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शुक्रवार, 31 जनवरी 2020

【SEAnews】Review:The baptism of the Holy Spirit (Aramaic roots II)-e

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Review:The baptism of the Holy Spirit (Aramaic roots II)

 Jesus said, "One can't enter a strong person's house and take it by force without tying his hands. Then one can loot his house." (Thomas 35)
According to Mr. Sasagu Arai, author of the Japanese version of The Gospel of Thomas, 'strong person' is seen as 'archon,' the creator god. If you break into the house dominated by the creator god, you must first tie up the creator god. If you can do it successfully, you can push down the house of the creator god, that is, this world, then build the kingdom and reach the highest. Like verse 7 of the Gospel of Thomas, it reminds us that a man should rule God but not the other way around.
Christian Hata clan's arrival in Japan

The late Professor Yoshiro Saeki of Waseda University, who is said to have been the world leader in Keikyo(景教Jingjiao: Luminous Religion) research, said, "As far as we can know from historical documents, Christianity was introduced to Japan in 198/199 C.E."
According to Shinsen Shojiroku (新撰姓氏録: an imperially commissioned Japanese genealogical record compiled in the 8-9th century), in the eighth year (197 C.E.) of Emperor Chuai (仲哀天皇), who was the 14th Emperor counting from the first Emperor Jinmu (神武天皇), King Koman (功満) of the Christian nation of Yuzuki (弓月) came to Japan with his servants. According to the 'Nihon Shoki (日本書紀: the Chronicles of Japan, compiled in 720), "Yuzuki no Kimi (弓月君: the Lord of Yuzuki) crossed over to Japan from the Korean state of Paekche (百済)." 'Nihon Shoki' also states that the son of King Koman led 18,670 people and came to the country during the reign of the 15th Emperor Ojin (応神天皇). This is thought to be the origin of a Christian called Hata came to Japan in large sums. However, modern scholars see it as an event in the second half of the fourth century.
According to the Chinese history book ZizhiTongjian (資治通鑑), there was a country called Yuegong (弓月:Yuzuki) built by a nomad named Qin (秦:Hata) near Lake Balkhash in Central Asia. Another Chinese history book 'Three Kingdoms(三国志),' states that the Qins were people of tall stature, rode on horses, kept their clothes clean and had a special language and customs. Incidentally the Aramaic language spoken in the Assyria's Edessa region was called Syriac, and the Jingjiao followers mainly spoke Syriac. They appear to have been descendants of Jews and Jingjiao followers who had involved in trade when China had exported silk fabrics to the West through the Silk Road. According to Professor Yoshiro Saeki, Yuzuki was a Christian country.
Trinity Maitreya statue and Prince Shotoku

The approximately 20,000 Hata clan (秦氏), who came to Japan, were engaged in the sericulture and silk business and contributed to the construction of Heiankyo (平安京, that is, Kyoto) and the flood control of the Yodo River (淀川) in the Osaka Plain, the Kamo River (鴨川) and the Katsura River (桂川) in Kyoto. Hata clan's chief, Hata Kawakatsu (秦河勝), was an aide to Prince Shotoku (聖徳太子) and the prince entrusted his children's care to Hata clan. In 603, Hata Kawakatsu built a building, which was later called Koryuji Temple (広隆寺), in Kadono (葛野), Kyoto. The temple houses the statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva sitting contemplatively in the half-lotus position (弥勒菩薩半跏思惟像) that Prince Shotoku is said to have entrusted to Hata Kawakatsu. The shape of the statue's hand looks similar to the symbol of the Trinity in the Eastern Christian Church. Similar Maitreya Bodhisattva statues exist in China and elsewhere, but the only one that has the same finger shape as the Trinity symbol of the Eastern Christian Church is the one at Koryuji Temple. On the other hand, the right hand of the portrait of Archbishop Jingjiao (景教), found in Dunhuang (敦煌), China, has the same finger shape.
Hata clan and Kokubunji temples

