, and also Christian leaders in Mandalay and a regional township. Many of these leaders from across varying denominations had contact with other Christian leaders across the country.

No one was able to give ANY form of authentication to the story. A number of leaders, including those who had been in Christian leadership in Mandalay, knew of no evidence to confirm any part of the story. Some of the Myanmar Christian leaders would very much like to know who the ’several Burmese church leaders’ are that AMO/Asia Harvest refers to as their sources for this story.

In fact, it was pointed out very clearly that, had the story been true, especially had there been a number of Buddhist monks converted to Christianity - especially as many as 300 and very much so if there were as many as 7,000 - the news would have spread rapidly. While the government controlled media might have tried to suppress such news - the Christians and churches (particularly in the Mandalay area) would not have been able - nor have wanted to - suppress such news. It would have spread rapidly and widely through the churches. The Buddhist community would also have spread the story - though for different reasons.

The claim that ’there are many witnesses to these events’ is also disputed by Myanmar Christian leaders, who have stated that they had never met anyone who had been a direct primary witness - nor anyone who had personally met a direct witness to these events. And when asked, Paul himself was totally unable to produce any witnesses whatever, not even his father or mother. The Christian leaders present at the interview would have gladly talked to any converted monks (or asked friends in different parts of the country to do so) who may have been witnesses, but not one name was given as a possible witness. The reality is that in Myanmar itself no one has been able to find any witnesses or any evidence whatever, to support the story of the resurrected Paul. It is even questionable that there is evidence that Paul was actually a Buddhist monk.

It was also pointed out that Paul’s claim to have seen Aung San, the revolutionary leader of Myanmar (father of current opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi) in hell ’because he persecuted and killed Christians, but mostly because he didn’t believe in Jesus Christ’ was completely without foundation. He is a well known figure in Burmese/Myanmar thinking and history - and there is no evidence at all that he persecuted any Christians, let alone killed any.

AMO/Asia Harvest has invited ’Christian believers to judge it [Paul’s resurrection story] according to Scripture.’

As one senior Myanmar pastor pointed out, the story and description of hell given by Paul, is itself contrary to Scripture. Paul’s story is also in conflict with the story Jesus told in the account of the rich man and the beggar, Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). When carefully examined it is also in conflict with the comments of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 - in particular where that Paul was able to name eye witnesses to the resurrection of Christ - and acknowledged at the time that some were still living - in other words, he was able to produce witnesses who could testify to the authenticity of his claims. Myanmar’s Paul was totally unable to name, point to, or produce ANY witnesses at all to his claimed resurrection, or who had been converted by his story.

The story of the ’resurrected Paul’ is known throughout much of Myanmar - and his tape has circulated (in several versions). Hardly anyone in Myanmar - especially amongst Christian leaders - has accepted or believed the story. There is just nothing to back it up. Paul is known of in Myanmar, and regarded by most - as a troublesome and troubled person. He has caused problems and difficulty for Myanmar Christians, and has even been responsible for bringing fear into parts of the Christian community. A number of people in Myanmar who personally know him, or have met him, believe he is in need of medical help and counselling. Sadly, in Myanmar, he is certainly not known as a fearless and faithful witness to Jesus Christ, whose testimony is converting Buddhists, strengthening the church or bringing glory to God’s name.

Further complications have arisen with this whole saga. According to the beliefs of some people in Myanmar (or some with friends and/or relatives in Myanmar), several different people supposedly, or apparently, are claiming to be the resurrected Buddhist monk - at least an older man and a not-so-balanced younger man.

Whatever the truth behind this sad saga, most Christians, and most pastors and church leaders in Myanmar, are not taking this story seriously and see little value in it for the growth of the Christian community in that country.

We believe that if this story had been adequately examined and checked out in Myanmar before transcripts were made of his tape, it would probably never have been published.

[After Asia Harvest received a copy of this report they removed all references to the story from their website and stopped sending out email transcripts of the claimed resurrection account. They will be making some statement regarding their initial endorsement of the story. When this is available we will gladly append it to this report.]

http://www.ccgm.org.au/index.php?g=articles&a=0036

Goodbye Budddha Hello Jesus?

NAMO TASSA BHAGAVATO ARAHATO SAMMASAMBUDDHASSA
NAMO TASSA BHAGAVATO ARAHATO SAMMASAMBUDDHASSA
NAMO TASSA BHAGAVATO ARAHATO SAMMASAMBUDDHASSA

Translation: May veneration be presented to the enlightened one who is a Buddha and has achieved enlightenment by himself righteously. X3

Goodbye Buddha Hello Jesus?

A Classic Example Of Lying Christian Propaganda

By
Bhikkhu aggacitto


All scripture quoted is from the Pali Canon Tipitaka which is the oldest known extant writing from the oral tradition of what the Venerable Gotama (Buddha) taught his disciples as dhamma (teaching).

Recently I came across the “Heavens Family’’ website .The caption read “Goodbye Buddha, Hello Jesus”, and I was intrigued. Upon reading the article though it seems as if this must be one of those bogus stories fabricated for the purpose of assisting them in their donation and conversion efforts while allowing them a format to take a few very misinformed shots at the Buddhist monastic sangha (community) and at the Buddhist teaching as well.
Note the clandestine feel of this article, which serves to help further their objectives.

Okay, first things first…I doubt that the Buddhist monks for reasons apparent that grace the beginning of this web site article were aware that their image and likeness would be used for a Christian evangelical web site. Not that the “Heavens Family” could care less of course! The only other photographs for this article are of ‘David’ the presumed author and a blurred secret identity styled photo allegedly of the Buddhist monk who is a “secret disciple of Jesus”.

We read in this article about a Burmese Buddhist monk who is a supposed “secret disciple of Jesus” but if any one should look closer this story becomes very suspicious. In the first paragraph it states that they met secretly, where he has lived for the past thirty years and that he only had a limited amount of time to be missing from the monastery.

"We met secretly, in the morning. He had only a limited amount of time to be missing from the monastery where he’s lived for the past thirty years. To be absent too long might arouse suspicion among the sixty other Buddhist monks with whom he resides."

I’m sure that this is written to give the impression that the Buddhist monastery is comparable to some sort of oppressive religious prison where the other monks are always keeping an eye on you, but as a Theravada Buddhist monk myself I assure you all that after living there for the past thirty years he would not have such a concern.

"Our hour together was one of the highlights of my recent three weeks in Myanmar, a Buddhist nation where Heaven’s Family has been working for the past six years. More details of that monk’s fascinating story follow in this update, along with four other encouraging reports .All of them are only a sample of the good that is being accomplished around the world because of your compassion. Thanks for being a part of Heaven’s Family.---David"


"From inside his saffron robe he drew a New Testament. He’s read it six times through so far, and I noted that many verses were underlined .He told me that his favorite one was John 14:6,and then he quoted it: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” He is a Buddhist monk who is a secret disciple of Jesus."


How convenient for their article that this would be his fave Christian scripture!

"Trying to decipher the doctrines of Buddhism has been compared to searching for a black cat in a dark room in which there really is no cat. Not an easy task."

It is interesting here to note that the author acknowledges that he is basically “in the dark” when it comes to the Buddha dhamma (teaching) . This is why no explanation follows this sort of statement.
The author then quotes from the Kalama Sutta of the Auguttara NIkaya 3.65
In this sutta the Venerable Gotama gives a discourse on the value of spiritual inquiry. He does not discuss from what sutta he is actually paraphrasing, after all why would he want someone to know? They might look it up and learn something factual about the Buddhist spiritual path.

"There is however, one of Buddha’s teaching that makes very good sense:
Do not accept anything by mere tradition….Do not accept anything just because it accords wth your scriptures…..Do not accept anything merely because it agrees with your preconceived notions…."

