Comparative study of Buddhist Emperor Ashoka's changed life and the transformation which Christ brings about
How to differentiate christian repentance from the repentance and change of heart and life of emperor Ashoka ?What makes Christian repentance unique?
- Samuel Inbaraja 1. Asoka's repentance is a merit for him.He is seeking to undo his karma. Our repentance is a not a merit. Our merit comes from Christ's life and death.
- Samuel Inbaraja 2. We receive forgiveness of sins from a loving God because Christ paid for us. Emperor Asoka does not have his sins forgiven. He will pay for it. Even his changed life is a work of self salvation where he is seeking to undo his karma.
- Samuel Inbaraja 3.We are regenerated when we repent and believe and enter into a love relationship with God.We become Children of God. Asoka is seeking a better reincarnation . His repentance does not lead to a relationship with God. He is trying to snuff out the self and thus prevent reincarnation and subsequent suffering which might result from a rebirth into this world of suffering.
- Samuel Inbaraja 4. Our salvation is a gift from a loving God. Asoka's salvation is his own work which he must continue through many rebirths.
- Samuel Inbaraja 5. Christ gave salvation to the thief who repented on the cross. Buddha would not have granted salvation to that hopeless soul under any circumstance. He would have asked him to work on his karma in his next birth and if necessary many subsequent births .
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