Hata clan and Jingjiao followers continued to come to Japan since then. In June 736, Abraham Li Miyi (李密医) and Jingjiao Christian HuangFu (皇甫) were given an audience by Emperor Shomu (聖武天皇R. 724-749) and were given ranks of the court in November of the same year. Emperor Sshomu afterward built temples for cleanse of sins called Kokubunji (国分寺) and Kokubunniji (国分尼寺) throughout the country.
At Todaiji Temple (東大寺) in Nara (奈良), has a traditional annual event of 'Omizutori (お水取りwater collection)' called 'Shunie (修二会)' for two weeks in February of the lunar calendar or early March of the current calendar. 'Shunie' is said to be a ritual of 'Keka (悔過Repentance). It is said that the origin of 'Omizutori,' in which people pray for 'Tenka Taihei(天下泰平: Peace reigns in the land),' 'Gokoku Hojo (五穀豊穣: bumper crops)' and 'Banmin Kairaku (万民快楽: All people's pleasure),' is derived from the prayer ceremony by Jingjiao followerrs when they established 'Guofensi (国分寺) Temple in all 10 provinces of China in Tang (唐) Dynasty.
According to Chairman Yoshihisa Oshida (押田良久) of the Japan Gagaku Society (日本雅楽会), 'Etenraku(越天楽),' one of tunes of Gagaku (court music), is Keikyo (Jingjiao景教) music from Persia. Persia is the homecountry of Keikyo Christians. Kurodabushi (黒田節), the famous folk song of Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu, is the arrangement of 'Etenraku.'
Relationship between Shingon / Jodo Schools and Luminous Religion

The birthplace of Kukai (空海), the founder of Japanese Esoteric Shingon school (日本真言密教) of Buddhism, Sanuki-no-kuni Tado-gun (讃岐国多度郡currently Zentsuji city, Kagawa prefecture) was Hata clan's stronghold. In 804, Kukai took part in a government-sponsored expedition to China. The court of Tang Dynasty (唐朝) granted Kukai a place in Xi Ming Temple (西明寺) in 805. After that, Kukai studied Shingon Esoteric Buddhism from Qinglong Monastery (青竜寺)'s seventh ancestor Huiguo (恵果746–805), and was recognized as the eighth ancestor of the Shingon sect. Kukai learned Sanskrit from Panruo Sanzang (般若三蔵), a friend of Jingjing (景浄) who was the author of the inscription of Nestoriam Stele (景教碑). Therefore, Kukai seems to have had friendships with Jingjing and other Jingjiao followers such as Yisi (伊斯Isaac) who were active in Chang'an (長安) at that time. For this reason, there is the imitation monument of Nestoriam Stele given by Mrs Elizabeth Anna Gordon (1851–1925), a Jingjiao researcher, to Mt. Koya (高野山), the headquarters of Japanese Esoteric Shingon school, in Wakayama Prefecture (和歌山県).
The contents of the third volume of 'Shizun bushi lun (世尊布施論The Lord of the Universe's Discourse on Alms-Giving)', owned by Kyoto Nishi Honganji Temple (京都西本願寺), almost corresponds to 'the Sermon on the Mount' in a Chinese translation of the Gospel of Matthew, which was written by Jingjiao followers, and a part of Adam's birth story is also seen there.
Beelzebul controversy

The content of the aforementioned verse 35 in 'the Gospel of Thomas' is introduced in 'the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 12:22-32/ Mark 3:20-30/ Luke Gospels 11:14-23)' as part of an episode called 'Beelzebul controversy.'
When Jesus expelled demons and healed the sick, not only had the Pharisees disparagingly accused Jesus of using Beelzebub's demonic powers to heal people, but others have been labeled possessed for acts of an extreme nature. Then Jesus said, "If one uses Beelzebub's demonic powers to cast out Satan, Satan's house has been split and the kingdom of God has come upon you." And he said the above teachings (Thomas 35). In the Synoptic Gospels, the strong man is Satan, and Jesus argues that in this world dominated by Satan, only those who can bind Satan can rob Satan's treasures.
According to Mr. Koji Tanaka, who is publishing a Christian mail magazine, 'Beel,' the first part of the word Beelzebul or Beelzebub, refers to Canaanite indigenous god 'Baal,' and the latter part is originated from the word 'bet-zebul,' that is, 'noble' or 'lofty house.' Therefore, it was originally a word for Canaanite indigenous to praise Baal as the highest king. But the Jews seem to have mocked by applying 'Zebub (fly)' with a similar pronunciation to 'zebul' and calling it 'king of fly.'
From this episode in the Synoptic Gospels, it can be seen that Jesus and his disciples performed exorcism, and this type of activity was derived from the customs of the native Canaanite who believed in Baal.
Episode of seven more evil demons