Now lets take a look at what the pertinent part of the Kalama Sutta actually says shall we?

“And this aversive person overcome by aversion, he mind possessed by aversion, kills living beings, takes what is not given, goes after another person’s wife, tells lies ,and induces others to do likewise, all of which is for long-term harm and suffering.”

“Yes, lord.”

“Now, what do you think, Kalamas? When delusion arises in a person, does it arise for welfare or for harm?”

“For harm, lord.”

“And this deluded person, overcome by delusion, his mind possessed by delusion, kills living beings, takes what s not given, goes after another person’s wife, tells lies, and induces others to do likewise, all of which is for long-term harm and suffering.”

“Yes, lord.”

“So what do you think, Kalamas: Are these qualities skillful or unskillful?”

“Unskillful, lord.”

“Blameworthy or blameless?”

“Blameworthy, lord.”

“Criticized by the wise, or praised by the wise?

“Criticized by the wise, lord,”

“When adopted and carried out, do they lead to harm and to suffering, or not?”

“When adopted and carried out, they lead to harm and to suffering. That is how it appears to us.”

"So, as I said , Kalamas: ‘Don’t go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, “This contemplative is our teacher .”When you know for yourselves that,” These qualities are unskillful; these qualities are blameworthy; these qualities are criticized by the wise; these qualities, when adopted and carried out, lead to harm and to suffering”- then you should abandon them,’ Thus was it said. And in reference to this was it said."

Perhaps it would be good if the author read more of this particular sutta.

"Thankfully, some of Buddha’s followers heed his advice regarding the traditions, scriptures and preconceived notions of Buddhism, and they’re turning to Jesus. One of them attended Chuck King’s recent pastor’s conference in Myanmar (Burma)."

"For the first forty years of his life he was a Muslim, and he was known as Raja Mohammed Adam. From reading the Koran, he learned about Jesus, respecting Him as a prophet. But Islam did not fulfill Raja’s deepest spiritual yearnings. Most of the citizens of his country were Buddhists, and Raja was quite familiar with their numerous temples that dotted Myanmar’s landscape. Hoping to find what he was searching for, he joined the ranks of the Buddhist monks who roam the streets each morning, barefoot, begging for rice. He moved into a monastery, and his name was changed to -------------.

Buddhist believe that all suffering stems from unfulfilled desire, so Buddhist monks attempt to restrain their desires, following a path of asceticism. But after twenty- seven years of begging, fasting, meditation and celibacy, ------------ still hadn’t found what he was searching for. So he borrowed a Bible. As he read through the four Gospels, he encountered a different Jesus than he had learned about through Islam. Jesus was much more than a prophet. He was the Creator and Master--- in the flesh. As he read, it seemed as if Jesus was saying to him,


“You are just like a Pharisee.”------------ was cut to the heart. He decided to repent and follow Jesus. That was three years ago.

After thirty years of being a monk, and now at age seventy in one of Asia’s poorest nations,--------is afraid to leave his monastery, not knowing how he would survive. But he is looking for an opportunity, and he knows that his fellow monks are very suspicious and watching him closely. He told me he would renounce his robe immediately if he had a way of escape. Please pray for him as we work on a strategy to help him with the exodus for which he longs."

Let us now make a note of a few things:

This Buddhist monk supposedly was a Muslim by the name of Raja Mohammed Adam for the first forty years of his life. This Buddhist monk has been a monk it is claimed for thirty years now. This Buddhist monk is now supposedly a convert to Christianity.

Now let us all sit back and imagine for a moment just what a spiritual jewel this would be for any Christian evangelical organization!

Certainly with expert knowledge of the Qur’an and the Pali Canon Tipitaka!
How devastating a witnessing tool it would be to have someone who was a Muslim for forty years and a Buddhist monk for thirty years to now witness for Jesus as a part of their ministry in Myanmar a largely Buddhist nation, where they have been working for the past six years!

“Buddhist believe that all suffering stems from unfulfilled desire, so Buddhist monks attempt to restrain their desires, following a path of asceticism.”

If this were true then ending suffering would entail the Buddhist fulfilling as many unfulfilled desires as possible! Not following a path of asceticism!

No wonder he can’t find the cat in the dark!

According to Buddhist teaching (dhamma) suffering stems from wrong view. I will refer the “Heavenly Family” to the Pali Canon Tipitaka Sutta Pitaka- Majjhima Nikaya #9, the Sammaditthi Sutta.

"As he read, it seemed as if Jesus was saying to him, “You are just like a Pharisee.”------------was cut to the heart. He decided to repent and follow Jesus."

This should be recognized as fabricated story line material to allow this organization the cheap opportunity to call the Buddhist monastic sangha (community) “---just like a Pharisee”

"He told me he would renounce his robe immediately if he had a way of escape. Please pray for him as we work on a strategy to help him with the exodus for which he longs."

They presumably need a strategy to help him with the exodus for which he longs? Okay so lets get this straight…They will use what we are to believe is his story to assist their Christian evangelical efforts but not him as an outreach worker and a willing convert to Christianity in a nation where they have been working for the past six years, giving him the “exodus for which he longs”?!! Certainly they should be able to find something meaningful for such a jewel of a Christian convert!

One might say… “Well he is afraid of negative repercussions” Really? From whom would such negative repercussions come from? The other Buddhist monks and laity who would wish him well? Or would that be from the ruling military junta who would not mind at all seeing one less Buddhist monk in the world when many of them are busy looking to shoot and otherwise execute us?
Should we believe that this alleged convert to Christianity would rather engage in the fraudulent behavour of pretending to be a sincere Buddhist monk when in fact he is not?

Is that what he has presumably learned for these past several years as a Christian?

If someone wishes to convert to Christianity, that is certainly their choice. What I have an issue with are those who seem to believe that lying and making up fictitious stories to convert people to Christianity while cheap shot slandering and character assassinating another religious belief is acceptable as "the lord's work."

Yes, this story is apparently one of those bogus stories designed to help them in their donation and conversion efforts. The “Heavenly Family” know that if they can convince the people in Myanmar (Burma) that this is true then that might be almost as good as having the real thing.

I wish you all the very best of all things spiritual.

Bhikkhu aggacitto

http://dhammaprotector.blogspot.com/2009/09/goodbye-budddha-hello-jesus.html

The Hoax Story of Remarkable Testimony of a Buddhist monk in Myanmar (Burma) who came back to life a changed man!

Introduction

The story that follows is simply a translation of a taped testimony
from a man with a life-changing story. It is not an interview or a
biography, but simply the words from the man himself. Different people
react in different ways when they hear this story. Some are inspired,
some skeptical, a few will mock and ridicule, while some others have
even been filled with rage and anger, convinced these words are the
ravings of a mad man or an elaborate deception. Some Christians have
opposed the story simply because the radical and miraculous events
described herein do not fit their feeble image of an Almighty God.


We were first made aware of this story from several Burmese church
leaders who shared it with us. These leaders had looked into the story
and had not found any suggestion of it being a hoax. It was with this
in mind that we decided to step out and circulate the story. We do not
do so for any monetary gain, or with a motivation of self-promotion. We
just want to let the story speak for itself, and invite Christian
believers to judge it according to Scripture. If God wants any part of
it to be intended for His glory or to encourage His people, then we
pray His Spirit will work in the hearts of the readers in those ways.


