[lit-ideas] Re: "Grace" taught in all religions?
- From: Eric <eyost1132@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2006 13:42:46 -0500
Peter: before he became a Buddha declared that he
would
not become a Buddha unless anyone who called upon
his name a few
times would go to his Pure Land---the Western
paradise---he would
not become a Buddha.
Then there is the bodhisattva ideal, which turns
heaven on its head so to speak, as the enlightened
one renounces "paradise" (freedom from rebirth)
until all sentient beings achieve enlightenment.
As a narrative strategy, that makes more sense to me.
Heaven? After you please.
After you, Alphonse.
No, after you Gaston.
It's also interesting that the compassion figures
are so widespread. Kuan Yin, Avalokyishvara, The
Virgin Mary, Ramakrishna's Mother Goddess ... all
those nice celestial mother figures picking up the
pieces after Kali and Thor and Yahweh and Allah
muck up the house.
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