Jesus in the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Matthew shortly thereafter said, "And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come (Mt 12:31-32, Mr 3:28-29). " This suggests a glimpse of Gnosticism.
On the other hand, the Gospel of Luke inserts a story that once demolished demon comes back with seven more evil demons after the Beelzebul controversy (Lu 11:23-26). The Gospel of Matthew also inserts a similar episode a little later (Mt 12:43-45). Perhaps this kind of folklore arisen because after exorcising evil spirits, the symptoms did not always improve or the once improved symptoms worsen again later. And though Jerusalem Church was born on the day of Pentecost, just one and a half months after Jesus' death, eventually had to disappear. Thus the episode may have inserted a foreshadowing of that fate. The Gospel of Matthew further says, "That is how it will be with this wicked generation (Mt 12:45)." and suggests the arrival of the incident that not only the temple was destroyed by Romans but also Jerusalem Church virtually disappeared after twice Jewish War. At that time, a part of the Primitive Church led by Simon, the younger brother of Jesus, fled the city just before siege by Roman army and withdrawn to Pella under the Herodian royal family, and compiled the Gospel of Matthew.
Writhing in agony

One day a monk asked Master DaoKuang (道匡), one of the Zen masters during the five dynasties and ten kingdoms period (五代十国907-979) in China, who served as the abbot of a temple called Zhaoqing Monastery (招慶院) in Qianzhou (泉州), "What is the great meaning of the Buddhist Teaching?" DaoKuang answered, "Writhing in agony." The monk said, "I'm dull and can't understand what you say." and asked, "Give me some hints." But DaoKuang relentlessly said, "I do not have such a grandmother's heart."
Later, another priest asked Master KeHong (可弘), the abbot of Daning Monastery (大寧院) in Wenzhou (温州), "What is the true path?" KeHong answered, "Writhing in agony," just like DaoKuang. Then the monk said, "If it's Buddhism, I have to find another way." KeHong said to him coldly, "Just choose your favorite way. I know that you will finally become a stray sheep." But the monk continued to ask, "If 'writhing in agony' is the answer to 'what the true path is,' then when it is clear and void, no holiness, what do you answer?" However, KeHong pushed him away saying, "Now I see the bottom of the story."
By the way, this koan (公案: subject which Zen-masters give each religious to learn and practice the doctrine of Buddhism) is said to be the origin of the Chinese idiom 'Qidian Badao (七顛八倒).' According to the Chinese Institute of Buddhist Culture's (中国仏教文化研究所) "Slang Buddha Source (俗語仏源)." "Qidian Badao" is derived from Koans in the the twenty-sixth volume of the Jingde Chuandeng Lu(景徳伝灯録) and the eighth volume of the Wudeng Hui yuan (五灯会元), and is later frequently used as a slang term meaning "mess or disarray." And a Chinese-Japanese dictionary explains that it mainly means messy and unorganized story. <To be continued>
[Reference]
《Jingde Chuandeng-lu》What is the great meaning of Buddhism?
Zhaoqing Monastery (招慶院)'s Master DaoKuang (道匡) was from Chaozhou (潮州). A monk asked, "What is the great meaning of Buddhism?" The teacher answered, "Qidian badao (七顛八倒: Seven rolls eight falls: Writhing in agony)" The monk said, "Very sorry, I am born stupid. Please give me a little hint" The teacher replied, "I do not have such an grandmother's heart."
《Jingde Chuandeng-lu》What is the true path?
A monk asked Wenzhou (温州) Daning Monastery (大寧院)'s Master KeHong (可弘), "What is the true path?" The teacher replied, "Qidian badao." The monk said, "If it's Buddhism, I have to find another way." The teacher replied, "Just choose your favorite way. I know that you will finally become a stray sheep." The monk asked, "When it is clear and void holiness, what do you answer?" The teacher said, "Now I see the bottom of the story."