Some people have told us they think the monk in this story never
actually died, but that he just lapsed into unconsciousness, and the
things he saw and heard were part of a fever-driven hallucination.
Whatever you think, the simple fact remains that the events of this
story so radically transformed this man that his life took on a
complete 180-degree shift after the events described below. He has
fearlessly and boldly told his story at great personal cost, including
imprisonment. He has been scorned by his relatives, friends and
colleagues, and faced death threats for his unwillingness to compromise
his message. What motivated this man to be willing to risk everything?
Whether we believe him or not, his story is surely worth listening to
and considering. In the cynical West many people demand hard evidence
of such things, evidence that would stand up in a court of law. Can we
absolutely guarantee, beyond doubt, that all of these things happened?
No, we cannot. But we feel it is worth repeating this man's story in
his own words so that readers can judge for themselves.


My Early Years

Hello! My name is Athet Pyan Shinthaw Paulu. I am from the country of
Myanmar. I would like to share with you my testimony of what happened
to me, but first I would like to give some brief background information
from my life growing up.


I was born in 1958 in the town of Bogale, on the Irrawaddy Delta area
of southern Myanmar [formerly Burma]. My parents, who were devout
Buddhists like most people in Myanmar, named me Thitpin [which means
'tree' in English]. Our lives were very simple where I grew up. At the
age of 13 I left school and started working on a fishing boat. We
caught fish and sometimes also shrimp from the numerous rivers and
streams in the Irrawaddy area. At the age of 16 I became the leader of
the boat. At this time I lived in Upper Mainmahlagyon Island
[Mainmahlagyon means 'Beautiful Woman Island' in English], just north
of Bogale where I was born. This place is about 100 miles southwest of
Yangon [Rangoon], our nation's capitol city.


One day, when I was 17, we caught a large number of fish in our nets.
Because of the many fish, a large crocodile was attracted to us. It
followed our boat and tried to attack us. We were terrified so we
frantically rowed our boats toward the riverbank as fast as we could.
The crocodile followed us and smashed our boat with its tail. Although
no one died in this incident, the attack greatly affected my life. I no
longer wanted to fish. Our small boat sank because of the crocodile
attack. We had to go home to our village that night on a passenger
boat.


Not long after, his employers transferred my father to Yangon City
[formerly spelt Rangoon]. At the age of 18 I was sent to a Buddhist
monastery to be a novice monk. Most parents in Myanmar try to send
their son into a Buddhist monastery, at least for a time, as it is
considered a great honor to have a son serve in this way. We have been
observing this custom for many hundreds of years.


A Zealous Disciple of Buddha

When I turned 19 years and 3 months old (in 1977), I became a normal
monk. The senior monk at my monastery gave me a new Buddhist name,
which is the custom in our country. I was now called U Nata Pannita
Ashinthuriya. When we become a monk we no longer use the name given to
us at birth by our parents. The name of the monastery I lived at is
called Mandalay Kyaikasan Kyaing. The senior monk's name was called U
Zadila Kyar Ni Kan Sayadaw [U Zadila is his title]. He was the most
famous Buddhist monk in all of Myanmar at the time. Everyone knew who
he was. He was widely honored by the people and respected as a great
teacher. I say he "was" because in 1983 he suddenly died when he was
involved in a fatal car accident. His death shocked everyone. At the
time I had been a monk for six years.


I tried hard to be the best monk I could and to follow all the precepts
of Buddhism. At one stage I moved to a cemetery where I lived and
meditated continually. Some monks who really want to know the truths of
Buddha do things like I did. Some move deep into the forests where they
live a life of self-denial and poverty. I sought to deny my selfish
thoughts and desires, to escape from sickness and suffering and to
break free from the cycle of this world. At the cemetery I was not
afraid of ghosts. I tried to attain such inner peace and
self-realization that even when a mosquito landed on my arm I would let
it bite me instead of brushing it off!


For years I strived to be the best monk I could and not to harm any
living being. I studied the holy Buddhist teachings just like all my
forefathers had done before me.


My life proceeded as a monk until I got very, very sick. I was in
Mandalay at the time and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment.
The doctors did some tests on me and told me I had both Yellow Fever
and malaria at the same time! After about one month in the hospital I
was getting worse. The doctors told me there was no chance for me to
recover and discharged me to make arrangements to die.


This is a brief description of my past. I would now like to tell you
some of the remarkable things that happened to me after this timeS..


A Vision that Changed My Life Forever

After I was discharged from the hospital I went back to the monastery
where other monks cared for me. I grew weaker and weaker and was
lapsing into unconsciousness. I learned later that I actually died for
three days. My body decayed and stunk of death, and my heart stopped
beating. My body was prepared for cremation and was put through
traditional Buddhist purification rites.


Although I faded away in my body I remember my mind and spirit were
fully alert. I was in a very, very powerful storm. A tremendous wind
flattened the whole landscape until there were no trees or anything
else standing, just a flat plain. I walked very fast along this plain
for some time. There were no other people anywhere, I was all alone.
After some time I crossed a river. On the other side of the river I saw
a terrible, terrible lake of fire. In Buddhism we do not have a concept
of a place like this. At first I was confused and didn't know it was
hell until I saw Yama, the king of hell [Yama is the name ascribed to
the King of Hell in numerous cultures throughout Asia]. His face looked
like the face of a lion, his body was like a lion, but his legs were
like a naga [serpent spirit]. He had a number of horns on his head. His
face was very fierce, and I was extremely afraid. Trembling, I asked
him his name. He replied, "I am the king of hell, the Destroyer."


The terrible, terrible lake of fire

The king of hell told me to look into the lake of fire. I looked and I
saw the saffron colored robes that Buddhist monks wear in Myanmar. I
looked closer and saw the shaven head of a man. When I looked at the
man's face I saw it was U Zadila Kyar Ni Kan Sayadaw [the famous monk
who had died in a car accident in 1983]. I asked the king of hell why
my former leader was confined to this lake of torment. I said, "Why is
he in this lake of fire? He was a very good teacher. He even had a
teaching tape called 'Are You a Man or a Dog?' which had helped
thousands of people understand that their worth as humans is far
greater than the animals." The king of hell replied, "Yes, he was a
good teacher but he did not believe in Jesus Christ. That's why he is
in hell."


I was told to look at another person who was in the fire. I saw a man
with very long hair wrapped on the left hand side of his head. He was
also wearing a robe. I asked the king of hell, "Who is this man?" He
replied, "This is the one you worship: Gautama [Buddha]."


I was very disturbed to see Gautama in hell. I protested, "Gautama had
good ethnics and good moral character, why is he suffering in this lake
of fire?" The king of hell answered me, "It doesn't matter how good he
was. He is in this place because he did not believe in the Eternal
God."


I then saw another man who looked like he was wearing a soldier's
uniform. He had a large wound on his chest. I asked, "Who is this man?"
The king of hell said, "This is Aung San, the revolutionary leader of
Myanmar." I was told, "Aung San is here because he persecuted and
killed Christians, but mostly because he didn't believe in Jesus
Christ." In Myanmar the people have a common saying, "Soldiers never
die, they live on." I was told that the legions of hell have a saying
"Soldiers never die, but they go to hell forever."


I looked and saw another man in the lake of fire. He was a very tall
man and he was dressed in military armor. He was also holding a sword
and a shield. This man had a wound on his forehead. This man was taller
than any person I have ever seen. He was six times the length between a
man's elbow and the tips of his fingers when he stretches his arm out
straight, plus one span of a man's fingers when he spreads out his
hand. The king of hell said, "This man's name is Goliath. He is in hell
because he blasphemed the Eternal God and His servant David." I was
confused because I didn't know who either Goliath or David were. The
king of hell said, "Goliath is recorded in the Christian Bible. You
don't know him now, but when you become a Christian you will know who
he is."


