Similarities between Buddha and Christ

[awakened]

How many of you know this?

CHRIST vs BUDDHA

Taken from 'The Christ Conspiracy' by Acharya (amazing book)

The Buddha character has the following in common with the Christ figure:

• Buddha was born on December 25th of the virgin Maya, and his birth was

attended by a “Star of Announcement,”wise men and angels singing

heavenly songs.

• At his birth, he was pronounced ruler of the world and presented with

“costly jewels and precious substances.”

• His life was threatened by a king “who was advised to destroy the

child, as he was liable to overthrow him.”

• Buddha was of royal lineage.

• He taught in the temple at 12.

• He crushed a serpent’s head (as was traditionally said of Jesus) and

was tempted by Mara, the “Evil One,” when fasting.

• Buddha was baptized in water, with the “Spirit of God” or “Holy

Ghost” present.

• He performed miracles and wonders, healed the sick, fed 500 men

from a “small basket of cakes,” and walked on water.

• Buddha abolished idolatry, was a “sower of the word,” and

preached “the establishment of a kingdom of righteousness.”

• His followers were obliged to take vows of poverty and to renounce

the world.

• He was transfigured on a mount, when it was said that his face “shone

as the brightness of the sun and moon.”

• In some traditions, he died on a cross.

• He was resurrected, as his coverings were unrolled from his body and

his tomb was opened by supernatural powers.

• Buddha ascended bodily to Nirvana or “heaven.”

• He was called “Lord,” “Master,” the “Light of the World,” “God of

Gods,” “Father of the World,” “Almighty and All-knowing Ruler,”

“Redeemer of All,” “Holy One,” the “Author of Happiness,”

“Possessor of All,” the “Omnipotent,” the “Supreme Being,” the

“Eternal One.”

• He was considered the “Sin Bearer,” “Good Shepherd,” the

“Carpenter,” the “Infinite and Everlasting,” and the “Alpha

and Omega.”

• He came to fulfill, not destroy, the law.

• Buddha is to return “in the latter days” to restore order and to judge the

dead.”

In addition to the characteristics of the “teaching/savior god” as outlined above, the Buddhistic influence in Christianity includes: Renouncing the world and its riches, including sex and family; the brotherhood of man; the virtue of charity and turning the cheek; and conversion. That Buddhism preceded Christianity is undeniable, as is its influence in the world long prior to the beginning of the Christian era. As Walker relates:

Established 500 years before Christianity and widely publicized throughout the Middle East, Buddhism exerted more influence on early Christianity than church fathers liked to admit, since they viewed Oriental religions in general as devil worship. . . . Stories of the Buddha and his many incarnations circulated incessantly throughout the ancient world, especially since Buddhist monks traveled to Egypt, Greece, and Asia Minor four centuries before Christ, to spread their doctrines. . . .

Many scholars have pointed out that the basic tenets of Christianity were basic tenets of Buddhism first; but it is also true that the ceremonies and trappings of both religions were more similar than either has wanted to acknowledge.

As to Buddhistic influence in the specific area where the Christ drama purportedly took place, Larson states:

Buddhist missionaries penetrated every portion of the then known world, including Greece, Egypt, Baktria, Asia Minor, and the Second Persian Empire. Palestine must have been permeated by Buddhist ideology during the first century. . . . The literature of India proves that Jesus drew heavily upon Buddhism, directly or indirectly, to obtain not simply the content of His ethics, but the very form in which it was delivered. Both Gautama and Jesus found parable effective.

Indeed, it seems that a number of Jesus’s parables were direct lifts from Buddhism; for example, that of the prodigal son. The existence of Buddhism in the Middle East during the Christian era is acknowledged by Christian apologists themselves such as Cyril and Clement of Alexandria, who said the Samaneans or Buddhists were priests of Persia.

