Some of my favorite books to read are memoirs of people who have come to faith in Jesus Christ. There is something powerful about hearing an individual’s story of how God rescued him or her from spiritual darkness. It reminds me that while God sovereignly reigns from Heaven over the whole world, He is also providentially calling individuals to Himself. And every testimony is unique. 

Jesus famously said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Jesus is the only hope of the world and there is no salvation outside of Him. At the same time, God uses various avenues to bring His gospel to a lost soul.

I recently finished reading the book Leaving Buddha: A Tibetan Monk’s Encounter with the Living God by Tenzin Lahkpa. It was fascinating to learn Tenzin’s firsthand account of what life as a Buddhist monk is like. Not only is a Buddhist monk required to live a celibate life, every day comes with a rigorous set of disciplines, such as repeating mantras, studying the life and teachings of Buddha, tirelessly using a prayer wheel, and practicing meditation. As a child, Tenzin’s mother “offered” him to the temple to become a monk.

I learned that many Buddhists live in constant fear of the “all-seeing eye” of Buddha. Tenzin writes:

“The concept of karma was taught to me as a child to keep me from doing anything my mother did not want me to do. My mother discouraged me from having bad thoughts, skipping prayer, or neglecting my duties as a Buddhist. If I did, Buddha would know. His all-seeing eye saw everything. I could not hide.” (37)

After meeting a relative who was a Christian, Tenzin asked his teachers about Jesus. It was intriguing to learn that many Buddhists have a fear of even mentioning the name of Jesus. Tenzin’s teachers viewed Jesus as a “dangerous deceiver” (172). Ironically, it was his teachers’ strong aversion to Jesus that piqued his interest even more. What was it about this Jesus that is so unspeakable?

While recovering from a bout with tuberculosis, Tenzin met a doctor from Sweden who wore a cross around his neck. When Tenzin asked about it, the doctor said it means he’s a follower of Jesus. Tenzin wanted to know more, so the Swedish doctor brought him booklets with information about Jesus. 

Tenzin quickly devoured everything the doctor gave him. Tenzin recalls:

“On one page, it told how Jesus paid the price for man’s sin. His grace paid the debt. This was a shocking difference between Buddha and Jesus. Buddha taught that followers had to do many things to earn their way into a better afterlife.” (172)

Perhaps the clearest contrast between the two was Christianity’s central theme of love. It struck him that Christians can say, “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

“In Buddhism, enlightenment and knowledge drive our motives, not love. Maybe you could say that we love knowledge, but you could not say that we follow Buddha because we love him or because he loved us.” (174)

In time, Tenzin recognized that it was the love of Jesus that he most needed. All the prayer wheels and Buddhist disciplines were attempts at saving himself, but Jesus came to offer His own life to save him. He could never know how much sacrifice Buddha demanded of his disciples. By contrast, Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice on the cross so he could be forgiven of all his sin. Unlike Jesus, Buddha never claimed to be God and he had not given his life so others could live. Tenzin asked Jesus to come into his life, and he now follows Jesus, not Buddha.

There is no love like the love of Jesus. No so-called “savior” that even comes close. Jesus alone claimed to be God who came among us, and He alone rose from the dead.

Sometimes looking at other religions and faiths helps me see anew how Jesus really is the Light of the world. Across our world and in our community are countless people who are trapped in spiritual darkness. May we, as followers of the risen Lord, be fearless in proclaiming the Name of Jesus.

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Prayer

Father, give me eyes to see the lost and hurting all around me each day. Help me to love others with the mighty love of Jesus. Grant me opportunities and boldness to speak the name of Jesus and declare His message of salvation to those trapped in spiritual darkness. By the only Name that saves. Amen.

If you have thoughts on this post, I’d love to hear from you.