What is "Baptism with The Holy Spirit"?
According to the dialectic of the Gospel of John,
【Thesis】"A man can possess eternal life through accepting testimony of the Son of man and being baptized by him." (John 5:24)
【Anti-thesis】But "The one who comes from the earth cannot accept the testimony by one from heaven." (John 3:32)
How then can a man possess eternal life?
【Synthesis】"If you want to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, you can just go back to the word which was with God in the beginning (John 1:1) and certify that God is truthful. (John 3:33)"
When he said, "You are Huichao," Zen Master Fayan thrusted vivid Self in Huichao in front of his eyes.
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बुधवार, 29 जनवरी 2020

बासंती मधुमास आ गया

आज प्रफुल्लित धरा व्योम है
पुलकित तन का रोम रोम है
पिक का प्रियतम पास आ गया
बसंती मधुमास आ गया
डाल डाल पर फुदक फुदक कर  
कोकिल गूंजा रही है मधुस्वार
पुष्पित हुआ पलाश केसरी
सरसों स्वर्णिम हुई मदभरी
सजी धरा पीली चूनर में
लगे वृक्ष स्पर्धा करने
उनने पान किये सब पीले
आये किसलय नवल रंगीले
शिशिर ग्रीष्म की यह वयःसंधि
हुई षोडशी ऋतू बासंती
गेहूं की बाली थी खली
हुई अब भरे दानो वाली
नाच रही है थिरक थिरक कर
 बाली उमर ,रूप यह लख कर
वृक्ष आम का बौराया है
मादकता से मदमाया है
रसिक भ्रमर डोले पुष्पों पर
महकी अवनि ,महका अम्बर
मदन पर्व है ऋतू रसवंती
आया ऋतुराज वासंती
खुशियां और उल्हास आ गया
बासंती मधुमास आ गया

मदन मोहन बाहेती 'घोटू ' 

मंगलवार, 28 जनवरी 2020

अगर तुम आगयी होती

सुधा भरती समंदर में ,हरे हो जाते मरुस्थल
गरज कर जो घुमड़ते है ,बरस जाते सभी बादल
अँधेरा लील सब जाती ,तुम्हारे प्यार की ज्योती
अगर तुम आ गयी होती
अमा की रात में जगमग ,चमकता चाँद पूनम सा  
मेरे जीवन को महकाता ,तुम्हारा प्यार चंदन  सा
नयन से बह  रहे अश्रु ,टपकते बनके  फिर मोती
अगर तुम आ गयी होती
मेरा संसार सूना था ,उसमे कुछ सार आ जाता
खनकते चूड़ियों के स्वर ,मधुर अभिसार आ जाता
रेशमी बाहों में बंध कर ,मेरी तन्हाईयाँ  खोती
अगर तुम आगयी होती

मदन मोहन बाहेती 'घोटू '
जयचंदों के मारे है

कुछ तो उलटे सीधे धंधों के मारे है
विभीषणों के या जयचंदों के मारे है
शब्द शब्द को पिरो बनाते कविता माला ,
अलंकार के ,लय और छंदों के मारे है
ज्ञान नहीं पर हरेक बात में राय बताते ,
हम ऐसे कई  रायचंदो के मारे है
जादू टोना और टोटका ,वशीकरण सब ,
ऐसे कितने  दंदों फंदों के मारे है
रोज रोज ला ,नयी कबूतरी ,ऐश कर रहे ,
हमें जलाते ,उन्ही परिंदों के मारे है
ऊँगली पकड़ा है मनाही पहुंचा छूने की,
यार इश्क़ में हम प्रतिबंधों के मारे है
नहीं पास में दाने ,अम्मा चली भुनाने ,
मंहगे मंहगे शौक ,पसंदों के मारे है
बन कर के हमदर्द ,दर्द जो देते हमको ,
बन्दे हम अपने ही बंदो के मारे है

