Buddha and Jesus
The concept of a spiritual ideology that could encompass all of humanity came late in our collective history. As humanity grew in population over time and tribal ideas began to be compared with one another, a concept of a shared human condition began to develop. The two great examples of world uniting religious figures are the images of Jesus Christ and that of the Buddha. Despite being separated by the cultures of East and West both concepts bare striking resemblances. When details of the two stories are compared one is left to wonder if the differences are only cosmetic. Both characters are intent on solving the spiritual crisis of existence not just for one tribe or another, but for all humanity. The differing perspective and accent that the stories take are more reflections of the different cultures that each is speaking to, rather than divergent intentions of the storytellers. By seeing their parallels and examining their differences perhaps we can gain a greater understanding of the message that both bring to the world.
Gautama Sakyamuni and Jesus of Nazareth were both historic figures. Despite the agreement of historians and scholars that both men existed, most of the historical details of their lives are uncertain. The teachings of both men were carried at first through oral tradition and then later in written form. Although Gautama lived nearly 500 years before Jesus, both teachings did not become written dogmas of faith until the first century BCE (Before the Common Era). The process of creating a mythic image has obscured our ability to have any certainty of the men that they were. We can only guess as to which details of the stories were historical and what was added later to better resonate with the human archetypes of faith. To ask which parts of their respective stories happened, in a historical context and which details are mythological does not address the underlying message they both bring to the world. Does the historicity of their stories effect the value of their teaching? Jesus is said to have walked on water, while Gautama road his horse named Kanthaka out of his fathers palace and over the still waters of the river Ganges. If these events did not occur in the normal sense of history, does this invalidate the lessons the two men bring? The parables of Jesus or the teachings of the Buddha should not be judged based on what we can prove to have happened. The value of the stories of the Buddha and Jesus come from what they adds to the lives of those that hear them.
The message of the Buddha and the Christ are ones of universal acceptance. Neither character claims that only a certain type of person can find peace through their teachings. This radical idea is an important break from faith systems that have come before them. The story of Jesus takes place in the context of the history and mythology of Judaism. The Buddha comes from the same cultural base as Hinduism. For Jesus and the people of his community, humanity was separated from God by the sin of Adam. Similarly, Hindu’s are trapped in a never ending round of existence without escape. Through many reincarnations a person could progress their soul to a state of Godhood. However, even at this exalted state mistakes will be made eventually and down the scales you will fall. Even if you were once an incarnate god, you might find yourself born as a beetle or some other low creature after making an error. With no beginning or end each person was destined to repeat the cycle of life forever without escape. Jesus and the Buddha represent breaks from these orthodox ideas.
“All things are Buddha things.” This is a well know Buddhist “sutra” or saying. When Gautama becomes the Buddha he stops being the prince that he. For the Buddhist, personality is a lie that we tell to ourselves. The truth from this perspective is that we are all “Buddha things,” without self. The Buddha’s answer to the dogma of Hinduism is that all things are delusions. By recognizing this he no longer needed to cling to the cycle of life. When we stop acknowledging the fractured pieces of existence as separate we achieve Nirvana and peace. Our sense of ourselves slips away and we experience the universe as a unified whole. Without any one there to reincarnate, reincarnation becomes unnecessary. This is the escape from the cycle of life, death and resurrection that the Buddha offers. Under this idea, we are all capable of being a Buddha. Each of us has only to take the time to realize it.
In both of the earlier traditions there is separation between the mystery that is God and the individual people living in the world. Jesus said, “I and the father are one.” (John 10) Later in the text Jesus tells his followers that “I am the vine and you are the branches“ (John 15) This suggests a connection between Jesus and ourselves. After expulsion from the garden of Adam by God man lived in exile. It was only through the laws of Judaism that man kept from going astray. Jesus had come to make peace between Man and God. Similarly, the Buddha shows us a way to make peace between ourselves and the universal order. Both stories can be seen as two ways of teaching the same lesson.
Jesus was crucified on the cross and rose up to eternal life. The Buddha sat under the bo tree and achieved eternal enlightenment. They are analogous images that point to the same salvation. Only because of the different emphasis on individuality placed by the culture of the West is Jesus seen as promising life everlasting. The Buddha offers enlightenment past the concept of the individual only because of the cultural bias against individual expression of the East. Both figures invited humanity to have a personal connection to the mystery of God beyond the dogmas of the local group or tradition. This open invitation to all people is what has caused, in large part, these two faiths to spread far beyond their initial areas of influence.