I was then taken to a place where I saw both rich and poor people
preparing to eat their evening meals. I asked, "Who cooked the food for
these people?" The king of hell replied, "The poor have to prepare
their own food, but the rich people get others to cook for them." When
the food had been prepared for the rich people they sat down to eat. As
soon as they started a thick smoke came up. The rich people ate as fast
as they could to ease their consciences. They were struggling to breath
because of the smoke. They had to eat fast because they were fearful of
losing their money. Their money is their god.


Another king of hell then came to me. I also saw a being whose job is
to stoke the fires beneath the lake of fire, to keep it hot. This being
asked me, "Are you going into the lake of fire too?" I replied, "No! I
am only here to observe!" The appearance of this creature stoking the
fire was very terrifying. He had ten horns on his head and a spear in
his hand that had seven sharp blades coming from the end. The creature
told me, "You are right. You came here just to observe. I cannot find
your name here." He said, "You must now go back the way you came." He
pointed me toward the desolate plain that I had first walked along
before I came to the lake of fire.


The Road of Decision

I walked a long time, until I was bleeding. I was hot and in great
pain. Finally, after walking for about three hours I came to a wide
road. I walked along this road for some time until I came to a fork.
One road, going off to the left, was wide. A smaller road went off to
the right hand side. There was a signpost at the fork saying that the
road to the left was for those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ. The smaller road to the right was for believers in Jesus.


I was interested to see where the larger road led so I started down it.
There were two men walking about 300 yards ahead of me. I tried to
catch up with them so I could walk with them but no matter how hard I
tried I couldn't catch them up, so I turned around and went back to the
fork in the road. I continued to watch these two men as they walked
down the road away from me. When they reached the end of the road they
were suddenly stabbed. These two men cried out in great pain! I also
cried out when I saw what happened to them! I realized the bigger road
ended in great danger for those who traveled down it.


Looking into Heaven

I started walking down the believers' road instead. After traveling for
about one hour the surface of the road turned to pure gold. It was so
pure that when I looked down I could see my own reflection perfectly. I
then saw a man standing in front of me. He was wearing a white robe. I
also heard beautiful singing. Oh, it was so beautiful and pure! It was
much better and more meaningful than the worship we have in churches
here on the earth. The man in the white robe asked me to walk with him.
I asked him, "What is your name?" but he did not answer. After I asked
his name six times the man answered, "I am the one who holds the key to
heaven. Heaven is a very, very beautiful place. You cannot go there now
but if you follow Jesus Christ you can go there after your life has
finished on the earth." The man's name was Peter.


Peter then asked me to sit down and he showed me a place to the north.
Peter said, "Look to the north and see God create man." I saw the
Eternal God from a distance. God spoke to an angel, "Let us make man."
The angel pleaded with God and said, "Please don't make man. He will do
wrong and will grieve you." [In Burmese literally: "He will make you
lose face."]. But God created a man named anyway. God blew on the man
and the man came to life. He gave him the name "Adam". [Note: Buddhists
do not believe in the Creation of the world or of man, so this
experience had a significant impact on the monk].


Sent Back with a New Name

Then Peter said, "Now get up and go back to where you came from. Speak
to the people who worship Buddha and who worship idols. Tell them they
must go to hell if they don't change. Those who build temples and idols
will also have to go to hell. Those who give offerings to the monks to
earn merit for themselves with go to hell. All those who pray to the
monks and call them 'Pra' [respectful title for monks] will go to hell.
Those who chant and 'give life' to idols will go to hell. All those who
don't believe in Jesus Christ will go to hell." Peter told me to go
back to the earth and testify about the things I had seen. He also
said, "You must speak in your new name. From now on you are to be
called Athet Pyan Shinthaw Paulu ["Paul who Came Back to Life."].


I didn't want to go back. I wanted to go to heaven. Angels opened a
book. First they looked for my childhood name (Thitpin) in the book,
but they could not find it. They then looked for the name I had been
given when he entered the Buddhist monk hood (U Nata Pannita
Ashinthuriya) but it wasn't written in the book either. Then Peter
said, "Your name is not written here, you must return and testify about
Jesus to the Buddhist people."


I walked back along the gold road. Again I heard beautiful singing, the
kind of which I have never heard before or since. Peter walked with me
until the time I returned to the earth. He showed me a ladder that
reached down from the heaven to the sky. The ladder didn't reach to the
earth, but stopped in mid-air. On the ladder I saw many angels, some
going up to heaven and some going down the ladder. They were very busy.
I asked Peter, "Who are they?" Peter answered, "They are messengers of
God. They are reporting to heaven the names of all those who believe in
Jesus Christ and the names of those who don't believe." Peter then told
me it was time to go back.


It is a Ghost!

The next thing I was aware of was the sound of weeping. I heard my own
mother cry out, "My son, why did you leave us now?" I also heard many
other people weeping. I realized I was lying in a box. I started to
move. My mother and father started shouting, "He is alive! He is
alive!" Other people who were farther away did not believe my parents.
I then placed my hands on the sides of the box and sat upright. Many
people were struck with terror. They cried out, "It is a ghost!" and
ran away as fast as their legs could carry them.


Those who remained were speechless and trembling. I noticed I was
sitting in smelly liquid and body fluids, enough to fill about three
and a half cups. This was liquid that had come out of my stomach and my
insides while my body was lying in the coffin. This is why people knew
I had indeed been dead. Inside the coffin there was a type of plastic
sheet fixed to the wood. This sheet is placed there to retain a
corpse's liquids, because many dead bodies release much fluid like mine
did.


I learned later that I was just moments away from being cremated in the
flames. In Myanmar people are placed in a coffin, the lid is then
nailed shut, and the whole coffin is burned. When I came back to life
my mother and father were being allowed to look at my body for the very
last time. Moments later the lid of my coffin would have been nailed
shut and I would have been cremated!


I immediately started to explain the things I had seen and heard.
People were astonished. I told them about the men I had seen in the
lake of fire, and told them that only the Christians know the truth,
that our forefathers and us have been deceived for thousands of years!
I told them everything we believe is a lie. The people were astonished
because they knew what kind of a monk I had been and how zealous I had
been for the teachings of Buddha.


In Myanmar when a person dies their name and age is written on the side
of the coffin. When a monk dies, the monk's name, age and the number of
years he has served as a monk are written on the side of the coffin. I
had already been recorded as dead but as you can see, now I am alive!


Epilogue

Since 'Paul who came back to life' experienced the above story he has
remained a faithful witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. Burmese pastors
have told us that he had led hundreds of other monks to faith in
Christ. His testimony is obviously very uncompromising. Because of
that, his message has offended many people who cannot accept there is
only one Way to Heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. Despite great
opposition, his experiences were so real to him that he has not
wavered. After many years in the Buddhist monk hood, as a strict
follower of Buddhist teachings, he immediately proclaimed the Gospel of
Christ following his resurrection and exhorted other monks to forsake
all false gods and follow Jesus Christ with all their hearts. Before
the time of his sickness and death he had no exposure to Christianity
at all. Everything he learned during those three days in the grave was
new to his mind.


In a bid to get his message out to as many people as possible, this
modern-day Lazarus began distributing audio and video cassette tapes
with his story on them. The police and Buddhist authorities in Myanmar
have done their utmost to gather these tapes up and destroy them. The
testimony you have just read has been translated form one of those
cassette tapes. We are told it is now quite dangerous for citizens of
Myanmar to be in possession of these tapes.


His fearless testimony has landed him in prison at least once, where
the authorities failed in their bid to silence him. Upon his release he
continued to testify of the things he saw and heard. His current
whereabouts are uncertain. One Burmese informant told us he is prison
and may have been killed, while another informant was told he is now
released from prison and is continuing his ministry.


Translated by:

Asian Minorities Outreach

P.O.Box 901

Palestine, TX 75802

U.S.A.

