Christians assert that transformation is a free gift. React to this assertion as if you are a Buddhist.?

Answer 1

Transformation is not a free gift according to Christianity. WHo told you that?

I am not a Buddhist by the way but your question has a major flaw in that it has no basis for truth. If you want to find out abut transformation, you must know the ONE who transforms the heart and , sorry but it is not Buddha

Please read Romans Chapter 12 verses 1-2

Answer 2

I am assuming that by "transformation" you are referring to changing your life from one of selfish ego and pride to one of understanding and enlightenment, then there are a few key notes here.

1) Christens do not think transformation is free, it is a gift from god given only after you give yourself over to his will. Depending on the particular denomination, this is dependent on any of a number of things, such as receiving the proper sacraments; being born again; baptism; having your name written upon the book of life, etc...

2) Buddhist thought is pretty much the complete opposite. All being have Buddha nature, also called original nature. This is the nature of the Buddha, the awakened and true mind that leads to the cessation of all suffering and the cycle of death and rebirth. In affect, it leads to nirvana, both in this world as well as the next.

The unborn mind is just as it sounds, it is unborn. It is original and is always with us, even now. In Buddhism, the "transformation" is not becoming more then we are today, it is striping away all the 'learned' things that take away from our true selves. In other words, we do not "transform" into better people, we revert to better people. It is something we already have in our position, it can not be given or taken away and it is dependent on nothing, save the acknowledgment that it is there.

As for being "free", that is all dependent on your point of view. It take a discipline and understanding to attain enlightenment (Transformation) but the only cost is ignorance and all the things that make us suffer. I suppose that if you are attaches to the things that bring pain and suffering, the cost could be too steep. It reminds me of a man a I knew. He had a beautiful wife and three great kids. He was an highly paid member of a management team for a successful company that afforded him the financial stability to provide a beautiful home for his family, nice cars for he and his wife, great educations for his kids and all the luxuries of life. However he was an alcoholic and in time it started to affect his life. There cam a time when his friends sat him down and explained to him that if he didn’t get help and clean up his life, he would loose his job, family and everything he had. He 'KNEW" it was true. He cried and made promises and even went to rehab and counseling. However, in the end, he was unable or unwilling to give up the alcohol and he lost everything. The ability to let go and have a better life, to "transform" his life was there for him. The cost was the alcohol. The same is true of enlightenment. The cost of enlightenment is ignorance. The only question is are you willing to give up being ignorant? Many people are not.

I hope this helps!

Answer 3

transformation into what?