Coexist (Buddhism): Searching For Peace

April 12th, 2026 | Seventh Day Adventist

MEMORY VERSE:

I want to start by anchoring us in a verse that frames this entire conversation. This verse is not just something to read. It is something to hold onto as we walk through this message, because it gives us the lens for everything we are about to talk about.

Scripture: Colossians 2:8

“Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.”

Intro:

Underneath everything in our lives, most of us are looking for the same thing, even if we describe it differently or pursue it in different ways. We are looking for peace. Not distraction, not numbing out, not just getting through the day, but a deep and lasting peace that settles the mind and anchors the soul. We want freedom from anxiety, freedom from pressure, and freedom from the constant noise that runs through our thoughts.

What is interesting is that much of what our culture is reaching for right now… meditation, mindfulness, detaching, clearing the mind

… actually has roots in Buddhism.

Many people are engaging in these practices without realizing they are stepping into a much larger worldview that has been shaping how people think about suffering, identity, and peace for over 2,500 years.

This is one of the oldest and most influential ways of understanding life. And whether people realize it or not, many of the ideas circulating in our culture today are deeply connected to it. At its core, Buddhism is trying to answer a question that every person asks at some point: how do I find peace in a world that feels restless and broken?

GLOBAL STORY:

This is not just something I have studied from a distance. I have been to the place where Buddhism began. I have stood at the Bodhi tree, where Siddhartha Gautama (sid-DAR-tuh gow-TUH-muh) is believed to have reached enlightenment, and I have walked through the Mahabodhi (muh-HAH-boh-dee) Temple in Bodh (BOHD) Gaya, one of the most sacred places in Buddhism.

I have been there multiple times, and each time left a deep impression on me. But what stood out most was not just the history of the place. It was the contrast I witnessed in real time.

While many people were coming to that place searching for enlightenment through meditation and inner awareness, I was there on mission, watching people encounter Jesus. I had the opportunity to baptize people there, and over the course of those trips, we saw more than 100 people publicly declare their faith in Christ.

That contrast is powerful. On one side, people are searching for peace through effort, discipline, and detachment. On the other side, people are finding peace through surrender, grace, and relationship with Jesus. It highlights something important: the longing for peace is real, the hunger for meaning is real, and the desire for something more is real.

The question is not whether people are searching. The question is whether that search ultimately leads them to life.

LOCAL REALITY - BOULDER:

This conversation is not something happening far away. It is deeply connected to the city we live in. Boulder has been significantly shaped by Buddhist influence, particularly through the work of Chögyam Trungpa (CHOH-gyam TROONG-pah) , who came to the United States in the early 1970s after fleeing Tibet and chose Boulder as his base.

His impact on Western culture and spirituality has been widely recognized.

Quote:
His influence on Western Buddhism is often described as incalculable.
(A common description of him, not one author’s words)

Quote:
He is often called the father of Tibetan Buddhism in the United States.
(A common description of him, not one author’s words)

In 1974, he founded Naropa University, the first Buddhist-inspired university in North America. From there, ideas such as mindfulness, meditation, and contemplative spirituality began to spread into everyday life, influencing education, therapy, leadership, and personal development.

Over the past several decades, these ideas have moved beyond religious settings and into the mainstream. They show up in how people talk about mental health, how they approach stress, and how they think about identity and peace. This means that the conversation we are having is not theoretical. It is directly connected to the cultural environment we are living in and the people we interact with every day.

What I find interesting is that the Buddha didn’t come from poverty. He came from wealth.

He had comfort. He had access. He had everything most people spend their lives trying to get. And yet, when he encountered suffering, it shattered him.

Because what he realized is something all of us eventually realize.

Having everything does not answer everything.

And I think that’s part of why Buddhism resonates in a place like Boulder.

Because this is an incredible city. It’s thoughtful. It’s successful. It’s resourced. People here have access to opportunity, education, and experiences that most of the world doesn’t.

And yet, even here, people are still asking deeper questions.

Why do I feel restless?
Why does peace feel temporary?
Why does success not fully satisfy?

And I want to say this carefully, because this is not a critique of wealth.

It’s a reminder of something deeper.

External comfort does not solve internal questions.

You can build a beautiful life and still feel an unsettled soul.

And that’s not failure.

That’s a signal.

It’s pointing you to something more.

TRANSITION:

Instead of speaking generally about these ideas, we are going to walk through nine questions that every belief system answers. These questions help us understand how different worldviews approach life, meaning, and peace.

FRAMEWORK:

Origin — Where did it come from?
God — Who or what is God?
Humanity — Who are we?
Problem — What’s wrong?
Solution — How is it fixed?
Salvation — How do we find peace?
Afterlife — What happens when we die?
Practices — What do we do?
Jesus — Who is Jesus?

UNPACKING BUDDHISM:

Origin — Where did it come from?