E-Mail: monkst... @yahoo.com

Website: http://www.antioch.com.sg/mission/asianmo


________________________


Dear Triplegem Members,

The following message was posted to the NDE.com Website by
someone called 'James' on 23rd July, 2000. (NDE = Near Death
Experience). The Monk's story is identical. But the source is
different. Details can be viewed at


<>


The message began with:

"Buddhist Monk visits Hell"

I believe this person died, body decay & rotten.

He was then brought to those places by the LORD to show him some

vision. <--------->


This is taken from a mission paper

"Northside Missions Update"

Northside Christian Centre

31-61 McLeans Road

Bundoora Victoria 3083

Australia


The same 'Monk's Story' followed.

Then, exchange of interesting messages took place at the NDE.com

Bulletin Board among NDE regulars, some of them are Christians, and
finally, someone called 'Melvin', 'a Myanmar Buddhist', posted the
following message and the discussion came to a close.


The fact that the same story has re-surfaced in another form
(cassette), perhaps in a another country is a bit disturbing!


Best wishes to all our Triplegem members,

MM Lwin


...................................................................


Dear All NDE Fans,

I was alerted and requested by someone in a responsible position
to check for the authenticity of the story behind this posting. After
speaking to and exchanging Emails with Myanmar (Burmese) monks as
well as fellow Myanmar Buddhism experts in many countries, I am 100%
confident that this NDE story is completely fictitious. The reasons
are given below.


(1) All Burmese experts said they had never heard of the story
about this Myanmar Buddhist monk before.


(2) There is also no reports either in Burma or outside Burma of
mass defection of Myanmar Buddhist Monks to join the Christian
Church.


(3) The monk in the story said he became a novice at the age of
18. It is rather unusual as most boys Burmese boys join the monastic
life at younger age than 18.


(4) At the age of 19, he became a monk. This is also unusual as
the entry age for becoming a fully ordained monk is 20. (There is one
exception when one considers the foetal life while in the mother's
womb)


(5) U Zadila, also known as 'Kyar Ni Kan Sayadaw' was described as
probably the most famous Buddhist Teacher of the time. That is
disputable. Venerable Kyar Ni Kan Sayadaw was indeed well known and
very popular as public speaker and preacher. But he was not regarded
as the most distinguished monk academically and intellectually.


(6) The monk said 'Kyar Ni Kan Sayadaw' died in a car crash in
1983 . In fact Sayadaw died in Myanmar Era 1339 = about 1977. There
was a 6 years discrepancy which is unacceptable as the monk said he
studied under him. He should know the exact year when his teacher
died. And that 1977 was also the year when he became a monk. This
fact alone is enough to brand the story as a fake or invention.


(7) He said he was given a new name of 'U Nata Pannita
Ashinthuriya' when he entered the monastery. In Burma, the
title 'shin' was used for the novice. 'U' was never used for a
novice.


(8) The monk's new name itself was unusual nor unheard of,
according to the monks I consulted.


(9) Doctors diagnosed Malaria and Yellow fever. Actually the
Yellow Fever was not known to exist in Burma.


(10) To recover completely after very severe malaria is most
unusual especially after being discharged to die.


(11) To regain Life after the body started to decay (decompose) is
impossible according to conventional medical thinking.


There are other discrepancies regarding his actual NDE. But there
is no need to dig deeper. It is a complete FICTION.
It is very regrettable that a Christian Church was reported to be
involved in creating this dishonest practice.


We expect 'James' to say something about our findings. He is the
one who reported the story to the world media. After reading his
various postings to this forum, I believe that he is either a priest
or a serious Christian. We welcome his reply as well as the
communication from the Church authorities who wrote the Introduction
to this fictitious story and published in their regular bulletin.


Best wishes to all,

Melvin,

MyanmarBuddhist@n...


___________________________________________________



http://www.ccgm.org.au/Articles/ARTICLE-0102.htm


Resurrected Burmese Monk Story Revisited

During the year 2000, numerous emails circulated on the Internet
passing on the dramatic story: ‘BACK FROM THE DEAD The Remarkable
Testimony of a Buddhist monk in Myanmar (Burma) who came back to life
a changed man!’



With CCG Ministries’ involvement in Asia, including Myanmar, we were
very interested in this story and its authenticity.


It was brought to ‘life’ on the Internet through the promotion of a
Christian missionary organization then called, Asian Minorities
Outreach, later changing its name to: Asia Harvest, headquartered in
Texas, USA, and operating from Thailand. Its Director, Paul Hatthaway,
has written several books, including ‘The Heavenly Man’.


For quite some time the ‘resurrected Buddhist monk’ story appeared on
the front page of the organisation’s website. Then the actual story
was removed from their website, but a remaining reference to it
encouraged people to request a copy of the story by email. The
following explanation for the change, was given by the group at the
time:


‘A Quick Note: We have been asked by many people why this testimony
is no longer available on our website. We were ordered to remove the
story by the government of Singapore, who had apparently received
complaints from Buddhists. As our website is housed in Singapore at
the moment, we didn’t have much choice.’



AMO/Asia Harvest introduced the story with the following
introduction:


‘The story that follows is simply a translation of a taped testimony
from a man with a life-changing story. It is not an interview or a
biography, but simply the words from the man himself. Different
people react in different ways when they hear this story. Some are
inspired, some skeptical, a few will mock and ridicule, while some
others have even been filled with rage and anger, convinced these
words are the ravings of a mad man or an elaborate deception. Some
Christians have opposed the story simply because the radical and
miraculous events described herein do not fit their feeble image of an
Almighty God.’



We were concerned with the above wording and commented in our 2001
report that it was interesting to note the approach they took in the
introduction. Anyone who questioned the story would immediately be
labelled as a sceptic, a mocker or ridiculer, someone filled with rage
and anger, or worse a Christian whose concept of God is feeble and who
does not believe that an Almighty God can be radical and perform
miracles.


This could be seen by some as a form of bullying and intimidation to
dismiss any form of thought and questioning of the story. It is not a
healthy or biblical approach to dealing with questions about such a
dramatic story, nor does it encourage people to use their minds.


The resurrected monk’s story was quite a dramatic tale and it has
impressed many people. It was even reported in the well-known
Christian Singaporean magazine: IMPACT (June/July 2000, p.45). It
continued to be circulated and passed on through emails for some time.


But was it true? If it was, it SHOULD be circulated - whatever the
consequences. But what if it was NOT true? Should it then continue to
be circulated never-the-less? We believe not!


It should be noted that there have been several versions of the story
circulating. One version, which was circulating in March and April of
2000, began with an ‘Extract’:


‘Myanmar: Buddhist monk raised from the dead - 300 monks turn to
Jesus. “In 1998, a Buddhist monk died. A few days later, his funeral
was held, at which he was to be cremated. From the smell, it was
obvious that his body had started to decompose - he was very clearly
dead!” according to the report from missions agency Asian Minorities
Outreach. “We have attempted to verify this report which reached us
from a number of sources, and are now convinced that it is accurate,”
they write.


Hundreds of monks and relatives of the dead man attended the funeral.
Just as the body was about to be burned, the dead monk suddenly sat
up, shouting ‘It’s a lie! I saw our ancestors burning and being
tortured in some sort of fire. I also saw Buddha and many other
Buddhist holy men. They were all in a sea of fire!’ ‘We must listen to
the Christians,’ he continued emphatically, ‘they’re the only ones who
know the truth!’



The events shocked the whole region. Over 300 monks became Christians
and started to study the Bible. The resurrected man continued to warn
everyone to believe in Jesus, because he is the only true God. Tapes
of the monk’s report were distributed throughout Myanmar. The Buddhist
hierarchy and the government were soon alarmed, and they arrested the
monk. He has not been seen since and it is feared that he was killed
to keep him silent. It is now a serious crime to listen to the tapes,
because the government wants to dampen the sensation.’