Furthermore, a number of scholars have pushed back the origins of Buddhism many thousands of years prior to the alleged advent of Gautama Buddha. Albert Churchward also traces the Buddha myth originally to Egypt:

The first Buddha was called Hermias, and can be traced back to Set of the Egyptians; he originated in the Stellar Cult. Later, however, the Solar Cult was carried to India, and the Buddha is there the representative of Ptah of the Egyptians. . . . . Sakya-Muni or Gautama, whose life and history were evolved from the p re-extant mythos, the true Buddha, . . . could become no more historical than the Christ of the gnosis. If Buddhism could but explicate its own origins, it would become apparent that it is both natural and scientific, i.e. the old Stellar Cult of Egypt. But the blind attempt to make the Buddha historical in one person will place it ultimately at the bottom of a dark hole.

Higgins also evinced that true “Buddhism” is much more ancient than the legends of the Buddha, since in ancient Indian temples long predating the era of “Gautama” are depictions of the Buddha as a black man, not only in color but in feature. In Higgins’s opinion, Buddhism has been the most widespread religion on the planet, also found in England, where it was the religion of the Druids. He also states that the “Hermes of Egypt, or Buddha, was well known to the ancient Canaanites,” i.e., the people who preceded and in large part became the Israelites. Therefore, Buddhism was no doubt an early influence on Hebrew thought and religion.

[camerata]

Buddha ascended bodily to Nirvana or “heaven.”

This is just one example of how ridiculous much of this is. It seems more in the tradition of The Da Vinci Code than a serious investigation.

[camerata]

I've deleted two posts about Christ being Krishna or Horus because they have nothing whatsoever to do with Buddhism.

[Xangsamhua]

Awakened, there's a lot of material in your postings. I've just skimmed them (will read more closely later) and am familiar with the broad theme you have presented. There have been a number of popular books published on these matters, notably those by Freke and Ganley that take up Professor Wells' thesis (since expanded upon by others) that Jesus never existed (though I understand Wells backed away from a strong view on this at an Oxford debate in recent years). I think the Rosicrucians have been making these connections since they were founded, haven't they? I have vague recollections of reading something by Dr Spencer Lewis, a Rosicrucian writer.

You refer to various authors. Is it possible for you to provide a bibliography of the main works you refer to?

The Buddha-Christ connection is always food for speculation (as is the Christ-Issa connection in Kashmir) and I don't know if anyone will ever have enough material on this to satisfy scholars. It is agreed, I think, that the Egyptian Therapeutiae, a prototype for the monastic movement started by Antony and Pachomius in the 3rd century CE, drew on Buddhist principles. Jesus lived in Galilee which was on a major trade route through which merchants of the India trade would have passed and one would assume there was some exchange of ideas. Marcus Borg, the liberal Protestant writer, has authored a book of sayings, parables etc that show a close similarity between those of the Buddha and of Jesus.

There are a number of interesting propositions you put forward, some of which can be contested (e.g. Buddhist influence on the "Hebrews": Abraham and the early "Hebrews" were well before the Buddha's time), but they are all worth following up. Archetypes for great heroes and religious leaders are well known, as they are for most folk tales and legends of significance (similar flood stories are found in Mesopotamia (taken up in Genesis) and in Central (and South?) America), reflecting something common in the human psyche across times and cultures.

Whether Jesus actually existed is not a closed question. Most (liberal?) scholars acknowledge that while our inherited portrait of Jesus may be heavily overlain by myth, there is enough evidence to indicate that the stories about him are based on a real person who lived and taught in first century Galilee (with at least one foray into Jerusalem). Certainly we acknowledge the existence of other historical figures on as little or as much evidence. Ed Sanders, a very careful scholar, says that compared with many other ancient historical figures we in fact know quite a bit about Jesus. Paula Fredericksen and Geza Vermes, both highly skeptical of the conventional presentations of Jesus in the past, do not believe that he did not exist. Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg and other revisionists agree and books by most or all of these authors are easily accessed through Kinokuniya in Thailand or Amazon, Barnes & Noble etc.

There are those who argue, on grounds similar to those you have raised, that the Buddha was not an historical person; however, most of us do not believe that, but rather that there is a substratum of historical substance beneath any mythical superstructure that has been raised

[Brucenkhamen]

• Buddha was born on December 25th of the virgin Maya, and his birth was

attended by a “Star of Announcement,”wise men and angels singing

heavenly songs.

