This human intelligence we must use, says Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, to save ourselves, to bring ourselves to enlightenment and Nirvana. Back in Part 18 of this series, I left the giant question hanging: What about those who are mentally challenged? How can they help themselves?
Interconnect that with another question...
Where did human intelligence come from in the first place?
Sri Dhammananda asserts in his book What Buddhists Believe, that...
"We must refer to our knowledge of the evolution theory" (Page 252)!!*
He explains,
"It is clearly stated that life began in very primitive forms - no more than a single cell floating in the water. Over millions of years these basic life forms evolved and became more complex, more intelligent..." (Pages 252-253).So does that mean those who are mentally challenged are "lower life forms"?! Again, how are they to save themselves? Patience.... Millions of years later, it'll come right for their mental continuum?
"The process can take a long time, over a period of many births" (Page 251).Because of this, even these seemingly disadvantaged persons,
"...must make an effort, however small, to begin the process of deliverance and the duty of those more able is to help them do this..." (Page 251).All neat and tidy.
So, struggle and strive; struggle and strive for enough intelligence to be able to use that intelligence to gain ones' own salvation.
Quite some time ago, in another series titled On the Doorstep, But Don't Get to Enter which is based on a book written by Craig R. Lundahl and Harold A. Widdeson (both Ph.Ds) called The Eternal Journey re: Near Death Experiences (NDE), babies and the mentally challenged have been mentioned. In Part 10 of the series we learn that some of those who had had NDEs had seen young children in that wonderful place they had 'gone' to.
There was reference to an article by John MacArthur of Grace to You who preferred to call the groups of people who come under the umbrella of what some call "age of accountability", to refer to them instead as "condition of accountability" [emphasis mine]. Babies and the mentally challenged would be sheltered under that condition depending upon their mental ability to comprehend the connection to God (who created our intelligence) and faith in Jesus Christ and their need for salvation.
It was stated in that Part 10, that these little ones and special ones would be "safe". The Lord Jesus would look out for them. God has concern for them and will bring them safely Home. The Creator of all mankind knows His people. God will always thwart what Satan meant for harm.
For those who do not have belief in God, faith and need of salvation through Jesus Christ, here are some questions to ponder: How can one actually be sure of that Nirvana attainment through ones' own efforts? Who has set the standard? Who decided? At what point has ones' intelligence won the day enough to realize one has well and truly overcome all desire? Should one even have desire to end desire?
Depending on one's own intelligence and efforts do you set your own standard of attainment? As it is seen "negative" (Page 237) to depend on anyone else for salvation, there is a lot of room for variation even when one does follow the guidelines of the Four Noble Truths and Nobel Eight-Fold path towards Enlightenment. Again, who's to say you have or have not "arrived".
Compare this to God's Word in which...
"...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23 NIV).No matter how great a level of intelligence and achievement, it is still short. All that weary burden of work, work, work towards the end goal and no matter how much knowledge of these Buddhist teachings and living it out one may have, it's all just, not enough!
Granted living according to this good and wholesome Path is a very good lifestyle to practice. It can and does train the mind for better and better living but it does not intrinsically change it. Therefore, would you agree, it is not quite good enough?
In a previous writing it was mentioned the necessity and God's promise of a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26) to all those who will accept God's gift of salvation. Jesus offers this to one and all who surrender their Self, to Him. As we have learned earlier in this Burning Quest series, Christian theologians call this "justification".
Surrendering in this way should not be seen as a weakness of mind but as an intelligent, wise and good and satisfactory choice of life. Buddhists, you fear being "slaves" (Page 237) to anything or anyone but when one surrenders with voluntary willingness of ones' own full will, to God through Jesus Christ, it is surrendering to become "slaves of [the] righteousness" (Romans 6:15-23 ESV) which you so desire.
5 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves,[a] you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There is an expression in English that warns, "You can't have your cake and eat it too." Well, I beg to differ in this case. Life surrendered to Jesus Christ, with all eternity to look forward to, would be the most excellent and pivotal of all intelligent choices, of all time, despite ones IQ, to choose.
This will not plunge one into "a religion with a mass of dogmas, and theories" (Page 238 of What Buddhists Believe), rather a completely satisfactory relationship with the God of all His created universe. Faith in Jesus Christ brings this about and will bring a person to "final deliverance from the miseries of existence". No birth-death-rebirth continuum. No more pain, sorrows or tears.
Awesome!
~ERC June 2018~
Note:
* I do not agree with evolution.
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