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So today I went sightseeing at a tourist site with a lot of Buddhism-related stuff. And, you know, most people were just walking around taking pictures of everything, like tourists, but there were also a lot of people praying.
Kneeling down. Burning incense. Swinging their hands, closed in prayer, as they walked by one statue after another. Bowing down with their heads to the ground. Dropping a few coins in the collection box by each statue. Praying out loud.
I just want to know why.
Yeah, I know I'm a bad Christian and would make an even worse missionary. I know the "correct" Christian response is, "Oh this is so SAD! All these people so lost and deceived, praying to Buddha, looking for God here in this empty, false religion. They should be praying to Jesus!"
But how do I know they're lost?
I don't know ANYTHING about Buddhism. I mean, I learned about it in history class in high school, but I don't really remember. I'm not even sure if "praying to Buddha" is an accurate description of what I saw. Is Buddha a god? I think I heard somewhere that Buddhism doesn't really have gods- some Buddhists believe in god(s) and some don't?
So I want to know. I saw all these people praying today, in a country that's officially atheist, and I want to know what it means. What is Buddhism about? What are they praying for? Is it for the same reasons that I pray? What does God think about his Buddhist children? Does he see them differently than his children of other religions? Is it the same God, but they know him by a different name?
I want to find out. I'll have to ask a Chinese friend to tell me all about Buddhism.
I'm not here to judge anybody or change anybody. I'm not here to say, "I don't know anything about your religion, except that it's wrong." Because, seriously? (I'm ashamed to say that's what I would have thought, a few years ago.)
Seeing them praying today, it reminded me to pray too. I prayed to Jesus, that all the people there would be blessed. That's all. No "free them from these lies" or anything like that.
And maybe, just maybe, I sensed God's presence there.