• At his birth, he was pronounced ruler of the world and presented with

“costly jewels and precious substances.”

• His life was threatened by a king “who was advised to destroy the

child, as he was liable to overthrow him.”

• Buddha was of royal lineage.

• He taught in the temple at 12.

• He crushed a serpent’s head (as was traditionally said of Jesus) and

was tempted by Mara, the “Evil One,” when fasting.

• Buddha was baptized in water, with the “Spirit of God” or “Holy

Ghost” present.

• He performed miracles and wonders, healed the sick, fed 500 men

from a “small basket of cakes,” and walked on water.

• Buddha abolished idolatry, was a “sower of the word,” and

preached “the establishment of a kingdom of righteousness.”

• His followers were obliged to take vows of poverty and to renounce

the world.

• He was transfigured on a mount, when it was said that his face “shone

as the brightness of the sun and moon.”

• In some traditions, he died on a cross.

• He was resurrected, as his coverings were unrolled from his body and

his tomb was opened by supernatural powers.

• Buddha ascended bodily to Nirvana or “heaven.”

• He was called “Lord,” “Master,” the “Light of the World,” “God of

Gods,” “Father of the World,” “Almighty and All-knowing Ruler,”

“Redeemer of All,” “Holy One,” the “Author of Happiness,”

“Possessor of All,” the “Omnipotent,” the “Supreme Being,” the

“Eternal One.”

• He was considered the “Sin Bearer,” “Good Shepherd,” the

“Carpenter,” the “Infinite and Everlasting,” and the “Alpha

and Omega.”

• He came to fulfill, not destroy, the law.

• Buddha is to return “in the latter days” to restore order and to judge the

dead.”

I'm no expert on the Buddhist scriptures but I'm not aware of most of these assertions being in the Pali Canon.

If they are please provide references.

I guess they could be in the Mahayana scriptures, if so as many of these postdate Christianity perhaps they can prove that Mahayana was influenced by Christianity.

If they are please provide references.

[jumnien]

Jesus had flowing long hair whilst the Buddha shaved his head to conceal a large bald spot. There are many other differences as well.

[RakJungTorlae]

Jesus had flowing long hair whilst the Buddha shaved his head to conceal a large bald spot. There are many other differences as well.

I think Jesus and budda both belong to God because he cant send a farang “Jesus” in to Asian territory and expects them to listen or they look at him like some kind of nut.

[cobra]

Jesus had flowing long hair whilst the Buddha shaved his head to conceal a large bald spot. There are many other differences as well.

Please provide references,

[camerata]

There's a rebuttal of the whole thing on a Christian site here. It concludes (from a Christian perspective, I guess) that, "With Buddha one must work out one's own salvation, to become one's own god."

[keddy]

Jesus had flowing long hair whilst the Buddha shaved his head to conceal a large bald spot. There are many other differences as well.

This made made me chuckle I have this vision of a 70's footballer with long sunsilk flowing blonde hair with thick sideboards running down the wing.

[awakened]

I've deleted two posts about Christ being Krishna or Horus because they have nothing whatsoever to do with Buddhism.

Your posts appear hostile. If you are a practicing Buddhist please accept that I have no wish to cause offence. I believe that if you understand the historical background to the great religions, you are able to interpret them in a way that will enhance your spiritual life. Alas, most people do not have that faculty and are therefore absorbing the many distortions Acharya highlights in her book. Thus they may find themselves unable to progress spiritually.

I included the other comparisons to reinforce the fundamental point that Buddha, Jesus and dozens of other historical 'men-gods' are, according to Acharya's research, composites based on pagan Sun worship and astro-theology. On that basis I felt further examples would be helpful.

About the rebuttal you posted. You may wish to check the credentials of the author of the site.

JPHolding (aka Robert Turkel) is a fundamental Christian with a claimed Master's degree in Library Science, operating within the prison system. Titling a web page 'Bend Over Backwards and Kiss That Little Whine Goodbye' does not smack of Christian charity or academic brevity. He is not a qualified Religious Historian as is Acharya, who has clearly been very troubled by him. Please scroll down this page for details... http://www.truthbeknown.com/holding.htm

As to his claims, she has this to say...

