Besides the 10 commandments what other practical tools does christianity offer to live a christ-like life. I'm a Buddhist, we have lots of psychological and self-reflection tools. Do you think Buddhist tools would aid christians?
Definately...I was raised a Catholic....then I let the possibilities open for me. I listen to audio of a buddhist monk's talks almost every day at this site. http://www.bswa.org/audio/audio_search_author.php?searchterm=Brahmavamso If someone is truly interested in spreading Good in this world there are many tools that can assist them on their journey. Being openminded to infinite possibilities is wonderful.
Maybe the beatitudes? But no one really follows them, and I've rarely ever heard anyone talk about them.
I heard about the beatitudes a lot, but I forgot about them. It seems as though its not explained well how they can relate to us now. I once describe religion as a box of tools. And somebody came back and said a box of rusty [outdated] tools. Maybe they are rusty, rusty through neglect.
there are a number of possible "christian tools" available... as to how many are actually or commonly used, well that's another story... the rosary (well, mostly roman catholics & the orthodox churches, i suppose)... the lord's prayer... walking the labyrinth... hesychast meditation techniques ((philokilalia = the prayer of the heart)... a number of "instruction manuals" & such: _the small catechism_ of dr martin luther _the imitation of christ_ by thomas a kempis _spiritual exercises_ by ignatius loyola & two thousand years of prayers, writings, meditations, musings, songs, music, polemics, apologetics, sermons, autobiographies, etc... st augustine, jakob boehme, st john of the cross, juliana of norwich, meister eckhardt, angelus silesius, martin luther king jr, --- 100 generations of seekers, sinners, saints...
& as to whether "buddhist tools" could help christians - well, the dalai lama has said that practicing meditation will help us to be better human beings - buddhist, christian, jewish, agnostic, whatever... so you've never heard of us "zen lutherans" huh?
I've heard that people have mixed buddhism and christianity, nothing more. I've never heard of walking the labyrinth or the hesychast meditation techniques. My father was taught such things, I'm sure, but why he never passed them on to me? . . . Glad I found faith elsewhere anyway, don't wanna go by the wayside, know what I mean.