On Sunday 19th November 2000, CCG Ministries’ Director, Adrian van
Leen, interviewed and spoke with a man who claimed to be the
‘resurrected’ Paul in a hotel function room in Yangon in the company
of four Myanmar Christian leaders.


That interview raised serious questions as to the authenticity of the
story under consideration.


Our detailed review of the interview with the man claiming to be Paul,
the ‘resurrected’ monk, was published as a report, sent to Asia
Harvest, and placed on our website. After emailing a copy of the
report, we also sent a ‘hard’ copy of the TACL containing the printed
article, to Asia Harvest. In the latter part of 2003 we received the
following email from Asia Harvest:


Greetings!

I’m sure you will remember our communications a year or two back
regarding the story of the Buddhist monk in Myanmar who came back to
life. We were the ones who first had his testimony translated and
published on our website.


Then you travelled to Myanmar and met with a man regarding this story.
Your graphic report of that interview, his seemingly unstable mind and
completely inconsistent testimony left us with no option but to
withdraw the story from our website and offer our deep apologies. The
last thing we want to do is discredit the name of our Lord Jesus by
publishing any story that is untrue. I wrote to you of our intentions
and you accurately reported,


[After Asia Harvest received a copy of this report they removed all
references to the story from their website and stopped sending out
email transcripts of the claimed resurrection account. They will be
making some statement regarding their initial endorsement of the
story. When this is available we will gladly append it to this
report.]


However, when we received your magazine article which carried a
picture of the man you interviewed, we showed it to two Burmese
pastors who met the original “Paul” in Myanmar and they immediately
said this was the wrong man! Later a missionary who lives here in
Thailand but who works in Myanmar also said the man you interviewed
looks nothing like the monk, being much younger.


More information since has revealed that there are actually three or
four different people in Myanmar who claim they were monks who rose
from the dead! Our contacts in Yangon (Rangoon) say that two of these
are completely untrustworthy men, with little evidence of a genuine
conversion to Christ. One of these is the young man you interviewed.
No wonder his birth-date and other key facts were different from the
testimony we published - it was not the same person! It almost seems
that Satan sent along these counterfeits with false testimonies and a
poor witness in order to discredit the original testimony.


Can we absolutely guarantee the story we published is true - of
course not. Only God and the person involved can know what happened in
such a story. We stated this when we first released the transcript of
his testimony. But as far as can be verified, we have yet to be
convinced that this testimony is false. We have been told it now seems
likely that the monk Paul was killed. He was in hiding for more than
12 months and has not been heard of since. Another ex-monk who lives
in Shan State, who also converted to Christ through miraculous
circumstances is also being hunted by the authorities in a bid to
silence him.


In the interests of fairness, would you be willing to publish our
comments in this email with the story that is on your website?


God bless you,


Asia Harvest


Unfortunately, this update from Asia Harvest still fails to answer
many of the questions and issues CCG Ministries raised in our report
initially.


Our report had already acknowledged that there were several people in
Myanmar (Burma) claiming to be the ‘resurrected’ monk: Further
complications have arisen with this whole saga. According to the
beliefs of some people in Myanmar (or some with friends and/or
relatives in Myanmar), several different people supposedly, or
apparently, are claiming to be the resurrected Buddhist monk - at
least an older man and a not-so-balanced young man.


Even if we completely remove the questionable ‘Paul’ interviewed by
CCG Ministries’ Director and several Myanmar Pastors, we are still
left with serious questions about the whole story anyway. These were
made clear in our 2001 report and remain unanswered by the recent
comments from Asia harvest.


Apart from the contradictions made by [the suspect] Paul in front of
witnesses, there are still serious questions about the content of his
[the ‘original ‘Paul’] supposed visions or visit to hell and heaven,
as well as questions about editorial comments made by Asian Minorities
Outreach/Asia Harvest.


AMO/Asia Harvest has made statements about Paul being radically
transformed and having a 180-degree shift in his life, and him
continuing to be a fearless witness for Christ, of him being
persecuted, scorned by family, friends and colleagues, and facing
death for his unwillingness to compromise. But some Myanmar Christian
leaders have asked (as we do also) on what do they base this, apart
from his say so [or the say-so of unnamed pastors whose comments seem
in clear conflict with that of the majority of pastors – especially
from known established churches and denominations]? What evidence do
they have?


Statements that [the ‘original’] Paul had been arrested and
imprisoned - probably several times, not seen since, and that it was
feared that he had been killed to keep him silent - are all highly
emotive. While claims of imprisonment in such a situation are
plausible and even probable, they remain unsubstantiated.


AMO/Asia Harvest has stated that the story was first told them by
several Burmese church leaders, and that since being initially told
they ‘have attempted to verify this report which reached us from a
number of sources, and are now convinced that it is accurate.’ IMPACT
Magazine reported that a spokesman for AMO/Asia Harvest stated: ‘We
believe it to be true as there are many witnesses to these events.’



CCG Ministries’ Director, Adrian van Leen, before, especially during,
and after his visit to Myanmar in November 2000, [and subsequent
visits in 2001 and 2002] has spoken to a number of [numerous] Myanmar
Christian leaders - including a number who are involved in
inter-church/inter-denominational work, as well as leaders of several
denominations. He spoke with leaders from Yangon and across Myanmar
who attended a conference in Bago, and also Christian leaders in
Mandalay and a regional township. Many of these leaders from across
varying denominations had contact with other Christian leaders across
the country.


No one was able to give ANY form of authentication to the story. A
number of leaders, including those who had been in Christian
leadership in Mandalay, knew of no evidence to confirm any part of the
story. Some of the Myanmar Christian leaders would very much like to
know who the ‘several Burmese church leaders’ are that AMO/Asia
Harvest refers to as their sources for this story.


In fact, it was pointed out very clearly that, had the story been
true, especially had there been a number of Buddhist monks converted
to Christianity - especially as many as 300 and very much so if there
were as many as 7,000 - the news would have spread rapidly. While the
government-controlled media might have tried to suppress such news -
the Christians and churches (particularly in the Mandalay area) would
not have been able - nor have wanted to - suppress such news. It would
have spread rapidly and widely through the churches. The Buddhist
community would also have spread the story - though for different
reasons.


The claim that ’there are many witnesses to these events’ is also
disputed by Myanmar Christian leaders, who have stated that they had
never met anyone who had been a direct primary witness - nor anyone
who had personally met a direct witness to these events… The reality
is that in Myanmar itself no one has been able to find any witnesses
or any evidence whatever, to support the story of the resurrected
Paul.


It was also pointed out that [the ‘original’] Paul’s claim to have
seen Aung San, the revolutionary leader of Myanmar (father of current
opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi) in hell ‘because he persecuted
and killed Christians, but mostly because he didn’t believe in Jesus
Christ’ was completely without foundation. He is a well known figure
in Burmese/Myanmar thinking and history - and there is no evidence at
all that he persecuted any Christians, let alone killed any.


AMO/Asia Harvest has invited ‘Christian believers to judge it [Paul’s
resurrection story] according to Scripture.’



As one senior Myanmar pastor pointed out, the story and description
of hell given by Paul, is itself contrary to Scripture. Paul’s story
is also in conflict with the story Jesus told in the account of the
rich man and the beggar, Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). When carefully
examined it is also in conflict with the comments of the Apostle Paul
in 1 Corinthians 15 - in particular where that Paul was able to name
eye witnesses to the resurrection of Christ - and acknowledged at the
time that some were still living - in other words, he was able to
produce witnesses who could testify to the authenticity of his claims.


