The connotation of "practice" meaning "Way of Life" that gives "purpose of life". This is a human, 'be'-ing.
Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, in his book What Buddhists Believe, Page 171, states that...
"The Human Being is the highest fruit on the tree of evolution. It is for the individual to realize his or her: position in existence; and understand the true meaning of his life."
"The purpose of life", he says, "is to achieve the end of suffering or unsatisfactoriness."
Each human being is not "ready made" (page 174), points out Sri Dhammananda. They are a culmination of a long chain of rebirths; their minds constituting of all the behavior (good and bad) and the attached consequences; a...
"...continual process of becoming..." (Page 174)
Becoming what? If there had been much good, then the next rebirth may bring better results. If there had been much unwholesomeness, then the person would be bumped down a limb or two on that "evolution tree" perhaps even to become a lesser type of fruit; say a pig or python or flea. That sounds like digression not evolution.
However, if "the change" had been for the better it is well possible Sri Dhammananda says,
"for them to mould their character and destiny through control of their actions, speech and thoughts. Indeed, they become the thoughts and actions that they choose to perform..." (Page 174).
Similarly, the follower of Jesus Christ needs to realize and understand his/her position in Christ. At the cataclysmic point of salvation, that is, of accepting Jesus's payment for all the ill deeds one has ever done in their one life's time, they are seen by God as 100% righteous. This is termed, "justified".
Yes, because even a follower of Jesus Christ hasn't' gotten rid of their sin nature, he/she is still capable of doing wrong; no doubt about that. What can they do then?
As alluded to in previous Burning Quest entries, this born again follower of Jesus Christ needs to engage in the "continually changing process" called progressive sanctification. That "being holy as God is holy" (1 Peter 1:16). In essence, that is what Gautama Buddha was trying to practice and preach. Yet he believed this would earn him salvation.
Sanctification to earn justification was Gautama Buddha's way to salvation. In Christ, however, we need to be justified in God's sight through Jesus Christ and once a person accepts Him, that's called justification. It's also called salvation. That's God's way. Earned by Jesus.
Sanctification should come on the heels of justification. This involves the Holy Spirit indwelling, aiding and abetting the follower of Jesus Christ. The final decision of behavioral choices is up to the individual but the consequences of the choices are not.
We can have as little or as much of this progressive sanctification as we wish. God does not force anyone to do anything. However, out of gratitude for God, may each child of God enable Him to have free and full sway in each individual.
Romans 8:5-8 ESV explains...
"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
The purpose is to become more Christ-like in one's behavior, character and conduct. May the Holy Spirit be enabled to control "our speech and thoughts" as we bring our "every thought captive" to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). In no way is this fruit of evolution. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in the person's life as he/she allows Him to work the work of righteousness more and more each day until He comes for him/her. This is the way of life to continually practice.
Suffering leads to character building. Romans 5:1-5 ESV sums it up well...
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."This process makes the human being fit for the Master's use in the here and now. We will hear "God's "well done, good and faithful servant" in God's presence on Awards Day (Revelation 2:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20).
Only then will there be an end to suffering and unsatisfactoriness.
The apostle Paul consoles us with Romans 8:18 ESV...
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
Paul had had more than his fair share of sufferings but was still able to write those encouraging words to the Roman recipients of the letter. We too can take comfort. There is a God and He has not abandoned us.
The purpose of life for the Buddhist is to achieve the end of suffering or unsatisfactoriness in as few rebirths as possible under their own steam.
For the follower of Jesus Christ, the purpose of life is to: become more like Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit; to glorify, and worship Him; serve Him and bring others to Him-- to be fit for His use.
When a child of God aims for perfection in those purposes of life, their minds will be staid upon Christ and His desires. The more he/she aims for doing God's will and pleasure the less likely materialism and dependence upon possessions will become an issue.
I'd never say, "Never" to become an issue, but less likely to take hold. The pursuit of God's will deters the hook-in and stronghold. Yet just when one thinks one is "standing strong", one could fall (Proverbs 16:18). A constant check in God's mirror of daily accounting may well be needed. This too is part and parcel of sanctification post salvation.
Dr K. Sri Dhammananda brings this to our attention as well. He says materialism needs to be out. Dependence upon possessions needs to be out; and not talking about death, is out. He says everyone needs to talk about death to realize that it is...
"...a temporary end to a temporary existence" (Pages 174-175).
True enough! Death does need to be talked about. There is life after death but it is not a 'rebirth'. For the Christian, he/she goes to be 'with Christ" (Philippians 1:23); forever--an eternal life existence giving permanent residence with Him.
Take a look at Romans 8:10-11 ESV...
"But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."
If a child of God dies; his or her body death is temporary. As ascertained from the verses above, the power that raised Christ will also resurrect the believer's body too, with an imperishable body (1 Corinthians 15:53).
For the one who knows not Christ and His salvation, there will be life without Christ, forever--a living eternal death existence that is permanent. There is the urgency then to accept salvation through Jesus Christ before death comes to an individual.
We are each given 'X' number of days or years and then we pass away. Only God knows that number (Job 14:5; Psalm 139:16). Most people will live for threescore and ten years; plus, plus (Psalm 90:10); a drop in the bucket compared to all eternity.
In Psalm 90:10, it's God who knows the number of our days. On the other hand Psalm 90:12 behooves us to number our days. We need to make our time on earth count. The most meaningful and critical life event would be the moment of accepting Christ as Savior and Lord. All the rest of our life's purposes should then stem from that moment, as said earlier, to give God glory and to live in pleasing obedience to His Word, will and way. This brings about that sanctified life in what ever time we have to live on earth. Live through thick and thin; ups and downs of life in dependence on God. This is the nature of desirable life and existence and of how a human being can 'be'. In this way of life is suffering but also satisfaction until Jesus comes and/or calls individuals away to Himself.
~ERC April 2018~
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