"If you wish a scholarly rebuttal of any possible "facts" that may be gleaned from Holding's petulance, please see my voluminous Suns of God: Krishna, Buddha and Christ Unveiled, an entire work that refutes the numerous erroneous claims made by Holding and assorted other apologists and "experts."

As for me, please do not shoot the messenger!

[Brucenkhamen]

Your posts appear hostile. If you are a practicing Buddhist please accept that I have no wish to cause offence. I believe that if you understand the historical background to the great religions, you are able to interpret them in a way that will enhance your spiritual life. Alas, most people do not have that faculty and are therefore absorbing the many distortions Acharya highlights in her book. Thus they may find themselves unable to progress spiritually.

Your series of posts came across as spam, I think he was right to delete those that were off topic.

Considering you haven't come up with any evidence that your points about the Buddha's life are in Buddhist scripture I think you should stick to posting about topics that you have some knowledge of.

[awakened]

Considering you haven't come up with any evidence that your points about the Buddha's life are in Buddhist scripture I think you should stick to posting about topics that you have some knowledge of.

Thank you but I do not require direction from you.

The explanation was for the moderator, who has already stated his reason for deleting the posts. There was no mention of spam. Please read the previous posts.

FYI...

'Spam' is flooding the Internet with many copies of the same message, in an attempt to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it. Most spam is commercial advertising, often for dubious products, get-rich-quick schemes, or quasi-legal services.

I don't believe any serious researcher relies solely on what is in Scripture. That's the whole point. To test what is in Scripture against ALL available evidence.

You are confused. They are not MY points. They are the author's. I have no need, personally, to provide evidence. Just to direct to where it can be found, which is obviously in her books. Anyone who is seriously interested in knowing more would follow up. No?

It is unlikely to satisfy cynical minds since Acharya references authors and not the original source material. Acharya makes it clear (did you read all the post?) that in the second book she is able to rebut the rebuttal. Logic would suggest she has been very careful in this instance to provide sources that enable her to do that.

If you are able to enlighten readers on her points please do so. Until such time wouldn't it be fair to say that you too are lacking in knowledge?

I'm interested in knowing more and have ordered the second book. Enquiring minds may wish to do the same.

[camerata]

I've deleted two posts about Christ being Krishna or Horus because they have nothing whatsoever to do with Buddhism.

Your posts appear hostile. If you are a practicing Buddhist please accept that I have no wish to cause offence.

The posts were deleted because they were off topic, not because they might cause offence. Please see the Buddhism Forum Guidelines in the welcome message pinned at the top of the forum:

"Posts about other religions, eg, Christianity, Islam, etc, or about the existence of God, intelligent design, creation, etc are allowable only when expressly discussed in the context of Buddhism. Any new topic where Buddhism is not thematically involved will be immediately deleted."

Now, let's get back to discussions of Buddhism...

[Brucenkhamen]

You are confused. They are not MY points. They are the author's. I have no need, personally, to provide evidence. Just to direct to where it can be found, which is obviously in her books. Anyone who is seriously interested in knowing more would follow up. No?

You're post started "How many of you know this?", and added later (amazing book). Which says to me that you are presenting the following as fact and sharing what you know with us who may or may not know.

If this is the case then it's fair enough to ask you to back up the statements you posted.

Now it probably would have been better to start your post off "I read this interesting book, I don't know if it's true or not, has anyone come across these teachings, can anyone verify the points about the Buddhas life are true?"

If that was your intent then lets take it from there then.

While I realise that the answers I've asked for can be found in her books I'd like to find a shred of truth I can identify with in your review first so that I know it's worthwhile reading the book.

I don't believe any serious researcher relies solely on what is in Scripture.

That's the whole point. To test what is in Scripture against ALL available evidence.

What other evidence on the Buddhas life besides the Buddhist scripture exists? I only ask you to name one or two examples so I know whether your Acharya's teachings are worth looking into.

If you are able to enlighten readers on her points please do so. Until such time wouldn't it be fair to say that you too are lacking in knowledge?