घोटू 
जयचंदों के मारे है

कुछ तो उलटे सीधे धंधों के मारे है
विभीषणों के या जयचंदों के मारे है
शब्द शब्द को पिरो बनाते कविता माला ,
अलंकार के ,लय और छंदों के मारे है
ज्ञान नहीं पर हरेक बात में राय बताते ,
हम ऐसे कई  रायचंदो के मारे है
जादू टोना और टोटका ,वशीकरण सब ,
ऐसे कितने  दंदों फंदों के मारे है
रोज रोज ला ,नयी कबूतरी ,ऐश कर रहे ,
हमें जलाते ,उन्ही परिंदों के मारे है
नहीं पास में दाने ,अम्मा चली भुनाने ,
मंहगे मंहगे शौक ,पसंदों के मारे है
बन कर के हमदर्द ,दर्द जो देते हमको ,
बन्दे हम अपने ही बंदो के मारे है

घोटू 
कड़की में हूँ

मैं कड़क नहीं हूँ मगर,आजकल कड़की में हूँ
है  मस्ती  का मर्ज ,मस्त  मन  मर्जी  में  हूँ  

मैं चारा ना खाऊं ,कहा जाता बेचारा ,
चारा खाऊ नेता बने विपुल धनस्वामी
पड़ी वक़्त की मार मुझे बीमार कर गयी ,
 कुछ न किया बद ,मगर मिली मुझको बदनामी
कार नहीं ,बेकार समझते है मुझको सब ,
मिली न बस ,बेबस ,आवारागर्दी में हूँ
मैं कड़क नहीं हूँ ,मगर आजकल कड़की में हूँ

मेरे तन में, मन में विष का वास नहीं ,
फिर भी मुझ पर  लोगों का विश्वास नहीं
सांस सांस में प्यार  लुटाता मैं जिन पर ,
उन लोगों को होता पर अहसास नहीं
रहा हर बरस ,तरस तरस ,वो ना बरसे ,
जेब गरम ना रहती है पर गरमी में हूँ
मैं कड़क नहीं हूँ मगर आजकल कड़की में हूँ

वृहद विचारों वाला हूँ पर हद में रहता ,
सदाचार का मारा सदा चार की सुनता
भाव बढे जिसके प्रभाव से भाव न उठते ,
लिखना चाहूँ गीत ,मिले ना धुन ,सर धुनता
सदा चरण छूता हूँ सदाचरण के कारण ,
बिना सुरा ,बेसुरा होगया ,सरदी में हूँ
मैं कड़क नहीं हूँ ,मगर आजकल कड़की में हूँ

मदन मोहन बाहेती ;घोटू '

सोमवार, 27 जनवरी 2020

सरहदों के मौसम एक से 
बस अलग था तो 
मार दिया जाना पंछियों का
जो उड़कर उस पार हो लिए

रंगनी थी दिवार
कि जब तक खून लाल ना हो
जमीन भींग ना जाए
और हम सोते रहें

देर रात जश्न मनाते 
शराब पी बे- सूद
अपनी औरतों को मारते
हम अलग नहीं

चौराहे 
अलग रंग के
अलग शहरों के 
घटना एक सी
रेप कर दिया
चाकू मार दिया
हम एक हैं अलग नहीं

ये खून हरा है
खून बहेगा तबतक
जबतक वो लाल नहीं होता
मरेगी औरतें, मारेगा आदमी
होंगे रेप
चलेंगे चाकू

आदमी सोच रहा
हम हरे खून वाले 
जब बहेंगे 
तब बहेगा जहर 
तो खून लाल कर दो देवता
या पानी बना बहा दो सब
आ जाने दो प्रलय
अब जलमग्न हो जाने पर ही धूल पाएगी दुनिया

हम हो पायेंगे इंसान
तब ये खून लाल होगा

Deepti Sharma

शुक्रवार, 3 जनवरी 2020

Review:The baptism of the Holy Spirit (Aramaic roots I) (vol.200101)-E

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Review:The baptism of the Holy Spirit (Aramaic roots I)

 Jesus said, "There are many standing at the door, but those who are alone will enter the bridal suite." (Thomas 75)
According to Mr. Sasagu Arai, author of the Japanese version of The Gospel of Thomas, 'nymphon,' the original word of 'bridal suite,' literally means 'the place of marriage' where is performed the 'Holy Marriage' liturgy, that is, the liturgy for separated a male and a female to restore to the primitiveness which has not been split into male and female through Gnosis. Nymphon is given the highest status among the 'five liturgies of the Gospel of Philip.' The 'bridal suite' is a symbol of the kingdom where a male and a female are promised to enter as 'a single one.' 'A single one' means 'one who transcends division and recovers the original integration (propator = original Self) in himself or herself.' And the reign of this 'original Self' means realization of the kingdom of God. In the Gospel of Thomas, the phrase of 'single one' is repeatedly used as a keyword.
Aramaic roots

