By Nneka Okumazie
Buddhism is having a great time – especially spinoffs from its core. There are lots of minds and behavioural prescriptions from Buddhism trickled into common recommendations.
Mindfulness – meditation, yoga, etc. are almost – totally – mainstream, providing tranquillity, turning off thoughts momentarily, and tuned for purposes many want.
There are things to take from Buddhism without adherence to its mores. It is possible to do whatever one likes to others, but use certain spinoffs to calm oneself – from whatever comes one’s way.
Buddhism offers lots of wisdom, in part because the nature of existence opens one up to more observations, and learning, with self-denial, failures, and resistance of will.
However, the reductionism of cognate Buddhism offers a coping mechanism to many, but hardly insistent on what is given out.
This, though helpful to the mental health in ways, does little to change spaces of abundant toxicity.
It drives some into Buddhist spirituality, or many abandon it altogether.
The world has always been chaotic and unpredictable, but with higher volatility of reaction – to situations – in the modern era, it is obvious that stability is wobbly.
There are just some things in life that should be yea or nay. No in-between, no compromise.
Deceit, destruction, misleading acts or information, etc. are clearly bad for the world, no matter what benefits it brings to an individual, a group or a cause.
Participating in harm against others, but choosing safety for self, is like someone who says nothing can touch their kids, but forget any evil they add to the world comes back one way or another – especially with what they didn’t anticipate.
There’re all kinds of practices that have become appealing across the world, for happiness or advantage.
But it will be hard for the world to be a better place without living in ways as harmless as possible to self, others and the environment.
The smartest human being that ever lived was the one that had recommendations on the perfect ways to live – no matter the technological advances, conflicts, changes, collapse, wealth, or anything.
Apostle Paul is the greatest genius ever. Though for him, the humble Christian, he wouldn’t have loved the title.
There have been scientists and all kinds of brain wonders alive and have lived, but their work or intellect comes into a world of discovery-unsettled or situations requiring multiple aspects of progress.
There are advances in many fields, but are often in a continuous state, with side effects, or at a cost to the environment – known unknowns and unknown unknowns.
Some others seem perfect – until something better shows up from other minds.
But to have that Apostle’s matchless genius, in the worship of the Christ, the Saviour, recommend how to live – with surpassing wisdom, the guidance of the comforter and hope of glory, is the greatest.
Christianity didn’t let go of the Old Testament – as Christ came, to save, updating the way of acceptance to the Father.
Through history, there are people with colossal talents and wonders, who didn’t serve or recognize Jehovah, yet they had their exceptional ability.
It shows that Yahweh, the Creator is a mysterious giver – just as He wills, to anyone.
However, to think or believe the human mind is able to define or understand His works is deep cluelessness.
What is the use of argument against the creation, when there’s anarchy on the street or wicked greed in workplaces?
If evidence is everything, is it not possible to look in the wrong place?
If there are questions people feel Christianity can’t answer, isn’t it possible those questions are misplaced?
If the mind can travel faster than the body, and sometimes, all kinds of strange disturbances come to mind, as desires, plots, hidden intentions, isn’t it possible there’s another dimension, suggesting stuff or nudging?
For some of the gruesome killings, hate, evil, wickedness, from people, leaders, through history, isn’t it possible to say something external to the body, or mind is responsible for what could not be controlled?
Just like some people are incredibly intelligent, some others are exceptionally nice to people in general, isn’t there something strange about true goodness – uncommon – in this world?
The Creator of this world came around, not to destroy it, but to die, to save the creation, isn’t that the most complex phenomenon, beyond all human understanding combined?
It is weird how people, who in a few centuries would become bones – or worse, say they understand infinity or have excavations for its timeline.
Atheists at this time don’t have Christianity to worry about, the world without the fear of God they advocated is flaring much.
When it comes close to home, they should know they have their works.
In a world of high unemployment, confusion over the economic direction that important ideas are needed to calm the world and bring progress, the fruits of those who say to all to ignore the fear of God is more problematic than lack of good policy.
King Solomon the greatest human of wisdom kept saying fear of God, fear of God.
It will be hard to avoid evil – thoughts or acts if it isn’t regarded that a Creator sees and knows all, or that account would be given at the end of life.
King Solomon lived before the Buddha, Confucius and before Athenian intellect ruled the world.
There is no way that with his popularity, and people travelling to hear or see, or his women, people didn’t go back to those other territories – with some information passed down, to shape those who shaped some of them, one way or another.
In this world, everyone adopts self as special as one thinks of self.
This makes some entitled to cause trouble, force lust, drive deceit, top greed, hone wickedness and induce evil.
In Christianity, humans are equal.
Everyone has something, no matter hidden it seems to others.
The place of everyone is known before Jehovah Nissi.
The truest wisdom aligns with Christ, the light of the world.
[Ecclesiastes 5:2, Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.]