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a continuing historical and philosophical tradition. Tibetan Buddhists describe four seals of Dharma which are the hallmark of the tradition: all compounded phenomena are impermanent, all emotions are painful, all phenomena are empty and nirvaana is beyond extremes. If these principles are found in any teaching, then they can be accepted as Buddhist.
Buddhists are primarily encouraged to practice compassion and they can co-exist harmoniously
with any tradition. On an ethical level, there is concordance of ideas and teachings with most religions. But there is a very clear delineation of the path to nirvaana, which marks a distinction. To be Buddhist is to recognise this difference and respect it, without letting it be the cause of division with one's non-Buddhist brother.
CHRISTIANITY
Interview of Cardinal Gofried Danneels, a practising scholar of Christianity living in Belgium.
Cardinal Godfried Maria Jules Danneels (born 4 June, 1933) is a Belgian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and the chairman of the episcopal conference of his native country from 1979 to 2010. He was elevated to the cardinalate in 1983. His resignation at the age of 75 was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI on 18 January, 2010.
1. Does your religion believe in the soul? If so: a. What does the soul mean? b. Who created the soul? c. Where does the soul come from?
According to Christianity, the soul exists and is created by the intervention of God. The soul and the body are two separate entities both having their own importance. However, the soul has more weightage as it has spirituality with it.
The difference between the soul and life is that the former has spirituality while the latter is without spirituality. This is why Christianity considers difference between humans that have soul and animals and plants which have only life.
A soul can use brain. It is supernatural and capable to understand and act having a free will. There is no free will of animals and plants. They are directed by instinct, not having the freedom of choice. For example, when you show a piece of chocolate to a dog, it will grab and eat it due to body instinct, a human being, on the other hand can choose not to eat it.
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