admin
THIS article further shows how the mythical Jesus (Greek “Iesous”), the Christ (not historical Yahoshua) is a textual copy of Siddhatha Gautama, the Buddha.
Concerning the biographical accounts of Buddha and mythical Jesus, James Harden-Hickey says: “One account must necessarily be a copy of the other, and since the Buddhist biographer, living long before the birth of (Jesus) could not have borrowed from the Christian one, the plain inference is that the early creed-mongers of Alexandria were guilty of an act of plagiarism.” – John E. Remsberg, “The Christ: A Critical Review and Analysis of the Evidence of His Existence” (1994).
The Great Commission
Buddha commissioned his own disciples: “O disciples, I am free of all bonds, human and divine. And you, too, are now free. Go now and wander for the welfare and happiness of many, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, welfare and happiness of divinities and (humanity). Teach the Dharma that is good in the beginning, good in the middle and good in the end, with the meaning and the letter. Explain a holy life that is utterly perfect and pure. There are some who are not blinded by the dust of the earth, but they will not find salvation if they do not hear the Dharma proclaimed. So go, O disciples, go and teach them the Dharma.” – The Life of the Buddha by Bhikkhu Nanamoli, p. 52, this passage taken from the Vinaya, the regulatory framework for the monastic community of Buddhism based on the canonical texts called the “Vinaya Pitaka,” compiled by First Buddhist Council (543–542 BCE) according to Theravada tradition.
This is the same great commission of Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 24:47-48 and John 20:22-23.
Introspection and avoiding hypocrisy
“The faults of others are more easily seen than one’s own, but seeing one’s own failings is difficult. The failings of others are winnowed like chaff in the wind, but one conceals one’s own faults, like a cheating gambler.” – Buddha, “Dhammapada” (Path of Righteousness or Truth), www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.intro.budd.html
The scriptural Jesus allegedly taught the same thing in Matthew 7:1-5 and Luke 6:41-42, “And why beholdest you the log that is in someone’s eye, but do not see the beam that is in your own eye?”
Against anxiety and worry
Buddha’s prescribed to the bhikshus: “Those who aspire are ever striving; they do not stay in one place. Like swans leaving a lake, they move from house to house.
The only source of refuge for those who do not accumulate possessions and are careful about what they eat is unconditional freedom, knowing as they do the void of transience. Their way is difficult to follow like that of birds in the sky.”
This is the same as what one finds in Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke 12:22-40.
Woman at the well
While travelling through the countryside, Ananda, the disciple of Buddha feels thirsty and approaches a well and asks a Matangi girl named Prakriti for a drink of water.
When she expresses fear that she belongs to a lower caste and she cannot approach a holy man, Ananda responds, “My sister, I am not asking about your caste or your family; I am asking whether you can give some water to drink” (Divyavadana 217) (www.sacred-texts.com/bud/btg/btg77.htm
This story is similar to Jesus’ encounter at Jacob’s well near Sychar in Samaria where he asks for some drinking water. The woman of Samaria replies, “How is that thou, being a Jew, asking drink from me, a woman of Samaria.” Jesus says, if she knew who he was, she would ask him for a drink and he would give her “living water” (John 4:5-42).
Gifts and temptations
The alleged visit of the learned and wise men to the mythical baby Jesus were based on recognition of an initiate into some secret knowledge in Zoroastrianism and ancient wisdom while the temptations of Buddha were adopted into the scriptural storyline of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry.
Breaking ties and burden of those who are enlightened
Buddha: “When a mendicant (bhikshu), though still young, yokes himself to the Buddha’s teachings, the world is illuminated like the moon freed of clouds.” – Dhammapada.
Jesus’s call to his close disciples, “Leave the dead to bury their dead” (Matthew 8:22, Luke 9:60), “No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of (the Divine)” (Luke 9:62) and “He who wishes to follow me must know himself and bear my yoke” (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23).
Loyalty
Buddha said, “Anyone, O monks, who want to stand by me, should stand by the afflicted” (Mahavagga 8, 26.3). Jesus had a similar call, “In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).
Walking on water
A disciple of Buddha, Sariputta, attempts to walk on water of river Aciravati and begins to sink by a strong wave. When he regains control of himself and start meditating deeply, he could walk on water. – Jataka 190 (www.sacred-texts.com/bud/j2/j2043.htm
In Matthew 14:28-33, apostle Peter also tries to walk on the water but starts to sink.
Ethical conduct
Among many simplified teachings, Buddha taught the “Five Precepts”: 1) Respect for life, 2) Respect for others’ property, 3) Avoidance of sexual misconduct, 4) Respect for honesty and 5) Respect for a clear mind.
Jesus also mentioned five moral laws as follows, “Thou knowest the commandments, do not commit adultery; do not kill; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor thy father and thy mother” (Luke 18:20).
References:
- Elmar R. Gruber and Holger Kersten, “The Original Jesus: The Buddhist Sources of Christianity” (1995),
- Richard Hooper, “Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, And Lao Tzu: The Parallel Sayings” (2007).
For feedback email [email protected] or Twitter, @shingaiRndoro. A gallery of previous articles is availabe on www.sundaymail.co.zw/author/shingairukwata.
Online Reporter