Pastors in Myanmar are still asking for real evidence and living
witnesses to the claimed miracle with whom they can discuss and verify
the story. So far, the story’s authenticity remains with the claims
made by Asia Harvest.


The story of the ‘resurrected Paul’ is known throughout much of
Myanmar - and his tape has circulated (in several versions). Hardly
anyone in Myanmar - especially amongst Christian leaders - has
accepted or believed the story. There is just nothing to back it up.


Far from the ‘resurrected monk’ story providing a ‘fearless and
faithful witness to Jesus Christ, whose testimony is converting
Buddhists, strengthening the church or bringing glory to God’s name’,
Myanmar pastor have told our Director that it has brought fear and
suspicion to many Christians in the country. We concluded our 2001
report with the comment: Whatever the truth behind this sad saga,
most Christians, and most pastors and church leaders in Myanmar, are
not taking this story seriously and see little value in it for the
growth of the Christian community in that country.


From the evidence we have been able to examine, including the claims
and content of the story itself, and all the discussions with Pastors
and others in Myanmar, we believe it would have been wiser for the
story not to have been published and circulated.


We believe that ‘miracle stories’ which cannot be adequately
substantiated ought to be treated with caution – especially if those
stories, or significant parts of those stories, do not conform to
Scripture. Lives continue to be changed by the resurrected and living
Jesus Christ – sometimes dramatically, sometimes quietly – the
substance of those changed lives are quiet miracles that are often
clear and undisputed. They continue to honour Christ and encourage
others.


___________________________________________________


Taken from http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2008/12/14/when_jesus_met_buddha/ for the intellectual discussion purposely. Not for commercial gain



When Jesus met Buddha

Something remarkable happened when evangelists for two great religions
crossed paths more than 1,000 years ago: they got along

By Philip Jenkins

December 14, 2008




While few mainline Christians would put the matter in such
confrontational terms, any religion claiming exclusive access to truth
has real difficulties reconciling other great faiths into its cosmic
scheme. Most Christian churches hold that Jesus alone is the Way, the
Truth, and the Life, and many also feel an obligation to carry that
message to the world's unbelievers. But this creates a fundamental
conflict with the followers of famous spiritual figures like Mohammed
or Buddha, who preached radically different messages. Drawing on a
strict interpretation of the Bible, some Christians see these rival
faiths as not merely false, but as deliberate traps set by the forces
of evil.



Being intolerant of other religions - consigning them to hell, in fact
- may be bad enough in its own right, but it increasingly has real-
world consequences. As trade and technology shrink the globe, so
different religions come into ever-closer contact with one another,
and the results can be bloody: witness the apocalyptic assaults in
Mumbai. In such a world, teaching different faiths to acknowledge one
another's claims, to live peaceably together side by side, stops being
a matter of good manners and becomes a prerequisite for human
survival.



Over the past 30 years, the Roman Catholic Church has faced repeated
battles over this question of Christ's uniqueness, and has cracked
down on thinkers who have made daring efforts to accommodate other
world religions. While the Christian dialogue with Islam has attracted
most of the headlines, it is the encounters with Hinduism and
especially Buddhism that have stirred the most controversy within the
church. Sri Lankan theologians Aloysius Pieris and Tissa Balasuriya
have had many run-ins with Vatican critics, and, more recently, the
battle has come to American shores. Last year, the Vatican ordered an
investigation of Georgetown University's Peter Phan, a Jesuit
theologian whose main sin, in official eyes, has been to treat the
Buddhism of his Vietnamese homeland as a parallel path to salvation.



Following the ideas of Pope Benedict XVI, though, the church refuses
to give up its fundamental belief in the unique role of Christ. In a
widely publicized open letter to Italian politician Marcello Pera,
Pope Benedict declared that "an inter-religious dialogue in the strict
sense of the term is not possible." By all means, he said, we should
hold conversations with other cultures, but not in a way that
acknowledges other religions as equally valid. While the Vatican does
not of course see the Buddha as a demon, it does fear the prospect of
syncretism, the dilution of Christian truth in an unholy mixture with
other faiths.



Beyond doubt, this view places Benedict in a strong tradition of
Christianity as it has developed in Europe since Roman times. But
there is another, ancient tradition, which suggests a very different
course. Europe's is not the only version of the Christian faith, nor
is it necessarily the oldest heir of the ancient church. For more than
1,000 years, other quite separate branches of the church established
thriving communities across Asia, and in their sheer numbers, these
churches were comparable to anything Europe could muster at the time.
These Christian bodies traced their ancestry back not through Rome,
but directly to the original Jesus movement of ancient Palestine. They
moved across India, Central Asia, and China, showing no hesitation to
share - and learn from - the other great religions of the
East.



Just how far these Christians were prepared to go is suggested by a
startling symbol that appeared on memorials and stone carvings in both
southern India and coastal China during the early Middle Ages. We can
easily see that the image depicts a cross, but it takes a moment to
realize that the base of the picture - the root from which the cross
is growing - is a lotus flower, the symbol of Buddhist enlightenment.



In modern times, most mainstream churches would condemn such an
amalgam as a betrayal of the Christian faith, an example of
multiculturalism run wild. Yet concerns about syncretism did not
bother these early Asian Christians, who called themselves Nasraye,
Nazarenes, like Jesus's earliest followers. They were comfortable
associating themselves with the other great monastic and mystical
religion of the time, and moreover, they believed that both lotus and
cross carried similar messages about the quest for light and
salvation. If these Nazarenes could find meaning in the lotus-cross,
then why can't modern Catholics, or other inheritors of the faith
Jesus inspired?



Many Christians are coming to terms with just how thoroughly so many
of their fundamental assumptions will have to be rethought as their
faith today becomes a global religion. Even modern church leaders who
know how rapidly the church is expanding in the global South tend to
see European values and traditions as the indispensable norm, in
matters of liturgy and theology as much as music and architecture.



Yet the reality is that Christianity has from its earliest days been
an intercontinental faith, as firmly established in Asia and Africa as
in Europe itself. When we broaden our scope to look at the faith that
by 800 or so stretched from Ireland to Korea, we see the many
different ways in which Christians interacted with other believers, in
encounters that reshaped both sides. At their best, these meetings
allowed the traditions not just to exchange ideas but to intertwine in
productive and enriching ways, in an awe-inspiring chapter of
Christian history that the Western churches have all but forgotten.



To understand this story, we need to reconfigure our mental maps. When
we think of the growth of Christianity, we think above all of Europe.
We visualize a movement growing west from Palestine and Syria and
spreading into Greece and Italy, and gradually into northern regions.
Europe is still the center of the Catholic Church, of course, but it
was also the birthplace of the Protestant denominations that split
from it. For most of us, even speaking of the "Eastern Church" refers
to another group of Europeans, namely to the Orthodox believers who
stem from the eastern parts of the continent. English Catholic thinker
Hilaire Belloc once proclaimed that "Europe is the Faith; and the
Faith is Europe."



But in the early centuries other Christians expanded east into Asia
and south into Africa, and those other churches survived for the first
1,200 years or so of Christian history. Far from being fringe sects,
these forgotten churches were firmly rooted in the oldest traditions
of the apostolic church. Throughout their history, these Nazarenes
used Syriac, which is close to Jesus' own language of Aramaic, and
they followed Yeshua, not Jesus. No other church - not Roman
Catholics, not Eastern Orthodox - has a stronger claim to a direct
inheritance from the earliest Jesus movement.