Now, if the Hebrew version of the Old Testament was established through the nation-building myth of nomads, who had frequently went back and forth in the region from Mesopotamia to Egypt, was grafted with Sumerian mythology, typified by the legends of the paradise of Timrun and Babylonian flood, it seems that, of course, Greco-Roman culture greatly influenced the formation of the New Testament written in Greek language, which is considered a new salvation contract for Gentiles, who recognize themselves as grafted into Abraham's family tree under the New Covenant, but it is not possible to forget Aramaic roots also influenced it. It is known that Jesus also used Aramaic regularly. Therefore, I will examine the Aramaic roots of Christianity and deliver the results in four parts from this time.
The Abrahamic people themselves used Aramaic before Hebrew. In fact, Aramaic was the generic term for the languages of the nomads in the Mesopotamian region, including Assyria and Babylonia, and the Hebrew language, which was used in the Kingdom of Judah, was Canaan dialect of Aramaic.
East-west division of evangelism

According to Mr. Shlomo Sand, Professor of history at Tel Aviv University, the Jewish population in Palestine was only about 800 thousand in the 1st century. In contrast, the Jewish population in the world was about 4 million. There might have been much more huge number of reserve army of believers who had not been circumcised. There was a robust community of such gentile Judaists especially in Rome.
Thus Paul, Peter, and John went westward and were missionary to Greece and Rome, but Thomas, Bartholomew (Nathanael), and Thaddaeus (one of the Seventy Disciples but not the Twelve Apostles, that is, brother of Thomas) were reportedly missionary to Assyria, India, and China immediately after Jesus' death.
According to Jerome (347-420), one of early church fathers, Bartholomew died in Albanopolis, Armenia after evangelizing in India.
Thaddaeus was instructed by his elder brother Thomas and evangelized in Assyria's Edessa (Ulfa) and Parthia. Edessa was the home city of the Assyrian Eastern Church and on a second-century coin found in the area is depicted a portrait of King Edessa wearing a crown with a cross. Bishops existed in 19 cities in Assyria in 95 C.E. Christianity spread to Media, Persia and Bactria in 161 C.E.
The east wind overwhelms the west wind

While it is known that Jesus used Aramaic regularly, there were native Jewish communities using Aramaic in the east, especially in the Assyrian region. Thus missionary work in the east achieved more than in the west. Christian states were born in Edessa and Armenia before Rome adopted Christianity as a state religion and Eastern Churches were formed. According to Protestant Bible commentator Mr. Arimasa Kubo, who was the first pastor of the Ikebukuro-Nishi Church, The United Church of Christ in Japan, "The number of Christians in the East was far greater than the number of Christians in the West from 800 AD to the 14th century."
St. Thomas Legend

According to the social anthropologist Yoshio Sugimoto's 'A Genealogical Study of St. Thomas in South India,' the Synoptic Gospels (the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and Mark) mention Thomas as one of the Twelve Apostles, but Thomas is not his real name, but the Aramaic nickname given to him by Jesus and means twin which is Didimo (s) in Greek. His real name was Judas.
According to Mr. Sugimoto, the name of Thomas only appears in the list of the Twelve Apostles in the Synoptic Gospels and is mentioned four times in the Gospel of John, he is known only as 'the Incredulity of Thomas' and 'the doubting Thomas' and his character is not clear in the Western Christian world.
On the other hand, in the Eastern Christian Church, the legend of St. Thomas has two characteristics. One is 'Thomas the Knower,' or Thomas who preaches Gnostic teachings. St. Thomas occupies an important position in the Gnostic tradition of Eastern Christianity and stands opposite St. Peter in Western Christianity. The other one is 'Thomas the Wanderer,' that is, Thomas as the evangelist and founder of the Eastern Church. Legend has it that Thomas traveled to Syria, Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and finally China and even Brazil and Mexico.
Edessa

