Reaching God Through Silence

Today (14 Jan 2012) Straits Times Forum (page A47) published a reply by Shi Chuan Guan (Shi ZhiXing), Dharma Propagation Chair, Singapore Buddhist Federation, in response at an article by Chua Mui Hoong on Tuesday (Straits Times Prime Commentary Page A2), who thought that she found some harmony in all religions - reaching God through silence. But Shi Chuan Guan unharmoniously rebutted her. This is part of what he wrote:

QUOTE

Buddhists do not have a belief in a creator god and also do not meditate to reach god through silence.

We meditate to cultivate samadhi (concentration) and prajna (wisdom).

This wisdom culminates in nirvana, which is the complete cessation of suffering, attaining Buddhahood.

This is not communion with god or gods.

UNQUOTE

Well, the Bible tells us that there is a Creator God, but the Bible never teaches Christians to communicate with God through silence. We pray intelligently and verbally to God. There are times when we have to wait in silence for God's answer, but that is waiting, not communicating.

Actually if you read Chua Mui Hoong's article carefully, she did not contradict Buddhism. This is what she wrote:

QUOTE

They focused on contemplation and meditation - the common search for meaning and the journey to God or Ultimate Reality or Divine Consciousness, through the path of stillness and silence.

UNQUOTE

So she described exactly what Shi Chuan Guan described - meditate to attain wisdom than to the ultimate - nirvana. She just did not add nirvana into her catalogue of ultimates to seek, but neither did she claim that those are the only three possibilities.

But she contradicted the Bible. The Bible tells us that men never seek for the true God. "There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (Romans 3:11 KJV)", but it is God that seeks for us. "For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. (Luke 19:10 NLT)".

Stop your seeking through the path of stillness and silence. God had already spoken and had told us the way. Any other way leads to ultimate futility.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NASB)