The most stunningly successful of these eastern Christian bodies was
the Church of the East, often called the Nestorian church. While the
Western churches were expanding their influence within the framework
of the Roman Empire, the Syriac-speaking churches colonized the vast
Persian kingdom that ruled from Syria to Pakistan and the borders of
China. From their bases in Mesopotamia - modern Iraq - Nestorian
Christians carried out their vast missionary efforts along the Silk
Route that crossed Central Asia. By the eighth century, the Church of
the East had an extensive structure across most of central Asia and
China, and in southern India. The church had senior clergy -
metropolitans - in Samarkand and Bokhara, in Herat in Afghanistan. A
bishop had his seat in Chang'an, the imperial capital of China, which
was then the world's greatest superpower.



When Nestorian Christians were pressing across Central Asia during the
sixth and seventh centuries, they met the missionaries and saints of
an equally confident and expansionist religion: Mahayana Buddhism.
Buddhists too wanted to take their saving message to the world, and
launched great missions from India's monasteries and temples. In this
diverse world, Buddhist and Christian monasteries were likely to stand
side by side, as neighbors and even, sometimes, as collaborators. Some
historians believe that Nestorian missionaries influenced the
religious practices of the Buddhist religion then developing in Tibet.
Monks spoke to monks.



In presenting their faith, Christians naturally used the cultural
forms that would be familiar to Asians. They told their stories in the
forms of sutras, verse patterns already made famous by Buddhist
missionaries and teachers. A stunning collection of Jesus Sutras was
found in caves at Dunhuang, in northwest China. Some Nestorian
writings draw heavily on Buddhist ideas, as they translate prayers and
Christian services in ways that would make sense to Asian readers. In
some texts, the Christian phrase "angels and archangels and hosts of
heaven" is translated into the language of buddhas and devas.



One story in particular suggests an almost shocking degree of
collaboration between the faiths. In 782, the Indian Buddhist
missionary Prajna arrived in Chang'an, bearing rich treasures of
sutras and other scriptures. Unfortunately, these were written in
Indian languages. He consulted the local Nestorian bishop, Adam, who
had already translated parts of the Bible into Chinese. Together,
Buddhist and Christian scholars worked amiably together for some years
to translate seven copious volumes of Buddhist wisdom. Probably, Adam
did this as much from intellectual curiosity as from ecumenical good
will, and we can only guess about the conversations that would have
ensued: Do you really care more about relieving suffering than atoning
for sin? And your monks meditate like ours do?



These efforts bore fruit far beyond China. Other residents of Chang'an
at this very time included Japanese monks, who took these very
translations back with them to their homeland. In Japan, these works
became the founding texts of the great Buddhist schools of the Middle
Ages. All the famous movements of later Japanese history, including
Zen, can be traced to one of those ancient schools and, ultimately -
incredibly - to the work of a Christian bishop.



By the 12th century, flourishing churches in China and southern India
were using the lotus-cross. The lotus is a superbly beautiful flower
that grows out of muck and slime. No symbol could better represent the
rise of the soul from the material, the victory of enlightenment over
ignorance, desire, and attachment. For 2,000 years, Buddhist artists
have used the lotus to convey these messages in countless paintings
and sculptures. The Christian cross, meanwhile, teaches a comparable
lesson, of divine victory over sin and injustice, of the defeat of the
world. Somewhere in Asia, Yeshua's forgotten followers made the daring
decision to integrate the two emblems, which still today forces us to
think about the parallels between the kinds of liberation and
redemption offered by each faith.



Christianity, for much of its history, was just as much an Asian
religion as Buddhism. Asia's Christian churches survived for more than
a millennium, and not until the 10th century, halfway through
Christian history, did the number of Christians in Europe exceed that
in Asia.



What ultimately obliterated the Asian Christians were the Mongol
invasions, which spread across Central Asia and the Middle East from
the 1220s onward. From the late 13th century, too, the world entered a
terrifying era of climate change, of global cooling, which severely
cut food supplies and contributed to mass famine. The collapse of
trade and commerce crippled cities, leaving the world much poorer and
more vulnerable. Intolerant nationalism wiped out Christian
communities in China, while a surging militant Islam destroyed the
churches of Central Asia.



But awareness of this deep Christian history contributes powerfully to
understanding the future of the religion, as much as its past. For
long centuries, Asian Christians kept up neighborly relations with
other faiths, which they saw not as deadly rivals but as fellow
travelers on the road to enlightenment. Their worldview differed
enormously from the norms that developed in Europe.



To take one example, we are used to the idea of Christianity operating
as the official religion of powerful states, which were only too
willing to impose a particular orthodoxy upon their subjects. Yet when
we look at the African and Asian experience, we find millions of
Christians whose normal experience was as minorities or even
majorities within nations dominated by some other religion. Struggling
to win hearts and minds, leading churches had no option but to frame
the Christian message in the context of non-European intellectual
traditions. Christian thinkers did present their message in the
categories of Buddhism - and Taoism, and Confucianism - and there is
no reason why they could not do so again. When modern scholars like
Peter Phan try to place Christianity in an Asian and Buddhist context,
they are resuming a task begun at least 1,500 years ago.



Perhaps, in fact, we are looking at our history upside down. Some day,
future historians might look at the last few hundred years of Euro-
American dominance within Christianity and regard it as an unnatural
interlude in a much longer story of fruitful interchange between the
great religions.



Consider the story told by Timothy, a patriarch of the Nestorian
church. Around 800, he engaged in a famous debate with the Muslim
caliph in Baghdad, a discussion marked by reason and civility on both
sides. Imagine, Timothy said, that we are all in a dark house, and
someone throws a precious pearl in the midst of a pile of ordinary
stones. Everyone scrabbles for the pearl, and some think they've found
it, but nobody can be sure until day breaks.



In the same way, he said, the pearl of true faith and wisdom had
fallen into the darkness of this transitory world; each faith believed
that it alone had found the pearl. Yet all he could claim - and all
the caliph could say in response - was that some faiths thought they
had enough evidence to prove that they were indeed holding the real
pearl, but the final truth would not be known in this world.

Knowing other faiths firsthand grants believers an enviable
sophistication, founded on humility. We could do a lot worse than to
learn from what we sometimes call the Dark Ages.

Philip Jenkins is Edwin Erle Sparks professor of the humanities at
Penn State University. He is author of "The Lost History of
Christianity: The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle
East, Africa, and Asia -- and How It Died," published last month.

© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.

http://www.buddha.sg/htm/general/faq01.htm

sama-sama penyembah jin, manusia sesat yang terpedaya pleh upaya penyesatan jin

Dulu teman saya yang beragama protestan menceritakan kisah ini.. dia diceritakan oleh pendeta nya tentang rahib yang melihat yesus, goliat, petrus, dsb. saat itu ilmu agama saya masih sangat rendah dan saya kepikiran dan hampir terjebak masuk ke agama penyembah mayat

 

untungnya setelah saya mencari-cari di jejaring internet, ternyata setelah ditelusuri.. kisah tersebut palsu alias bohong alias hoax.

saat saya bertemu kembali dengan teman saya yang protestan itu, saya jelaskan secara rinci bahwa itu berita hoax.. dia tertawa dan mengatakan:

"ah, itu paling cuman antikristus yang lari dari kebenaran. cerita nya pasti asli lah, kalau bapa kami yang menghendaki, pasti semua nya terjadi".

benar-benar korban brainwashed..

cerita2 ttg kesaksian spt itu sih biasa sj menurut sy

yang tidak biasa hanyalah jika itu (kesaksian) dijadikan andalan dalam penjualan, mengapa nggak jualan ajaran, memangnya ada apa dengan ajarannya?

frontline defender wrote:
yang tidak biasa hanyalah jika itu (kesaksian) dijadikan andalan dalam penjualan, mengapa nggak jualan ajaran, memangnya ada apa dengan ajarannya?

mangnya ada gt yah yg jd sales marketing ajaran?