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Humans are the only animal that crave salvation. Why do we seek salvation; from what do we
need to be saved from? If we look closely at a few religions and the experiences of those who have seen
humans at their worst, we can conclude that salvation is being saved from the human condition.
Salvation is happening here and now by people who try to overcome the feelings that make us
unmistakably human.
If we seek salvation through some form of Christianity, the follower is trying to attain salvation
by following rules that will strengthen their spiritual journey. We could look to the Ten Commandments
to see which laws are to be followed, but I believe that in Christianity there is something that actually
connects more with other religions like Buddhism. The seven deadly sins are much more interesting to
note in the search for salvation; pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed and sloth are much more
common errors to commit in someone’s life. More importantly, these traits are common among all
humans in every corner of the world. To reach salvation you must avoid these traits and actions to attain
full salvation and have strength in your spiritual journey.
To reach Nirvana in Buddhism you must conquer, as Rahula states, “mental illness” through
meditation (BHavana) (Rahula 67). By practicing certain meditation rituals you can conquer lustful
desires (kamacchanda), ill-will hatred or anger (vyapada), tapor and languor (thina-middha), restlessness
and worry (uddhacca-kukkucca) and skeptical doubts (vicikiccha) (Rahula 71). These will hinder a person
searching for enlightenment if they cannot banish them from their mind. The similarities between the
hindrances in Buddhism and the seven deadly sins in Christianity are obvious. You cannot reach
salvation if you cannot control the natural human emotions that course through our bodies every day.
There are not only sins and hindrances that play into salvation. Most, if not all, religions ask their
followers to be good human beings. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to
you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12).” This in some instances can be harder
for people to follow. The first noble truth in Buddhism is Dukka. Dukka means suffering, and Buddhists
believe that life is “ nothing but suffering (Rahula 16).” Dukka is also deeper than that, it can also mean
imperfection, impermanence, emptiness and insubstantiality (Rahula pg 17). How is someone supposed
to cleanse themselves of “mental illness” or sin when the world around them is filled with suffering?
Someone who understands how cruel and painful the world can be, is Elie Wiesel. In his novel
Night he takes us through the horrors he experiences in Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration
camps. Throughout the novel he loses not only his family, but also his faith. What he saw and
experienced would make any man renounce the world and its right to salvation. Although Elie Wiesel
does not, “We remember Auschwitz and all that it symbolizes because we believe that, in spite of the
past and its horrors, the world is worthy of salvation; and salvation, like redemption, can be found only
in memory (Elie Wiesel).” Wiesel spoke these words at a conference in Germany in 1987. Wiesel truly
believes in salvation for this world, through the macabre memories he must suffer, to understand his
own salvation and redemption.
Everyone should be allowed a chance to have salvation. Some may believe only the holiest of
people like, priests, nuns, and monks can reach true salvation. This is a folly. “The noble Eightfold Path,
which is the Buddhist way of life, is meant for all, without distinction of any kind (Rahula 76).” Rahula
adds that men and women living ordinary, normal family lives (Rahula 77) can and have reached
Nirvana. This can be used for any religion. Just because you see a rabbi, preacher or priest giving advice
or a sermon does not mean that he/she is in any better state of mind then someone in the
congregation. Salvation is meant for everyone, not just for a select few.
Salvation should be, and is, attainable for everyone to reach. It does not matter what religion
anyone is, most of us are trying to be better people and understand this journey. The greatest
achievement will be reaching a point in our lives, where we not only understand our pain, anger, lust
and envy but; when we overcome it. Our salvation can be granted to us once we transcend our human
characteristics that hold us to our temporal beings.