Through Buddhism I have been able in find meaning in the teachings of Jesus beyond the historical references and local accepted understanding of the teachings. It is a spiritual, emotional, message that both of these figures want to convey to us. By seeing past the details of each story and seeing the common message, we can take great comfort that this world has some religious messages that are truly universal. It is though the comparison and contrasting of these beloved stories that the greater value they hold comes shinning through. By seeing beyond the separate cultural context and variations in detail we can see that one story does not diminish the other. They compliment and support each other in the task of guiding us on the path to spiritual awareness.
Gautama Sakyamuni and Jesus of Nazareth were both historic figures. Despite the agreement of historians and scholars that both men existed, most of the historical details of their lives are uncertain. The teachings of both men were carried at first through oral tradition and then later in written form. Although Gautama lived nearly 500 years before Jesus, both teachings did not become written dogmas of faith until the first century BCE (Before the Common Era). The process of creating a mythic image has obscured our ability to have any certainty of the men that they were. We can only guess as to which details of the stories were historical and what was added later to better resonate with the human archetypes of faith. To ask which parts of their respective stories happened, in a historical context and which details are mythological does not address the underlying message they both bring to the world. Does the historicity of their stories effect the value of their teaching? Jesus is said to have walked on water, while Gautama road his horse named Kanthaka out of his fathers palace and over the still waters of the river Ganges. If these events did not occur in the normal sense of history, does this invalidate the lessons the two men bring? The parables of Jesus or the teachings of the Buddha should not be judged based on what we can prove to have happened. The value of the stories of the Buddha and Jesus come from what they adds to the lives of those that hear them.
The message of the Buddha and the Christ are ones of universal acceptance. Neither character claims that only a certain type of person can find peace through their teachings. This radical idea is an important break from faith systems that have come before them. The story of Jesus takes place in the context of the history and mythology of Judaism. The Buddha comes from the same cultural base as Hinduism. For Jesus and the people of his community, humanity was separated from God by the sin of Adam. Similarly, Hindu’s are trapped in a never ending round of existence without escape. Through many reincarnations a person could progress their soul to a state of Godhood. However, even at this exalted state mistakes will be made eventually and down the scales you will fall. Even if you were once an incarnate god, you might find yourself born as a beetle or some other low creature after making an error. With no beginning or end each person was destined to repeat the cycle of life forever without escape. Jesus and the Buddha represent breaks from these orthodox ideas.
“All things are Buddha things.” This is a well know Buddhist “sutra” or saying. When Gautama becomes the Buddha he stops being the prince that he. For the Buddhist, personality is a lie that we tell to ourselves. The truth from this perspective is that we are all “Buddha things,” without self. The Buddha’s answer to the dogma of Hinduism is that all things are delusions. By recognizing this he no longer needed to cling to the cycle of life. When we stop acknowledging the fractured pieces of existence as separate we achieve Nirvana and peace. Our sense of ourselves slips away and we experience the universe as a unified whole. Without any one there to reincarnate, reincarnation becomes unnecessary. This is the escape from the cycle of life, death and resurrection that the Buddha offers. Under this idea, we are all capable of being a Buddha. Each of us has only to take the time to realize it.
In both of the earlier traditions there is separation between the mystery that is God and the individual people living in the world. Jesus said, “I and the father are one.” (John 10) Later in the text Jesus tells his followers that “I am the vine and you are the branches“ (John 15) This suggests a connection between Jesus and ourselves. After expulsion from the garden of Adam by God man lived in exile. It was only through the laws of Judaism that man kept from going astray. Jesus had come to make peace between Man and God. Similarly, the Buddha shows us a way to make peace between ourselves and the universal order. Both stories can be seen as two ways of teaching the same lesson.
Jesus was crucified on the cross and rose up to eternal life. The Buddha sat under the bo tree and achieved eternal enlightenment. They are analogous images that point to the same salvation. Only because of the different emphasis on individuality placed by the culture of the West is Jesus seen as promising life everlasting. The Buddha offers enlightenment past the concept of the individual only because of the cultural bias against individual expression of the East. Both figures invited humanity to have a personal connection to the mystery of God beyond the dogmas of the local group or tradition. This open invitation to all people is what has caused, in large part, these two faiths to spread far beyond their initial areas of influence.
Through Buddhism I have been able in find meaning in the teachings of Jesus beyond the historical references and local accepted understanding of the teachings. It is a spiritual, emotional, message that both of these figures want to convey to us. By seeing past the details of each story and seeing the common message, we can take great comfort that this world has some religious messages that are truly universal. It is though the comparison and contrasting of these beloved stories that the greater value they hold comes shinning through. By seeing beyond the separate cultural context and variations in detail we can see that one story does not diminish the other. They compliment and support each other in the task of guiding us on the path to spiritual awareness.
posted by kamuizot at 1:03 PM
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