Zin's Testimony!
We have freedom!
The freedom to think, the freedom to choose, the freedom to have faith.
With all these freedoms, why are we all slaves to the past? Why do we allow generational curses to afflict us, like a viruses - eating away at our dreams, our health and our joy?
Yes, I was born a Buddhist. Being so, I was told a series of lies that afflicted my very thinking. I was told that the past effected my future, I was told that the failures of my "past lives" were manifested as pains and suffering in this life. I was also told that if I followed certain rules set by man, I could become a God myself.
From as far as I could remember, I was revered as a future monk - the chosen one - one monk even went as far as to tell my mother, that I was the one that will combine all beliefs into one. I was told that in my past life I was already a great monk, humble, and perfect. Basically, I didn't have a choice in my beliefs, I was told that my life was already written out and that was it. For 24 years, I knew nothing more than Buddhism, I knew not about the things I didn't have and was told to simplify my life of the things I did have. I was suppose to be able to gain the title of Buddha, "The Enlighten One".
I grew up in a house that was covered in sins; adultery, lies and abuse, and because of this, I believed that there was nothing more to this life than living to pay off past debts with pain and suffering. If I was indeed the great monk they spoke of in my past life, why did I have to suffer so in this life, what did I do wrong?
How can I be Buddhist if my father, who was Buddhist, constantly cheated on my mother? How can I be Buddhist, when my mother, my prime example of a Buddhist, beat on me almost nightly, rendering me unconscious on many occasions. How can I be Buddhist when my own mother prayed one minute, argued with my father the next, and beat me after, taking out the rage she had towards my father on me, again and again. I prayed to Buddha, I prayed to all the Buddhas, never being answered, never feeling their presence. How could I pray to someone who was at a level which I could reach? Basically, if I could become enlightened myself, why not lean towards my own understandings, my own wisdom?
These were questions that as Buddhist - we were not suppose to ask. I knew at an early age that there was more to life than what I was told. I knew that there was one higher being, a God, which wanted us to enjoy all that He created, the trees, the wind, the water, His animals, His people. I knew that simplifying my life wouldn't get me to where I needed to be. I broke the mold on February 24, 2003 and thus propelling myself out of a world of darkness into a world of light... Simply put, I can see for the first time and I intend to keep my new found sight forever. I was a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17
For those of you who heard my testimony at Lakewood, you know the story of how God showed me His Love, His Mercy and His Grace. I'll share with all of the others what I shared with 900 people that faithful day on Cinco De Mayo, 2005 when the time is right.
For now, if you are a believer, know this... you are walking the right path, following the right God, hearing the right voice. You are following a God that hears you, feels you, loves you, a God that heard my cries, answered my prayers - the first time and every time, a God that will do the same for you. You are following a God that died for you and would do it again a million times over. I am a living testimony of His love and I pray that you all come to realize the same of yourself.
On Feb 24, 2003, I hit my knees for the first time and prayed to a God I never have spoken to. I told Him that I had questions that needed answers and that I knew he was the one and only one with the answers...
A few minutes later the door bell rang and it was two Mormon teenage women. They looked scared and all the color was out of their face. I quickly forgot my worries and asked if everything was okay. They hesitantly answered:
"You will never believe us...when we were driving past your house a voice spoke to us and said; 'STOP, to your right is a brown house and in that house is a little boy with questions that need answers, tell him that all the answers are here'", she said that as she raised a book...The HOLY BIBLE., The the voice added she said, "ONLY HERE!"
God spoke to them and me, stating that the Bible only has the answers...Imagine what the young Mormon teen was thinking. How can the Holy Bible be the only answer, if they study the Book of Mormons. Needless to say, this changed our life.
I answered the Mormons with, "I am the little boy the voice spoke of, I am that boy." Then invited them in to teach me all they knew about the bible.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6
~Zin
