Christian Critique of A Daily Dose of Dharma
Chapter 7 – Emptiness & No Self
Chapter 7 – Emptiness & No Self
Page 156: Because form is empty, everything that we see is gone as we see it. Form is impermanent. Theoretically, form exists only for a very brief moment of about 1/10 second and then vanishes. By the time we say or see form it is empty. Therefore every form, everything is impermanent.
Note: Due to God, the earth became a form or shape and became permanent.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. Genesis 1:1-2.
Note: Buddhists do not believe that there is a God.
Page 157: All forms (that we see, hear, smell, taste, touch, and think about) are empty. Every form; every thing is Empty (adjective). Even Emptiness (noun) is empty. Once one mentions Emptiness, Emptiness becomes a kind of form and Form is Empty.
Note: Form relates to something that is tangible.
Form defined: the visible shape or configuration of something.
Note: Buddhists are confused by the English language.
Page 158: When all the forms are empty, the self is also empty. Then how can there be a self? There is no-self or non-self.
Note: In English, form means the tangle self.
Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?” Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. Genesis 29:15-17.
Note: Buddhists are confused by the English language.
Page 159: What you see is a form. An empty form. You think you see a form but in actuality, what you see is empty and you are empty too.
Note: In English, form means the tangle self.
Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. Genesis 39:6.
Note: Buddhists are confused by the English language.
Page 160: When you think you feel, it is the No Self that seems to feel. So if there is no self, there is no feeling either. To say you feel is a double delusion as there is no you (empty) and there is no feeling (empty).
Note: Self is a person's essential being that distinguishes them from others.
“Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’” Exodus 32:13.
Note: Buddhists are confused by the English language.
Page 161: When one attains the realization of No Self, No “I,” being empty, then there is No Self to suffer. There is no suffering.
Note: There will always be some sort of suffering.
Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:17-19.
Note: Buddhists are delusional.
Page 162: The reason one cannot attain the realization of No Self, “emptiness,” is because one is greatly attached to what the “false self” sees, hears, smells, tastes, touches, and thinks. This creates the false duality of self and the outside world.
Note: Christians realize that a tangibleness exists after this lifetime.
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence. Luke 24:36-43.
Note: Buddhists do not believe that there is a God.
Page 163: With a false belief in self comes the self-inflated concept of self which makes it even harder for one to get to the attainment of No Self; emptiness.
Note: Christians who led by the Holy Spirit have self-control.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.
Note: Buddhists do not believe that there is a God.
Page 164: When one does things with the false concept of a false self, a false inflated self, one is led to doing unwholesome things. Even things we believe as “good things to do.”
Note: Christians who led by the Holy Spirit have self-control.
For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. Titus 1:7-9.
Note: Buddhists do not believe that there is a God.
Page 165: With a false belief in self, one is attached to the idea of keeping the self going; keeping the self alive.
Note: Christians will not worry about this lifetime.
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:25-26.
Note: Buddhists do not believe that there is a God.
Page 166: Continuing attachment to the outside world through our six senses (five senses + mind) keeps the idea of the false I alive and well.
Note: Christians will not worry about this lifetime.
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” Matthew 6:28-30.
Note: Buddhists do not believe that there is a God.
Page 167: The more we believe there is “I”, the more suffering we generate. Just because of the belief of “I”. Suffering stops when one attains the realization of “No I”.
Note: Christians will lose themselves for Jesus Christ and suffer for it.
So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Acts 5:41-42.
Note: Buddhists are delusional.
Page 168: When we are used to: I see, I hear, I smell, I taste, I touch, there will always be the arising and attachment to the false I. Once one is mindful of: There is seeing, there is hearing, there is smelling, there is tasting, there is touching, one can let go of the false I.
Note: Christians who led by the Holy Spirit have self-control.
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, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8.
Note: Buddhists do not believe that there is a God.
Page 169: When a sense arises, just be mindful of the sense and do not let one’s self get attached to the sense and there will be no arising of the false I.
Note: Suffering Christians will be comforted and eternally saved.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.
Note: Buddhists do not believe that there is a God.