Buddhism begins with Siddhartha Gautama (sid-DAR-tuh gow-TUH-muh), a man who was born into privilege but became deeply troubled when he encountered the realities of suffering. After seeing sickness, aging, and death, he left his life behind in search of answers. His journey led him through extreme discipline and meditation, eventually culminating in what he described as enlightenment. From that moment, he became known as the Buddha, meaning “the awakened one,” and his teachings became the foundation of Buddhism.

God — Who or what is God?

Buddhism does not center on a personal creator God. While certain traditions include spiritual beings, ultimate reality is not defined as relational or personal. The focus is not on knowing God but on awakening to truth. This shifts the direction of spiritual pursuit inward, emphasizing awareness and understanding rather than relationship with a divine being.

Humanity — Who are we?

Buddhism teaches that what we think of as the self is not permanent. Instead, it is a constantly changing combination of thoughts, emotions, and experiences. The idea of a fixed identity is considered an illusion, and the goal is to recognize this and detach from it.

Problem — What’s wrong?

The central problem in Buddhism is suffering. Life is marked by dissatisfaction and pain, and this suffering is caused by desire and attachment to things that are temporary and constantly changing.

Solution — How is it fixed?

The solution is the Eightfold Path, which outlines a way of living that includes right thinking, right action, and disciplined awareness. It is a path of self-effort that requires intentional practice and personal transformation.

Salvation — How do we find peace?

Peace is found through nirvana, which is the extinguishing of desire and the end of suffering. It is not a place but a state of being in which the cycle of suffering is broken.

Afterlife — What happens when we die?

Buddhism teaches a cycle of rebirth known as samsara. Individuals continue in this cycle of life, death, and rebirth until they reach enlightenment and are freed from it.

Practices — What do we do?

Practices include meditation, mindfulness, ethical living, and detachment. These are essential elements of the path toward liberation from suffering.

Jesus — Who is Jesus?

In Buddhism, Jesus is not central. He may be respected as a teacher or moral example, but He is not viewed as Savior or necessary for salvation.

TRANSITION:

That is the picture Buddhism presents. It is thoughtful, disciplined, and honest about suffering. It offers a clear pathway toward what it defines as peace. But now we have to ask a deeper question: how does this compare to Christianity, and does it ultimately lead to the kind of peace we are truly looking for?

THE CONTRAST OF CHRISTIANITY:

Origin — (Buddhism: Searching)

Buddhism begins with a man searching for truth, but Christianity begins with a God who comes searching for us. From the opening pages of Scripture, we do not see humanity climbing its way up to God through effort or enlightenment. Instead, we see God stepping down toward humanity, creating, speaking, and revealing Himself. Even after sin enters the world, God does not withdraw or distance Himself from people. He moves toward them. In the garden, when Adam and Eve hide, God asks, “Where are you?” Not because He lacks information, but because He is initiating relationship.

This reveals something foundational about the nature of God. He is not waiting for humanity to figure Him out. He is actively pursuing people, stepping into their brokenness and calling them back to Himself. Many people live as though they are the ones trying to find God, but the deeper reality is that God has been pursuing them all along. Even in this moment, God is not distant from you. He is drawing near, revealing Himself, and inviting you into relationship.

Scripture (CSB):

Genesis 1:1 — “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Scripture (CSB):
Luke 19:10 — “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

God — (Buddhism: Impersonal)

In Buddhism, ultimate reality is impersonal, something to awaken to rather than someone to know. In Christianity, however, God is deeply personal. He is not an abstract force or energy that you tap into, but a living, relational being who knows you fully and invites you into relationship with Him. He speaks, He loves, He moves toward people, and He makes Himself known.

This distinction matters more than we often realize. You cannot have a relationship with something impersonal. An energy cannot know you, and a force cannot love you. Many people are exhausted because they are trying to find peace in something that cannot respond to them personally. They are reaching for something that can never fully meet them.

Christianity presents a completely different vision. Peace is not found by detaching from relationship but by being restored to the right relationship with the God who knows you and loves you. The goal is not simply awareness. The goal is relationship.

Scripture (CSB):
John 17:3 — “This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent—Jesus Christ.”

Humanity — (Buddhism: No self)

Buddhism teaches that the self is ultimately an illusion, something to see through and detach from. Christianity, however, teaches that you were intentionally created by God. You are not random or accidental, and you are not something meant to dissolve into nothingness. You are someone whom God formed with purpose, identity, and value.

While your thoughts, emotions, and experiences may shift over time, there is a deeper reality anchoring your existence.

You were made in the image of God. That means your life has meaning, your story has weight, and your existence matters. This is not something you create for yourself. It is something given to you by God.

This has profound pastoral implications. If the self is only an illusion, then suffering ultimately loses its meaning. But if you are created in God’s image, then your pain matters, your story matters, and your life carries eternal significance. God is not trying to erase who you are. He is working to redeem and restore you into who He created you to be.

Scripture (CSB):
Genesis 1:27 — “So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.”

Problem — (Buddhism: Suffering)

Buddhism rightly recognizes that suffering is a central reality of human life, and Christianity does not deny that. We all experience pain, loss, and dissatisfaction. But Christianity goes deeper by addressing the root cause of that suffering. The problem is not only that we experience pain, but that we are separated from God because of sin.

