think that they are reborn as someone else.
You: Do you believe in God?
Dasbala: I’m a Buddhist. Most Buddhists don’t believe in a personal God or any divine being. Generally, we don’t worship anything.
You: Are you an atheist?
Dasbala: Oh, no. I do believe in some sort of life force that created everything.
You: So what’s the point of being a Buddhist?
Dasbala: The goal is to reach the state of Nirvana. This word means “to extinguish” or “to blow out of existence.” It means to get rid of the ego or self.
You: Do you believe in a place called Heaven?
Dasbala: No, Nirvana is very different from the Christian concept of Heaven. What exactly this is, Buddha never really put into words, but we know that it is a release from suffering, from desire, and from the finite state of self. Buddha himself was not certain what lay beyond death. He didn’t leave any clear teaching on the afterlife.
You: So you don’t have any hope of everlasting life?
Dasbala: No. Not really. I know a little bit about Christianity, and what we have in Buddhism is different in that it doesn’t offer any form of redemption, or forgiveness. There’s no hope of a Heaven, or a final Day of Judgment. Buddhism is really a moral philosophy.
You: So how are you doing morally?
Dasbala: I’m doing okay.
You: Dasbala, let’s suppose that there is a Heaven, just for a moment. Do you think you are good enough to go there? Are you a good person?
Dasbala: Yes. I believe that I’m a good person.
You: How many lies do you think you have told, in your whole life? I don’t mean “white” lies. I mean real lies.
Dasbala: Perhaps six.
You: Six. So, what do you call someone who tells lies?
Dasbala: They are human beings, with weaknesses...everyone tells lies.
You: Yes. But what would you call me if I told lies?
Dasbala: A liar.
You: Have you ever stolen anything, in your whole life, even if it was small?
Dasbala: Yes, I have. But they were only little things, and it was in the past—when I was younger.
You: What do you call someone who steals things?
Dasbala: A thief.
You: I know that you don’t believe in a personal God, but have you ever used His name in vain?
Dasbala: Yes, I have. Once or twice.
You: God gave you eyes to see the beauty of this incredible creation, and ears to listen to good music. He gave you taste buds to enjoy all the wonderful foods. He lavished His kindness upon you, and then you have taken His holy name and used it as a cuss word to express disgust. That’s a very serious crime in His eyes—it’s called “blasphemy.”
Dasbala: I know it’s wrong to do that.
You: Jesus said, “Whoever looks upon a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Have you ever looked at a woman with lust?
Dasbala: Yes, I have, many times.
You: Dasbala, you’ve admitted that (and I’m not judging you) you are a liar, a thief, a blasphemer, and an adulterer at heart; and you have to face God on Judgment Day whether you believe in Him or not. The Bible says that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire, and that no thief, blasphemer, or adulterer will enter Heaven.
Dasbala: I don’t believe that there is a place called Hell. Hell is on earth. It’s karma.
You: If I stood in front of a judge and said, “Judge, I know that I am guilty of murder, but I don’t believe in the electric chair,” it’s not going to change anything. My unbelief doesn’t change reality. So, does it concern you that if you died right now and God gave you justice, you would end up in Hell forever?
Dasbala: Yes, I suppose it does.
You: Do you know what God did for us, so that we could avoid Hell?
Dasbala: I know that He sent His Son to die on the cross.
You: That’s right. God became a morally perfect human being, Jesus of Nazareth, and gave
You: Do you believe in God?
Dasbala: I’m a Buddhist. Most Buddhists don’t believe in a personal God or any divine being. Generally, we don’t worship anything.
You: Are you an atheist?
Dasbala: Oh, no. I do believe in some sort of life force that created everything.
You: So what’s the point of being a Buddhist?
Dasbala: The goal is to reach the state of Nirvana. This word means “to extinguish” or “to blow out of existence.” It means to get rid of the ego or self.
You: Do you believe in a place called Heaven?
Dasbala: No, Nirvana is very different from the Christian concept of Heaven. What exactly this is, Buddha never really put into words, but we know that it is a release from suffering, from desire, and from the finite state of self. Buddha himself was not certain what lay beyond death. He didn’t leave any clear teaching on the afterlife.
You: So you don’t have any hope of everlasting life?
Dasbala: No. Not really. I know a little bit about Christianity, and what we have in Buddhism is different in that it doesn’t offer any form of redemption, or forgiveness. There’s no hope of a Heaven, or a final Day of Judgment. Buddhism is really a moral philosophy.
You: So how are you doing morally?
Dasbala: I’m doing okay.
You: Dasbala, let’s suppose that there is a Heaven, just for a moment. Do you think you are good enough to go there? Are you a good person?
Dasbala: Yes. I believe that I’m a good person.
You: How many lies do you think you have told, in your whole life? I don’t mean “white” lies. I mean real lies.
Dasbala: Perhaps six.
You: Six. So, what do you call someone who tells lies?
Dasbala: They are human beings, with weaknesses...everyone tells lies.
You: Yes. But what would you call me if I told lies?
Dasbala: A liar.
You: Have you ever stolen anything, in your whole life, even if it was small?
Dasbala: Yes, I have. But they were only little things, and it was in the past—when I was younger.
You: What do you call someone who steals things?
Dasbala: A thief.
You: I know that you don’t believe in a personal God, but have you ever used His name in vain?
Dasbala: Yes, I have. Once or twice.
You: God gave you eyes to see the beauty of this incredible creation, and ears to listen to good music. He gave you taste buds to enjoy all the wonderful foods. He lavished His kindness upon you, and then you have taken His holy name and used it as a cuss word to express disgust. That’s a very serious crime in His eyes—it’s called “blasphemy.”
Dasbala: I know it’s wrong to do that.
You: Jesus said, “Whoever looks upon a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Have you ever looked at a woman with lust?
Dasbala: Yes, I have, many times.
You: Dasbala, you’ve admitted that (and I’m not judging you) you are a liar, a thief, a blasphemer, and an adulterer at heart; and you have to face God on Judgment Day whether you believe in Him or not. The Bible says that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire, and that no thief, blasphemer, or adulterer will enter Heaven.
Dasbala: I don’t believe that there is a place called Hell. Hell is on earth. It’s karma.
You: If I stood in front of a judge and said, “Judge, I know that I am guilty of murder, but I don’t believe in the electric chair,” it’s not going to change anything. My unbelief doesn’t change reality. So, does it concern you that if you died right now and God gave you justice, you would end up in Hell forever?
Dasbala: Yes, I suppose it does.
You: Do you know what God did for us, so that we could avoid Hell?
Dasbala: I know that He sent His Son to die on the cross.
You: That’s right. God became a morally perfect human being, Jesus of Nazareth, and gave
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