The center of St. Thomas's religion is believed to have been in Edessa, Mesopotamia (currently located in Urfa, Turkey). The old name of the city was Urhai (Orhai), and it became an independent state for a while (132 BC - 242 AD) after being named Edessa in 303 BC. The city was later occupied by the Roman Empire, and was called Urfa by Turkey in 1146. Regarding the introduction of Christianity to this region, it was said that St. Thomas himself had been sent and had carried out a ministry, but recently it is presumed that Thomas sent his brother Thaddaeus. Although Edessa flourished as the center of the Eastern Syrian Church, the invasion of Muslims in the seventh century called off its glorious history. In the city, a church of St. Thomas, containing the relics of the apostle Thomas, had been built in the 4th century, but was destroyed by Turkey.
Mr. Kubo says, "According to historians, St. Thomas traveled to Assyria around 35 C.E., two years after Jesus' ascension, and then went on a mission to India. He reportedly landed at Cranganore in Kerala, built seven churches, thereafter went to Madras in Tamil Nadu, and then left to Beijing (北京, Chang'an 長安?), China in 62 C.E. Thomas, who had returned to India again after his mission in China, was martyred in 68-75 C.E., and was buried in Mylapore (Chennai district of Tamil Nadu). Thomas was listed as the first Archbishop of the Assyrian Eastern Church (Syrian Church). Indian Christians have called themselves Thomas Christians. Assyrian Eastern Church was called Jing-jiao (景教: Luminous Religion) in China."
Why no one enters it?

It is possible that the verse 75 of the Gospel of Thomas was a pair of the verse 74.
 He said, "Lord, there are many around the drinking trough, but there is nothing in the well." (Thomas 74)
The drinking trough is 'a spring of water welling up to eternal life,' that is, the one which is promised that if one drinks from it, he or she can become like Jesus. And it, like 'bridal suite,' is a symbol of 'original Self' and refers to 'the Kingdom.' Origenes Adamantius (182?-251), who have won the high honor of the greatest early Christian theologian, asks "Why so many people are around the fountain, but no one enters it?" in his writing 'Against Celsus.'
After having been preaching for more than 40 years in various parts of India, Buddha said to Sariputra, one of the ten great his disciples, "Shariputra, the truth existed as universality within individual events and things in this world, in other words, the real image, can only be understood and shared among Buddhas but not among ordinary men. It is useless to explain to the ordinary. However, now I, joyful and fearless, in the midst of the bodhisattvas, honestly discarding expedient means, will preach only the unsurpassed Way. (Lotus Sutra Chapter 2: Expedient Means)" Then he preached the unsurpassed Way, that is, the Lotus Sutra.
The unsurpassed Way of Buddhism is that only Buddha can understand and he or she, who can drink from 'a spring of water welling up to eternal life,' is only one who can marry Jesus and become 'a single one.' Therefore, it is not surprising that many people gather at church, but none enter the spring.
However, Zen Master Sengcan Jianzhi (僧璨鑑智?-606), who is known as the Third Chinese Patriarch of Zen Buddhism, said in his book 《Xinxinming (信心銘: Inscribed on the Believing Mind)》, "The supreme Way is not difficult; it simply dislikes choosing." Indeed, Christians say, "Just declare the name of Christ. Salvation in it," While the Founder of Japanese Soto Zen Buddhism (日本曹洞宗) Dogen (道元), the Founder of Japanese Hokke Buddhism (日本法華宗) Nichiren (日蓮) and the Founder of Japanese Jodo Shinshu (日本浄土真宗) Shinran (親鸞) recommended just to sit straight, chant the title of the sutra and invoke Amida Buddha respectively. <To be continued>

What is "Baptism with The Holy Spirit"?
According to the dialectic of the Gospel of John,
【Thesis】"A man can possess eternal life through accepting testimony of the Son of man and being baptized by him." (John 5:24)
【Anti-thesis】But "The one who comes from the earth cannot accept the testimony by one from heaven." (John 3:32)
How then can a man possess eternal life?
【Synthesis】"If you want to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, you can just go back to the word which was with God in the beginning (John 1:1) and certify that God is truthful. (John 3:33)"
When he said, "You are Huichao," Zen Master Fayan thrusted vivid Self in Huichao in front of his eyes.
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