This is not merely about external circumstances or difficult emotions. It is about a broken relationship at the core of our existence. If suffering were the ultimate problem, then eliminating desire might seem like a sufficient solution. But if sin is the deeper issue, then simply adjusting behavior or managing desires will never fully resolve what is broken.

Many people find themselves stuck in cycles of anxiety, restlessness, or emptiness because they are attempting to solve a spiritual problem with behavioral solutions. They are trying to manage symptoms without addressing the root. Christianity invites us to see that our deepest need is not just relief from suffering, but reconciliation with God.

Scripture (CSB):
Isaiah 59:2 — “But your iniquities are separating you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not listen.”

Solution — (Buddhism: Path)

Buddhism offers a path of discipline and self-effort as the solution to suffering, but Christianity offers a Savior. This distinction changes everything. A path places the responsibility on you to achieve transformation through your own effort, while a Savior accomplishes what you could never do on your own.

Many people carry a quiet but heavy burden of trying to improve themselves, fix their thoughts, and live better, only to find that the weight never lifts. There is a constant pressure to perform, to grow, and to become something better through effort alone. Christianity speaks directly into that exhaustion. Jesus does not offer a better system to manage your life. He offers rest for your soul.

The invitation is not to strive harder but to trust in what He has already accomplished. Salvation is not earned through effort but received as a gift through grace. This frees you from the pressure of having to save yourself and invites you into a life of dependence on Him.

Scripture (CSB):
Ephesians 2:8–9 — “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.”

Salvation — (Buddhism: Nirvana)

In Buddhism, peace is something that must be achieved through detachment and the elimination of desire. In Christianity, peace is something that is received through a relationship with Jesus. This difference shapes how a person lives and experiences life.

If peace must be achieved, there will always be uncertainty about whether enough has been done. But if peace is received, it allows the soul to finally rest. Christianity does not call you to empty yourself until you disappear. It calls you to come to Jesus and be restored.

What makes this even more powerful is that Jesus does not simply give peace as a feeling. He establishes peace between you and God and removes the barrier of sin.

Scripture (NLT):
Matthew 11:28 — “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’”

Afterlife — (Buddhism: Rebirth)

Buddhism presents life as part of an ongoing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, where individuals continue striving until they eventually reach enlightenment. Christianity offers a different perspective, teaching that life is linear and meaningful, culminating in a decisive moment before God.

This gives weight and urgency to how we live now. Our lives are not part of an endless loop with no final resolution. They are purposeful and leading somewhere. Every decision, every belief, and every response to God matters.

This truth is not meant to create fear but clarity. What you believe about God carries eternal significance.

Scripture (CSB):
Hebrews 9:27 — “And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—”

Practices — (Buddhism: Discipline)

Buddhism emphasizes disciplined practices as the pathway to peace, but Christianity reframes practices entirely. Practices such as prayer, Scripture reading, worship, and fasting are not ways to earn peace or achieve salvation. Instead, they flow out of an existing relationship with Jesus.

When practices are disconnected from relationship, they can become burdensome and empty. But when they are rooted in connection to Christ, they become life-giving and transformative.

Scripture (CSB):
John 15:5 — “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.”

Jesus — (Buddhism: Teacher)

While Buddhism may acknowledge Jesus as a teacher or moral example, Christianity declares Him to be far more. Jesus is not simply one voice among many or one path among several options. He is God in the flesh who entered into human suffering, carried the weight of sin, died in our place, and rose again.

When Jesus says, “I am the way,” it is not a statement of arrogance but an offer of rescue. Without that clarity, people would spend their lives wondering which path is correct. Jesus removes that uncertainty by presenting Himself as the definitive way to reconciliation with God.

Scripture (CSB):
John 14:6 — “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

INVITATION:

This is where this becomes personal, because this is not just about understanding a belief system. It is about responding to what is true.

For those who are searching, you may have spent a long time trying to find peace within yourself. You have tried to quiet your thoughts, manage your emotions, and work through different practices, but there is still something unsettled. The message of Jesus is not that you need to try harder, but that you need to surrender. Peace is not something you create; it is someone you receive. Today could be the moment where you stop searching and start trusting, where you give your life to Jesus and receive the peace that only He can give.

For those who have blended different beliefs, there may be parts of your life where you have added other ideas alongside your faith in Jesus. It can feel harmless, even helpful, but over time it begins to shape how you think and live. This is an opportunity to return to clarity and simplicity, to let go of anything that competes with Jesus and to follow Him fully. There is freedom in wholehearted devotion, in trusting that He is enough.

For those who already believe, this is a call to live out your faith with both conviction and compassion. You are surrounded by people who are searching for peace, and you have the opportunity to point them to Jesus through how you live and how you love. This means engaging thoughtfully, listening well, and speaking truth clearly. It also means embodying the peace of Christ in your own life so that others can see the difference He makes.

CLOSING:

Peace is not a practice.

Peace is not something you achieve through effort or discipline.

Peace is a Person.

And His name is Jesus.