“Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.”

So he did have some good Ideas.

Perhaps the religious right should take heed - Buddhism has always been about finding yourself from within. Though in American he would be castigated as one of those Liberals, a socialist, a communist and fascist, probably like Christ would be. Today fascism, with the far right and fundamentalists, is staring you in the face and you don't even know it.

Right On Robert! I suspect there is much to be said for the theory http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2007/06/03/124-jesus-in-india-a-road-map-of-his-lost-years/ (or even the riotious speculation of "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal" by Christopher Moore).

There is no Freedom without Responsibility.

Reston thanks for the info

The concept has different meanings from many different religious perceptions. Seems to me to be true, no matter your religious persuasion (socialist, fascist, Christian, etc.).

Should be six stars...... By the way, like many words that have been co-opted by religion, the word prayer, just means a request, a petition. One must be careful when seeing Buddha quotes as many are fake:
http://fakebuddhaquotes.com/work-out-your-own-salvation-do-not-depend-on-others/

I love this quote but it's a fake.
This is one of the most miss quoted Buddha saying:
Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.
Buddha quotes (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)
It comes from the Sutta:
Now, Kalamas, dont go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, This contemplative is our teacher. When you know for yourselves that, These qualities are skillful; these qualities are blameless; these qualities are praised by the wise; these qualities, when adopted & carried out, lead to welfare & to happiness then you should enter & remain in them.

Fake or not, it's great quote.

The grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared to all men. He is through all and in all and by him all things consist. The guide post of morality. Can be a whipping post when turned against a morally just minority. As is used in the courts today. Wisdom is known of her children, always has been and always will be. The salvation of God has been spoken of sense the beginning, by all the prophets. " Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, , not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings : That you my be blamless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as light in the world." Phili 2: 12 thru 15 KJB. Commonsense is not very common. He has put the law in our hearts, and the words in thy mouth, he dwells in us, he is to us our God, and we are his sons and daughters. For I am not ashamed of the message of Liberty for it is the power of God unto salvation. If I keep his laws of morality, I walk at Liberty ! I work with an old man, an old, Sho han ryu teacher, a good man. he also walks at Liberty. He is also a Patriot of the Free Republic bound with unjust chains of socialism. There is no need to single out Christians or others who adhere to the laws of God, that govern ones Liberty. Natural laws written in fleshly tables of the heart. " THROUGH DESIRE a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom." Solomon's wisdom, Prov 18:1 KJB From about the same time, and he was renowned through out the entire world.

If there is a God he, she, or it, must have made Earth hell!

It is not called hell on earth. it is termed the " pit " and we cling to the sides of it. There are hidden places within the earth, Abrahams bosom, and Hell. there is a gulf between the two. Old saints are there, and other seats of power. Here in this life if you slip to far, you become derelict, and fall to the bottom of the pit.