Yes you are right my knowledge of the records of the Buddha's life is limited, but I know enough to recognise fabrication, so thanks for the invitation, I'll post point by point in my next post.

[Brucenkhamen]

…Now most of these points use Christian terminology, and it's hard to see anything remotely similar in the Buddhism that is taught today. It could well be your teacher has a version using Buddhist terminology that I might have a easier time recognising events from, if so could you post it?

Of the points you listed I can definitely confirm these two are true;

* Buddha was of royal lineage.

* His followers were obliged to take vows of poverty and to renounce the world.

As for the other points?

* Buddha was born on December 25th of the virgin Maya, and his birth was attended by a ?Star of Announcement,?wise men and angels singing heavenly songs.

It's kind of common knowledge that Jesus wasn't born on 25 December actually, wheras the Buddha is considered to have been born in May. Besides that the Buddha wasn't born of a virgin (this is kind of impossible for ordinary men). I wonder if your teacher is saying that it significant that both mothers names are 4 letters long and begin with M when translated into English, if so what is the significance?

* At his birth, he was pronounced ruler of the world and presented with ?costly jewels and precious substances.?

This is similar enough, in the Buddhas case it was Lotus flowers I recall.

* His life was threatened by a king ?who was advised to destroy the child, as he was liable to overthrow him.?

Well no, actually it was prophesied he would either be a great King or a great spiritual leader so his father (the King) tried to raise him to be the former.

* He taught in the temple at 12.

Not impossible I suppose, though considering he lived a very sheltered existence at that time what did he teach? Macrame?

* He crushed a serpent?s head (as was traditionally said of Jesus) and was tempted by Mara, the ?Evil One,? when fasting.

Rings true though I don't recall anything about him crushing Mara's head.

* Buddha was baptized in water, with the ?Spirit of God? or ?Holy Ghost? present.

* He performed miracles and wonders, healed the sick, fed 500 men from a ?small basket of cakes,? and walked on water.

Evidence please. Some of the most well known stories are of the Buddha being asked to perform miracle but using it as an opportunity to teach someone not to look for miracles.

* Buddha abolished idolatry, was a ?sower of the word,? and preached ?the establishment of a kingdom of righteousness.?

* He was transfigured on a mount, when it was said that his face ?shone as the brightness of the sun and moon.?

A straight lift from the Bible, so how does it relate to the Buddhas life?

* In some traditions, he died on a cross.

Which traditions, name one.

* He was resurrected, as his coverings were unrolled from his body and his tomb was opened by supernatural powers.

Evidence please.

* Buddha ascended bodily to Nirvana or ?heaven.?

The time of his death is well documented, nothing about ascended bodily unless all those teachers have been deliberately misleading me.

* He was called ?Lord,? ?Master,? the ?Light of the World,? ?God of Gods,? ?Father of the World,? ?Almighty and All-knowing Ruler,? ?Redeemer of All,? ?Holy One,? the ?Author of Happiness,? ?Possessor of All,? the ?Omnipotent,? the ?Supreme Being,? the ?Eternal One.?

By whom? When? The term "Lord Buddha" is used today so I guess it was used then, the rest implies a non Buddhist world view.

* He was considered the ?Sin Bearer,? ?Good Shepherd,? the ?Carpenter,? the ?Infinite and Everlasting,? and the ?Alpha and Omega.?

* He came to fulfil, not destroy, the law.

A straight lift from Christianity, but where is the connection to the Buddhas life?

* Buddha is to return ?in the latter days? to restore order and to judge the dead.?

I'm not sure whether Theravada teaches about the coming Matraiya Buddha, Mahayana does, but why would he want to judge dead people?

As for the rest of the post FWIW I've always been of the opinion that Catholic monasticism was influenced by Buddhist monasticism. There is little justification for it in the Bible (whereas there are whole volumes on it in Buddhist scripture) and it's so similar to the Buddhist model. At the time the Greeks were spread throughout the middle east and north India were strong supporters of Buddhism and Christianity and were good and passing on ideas.

This is just my opinion, I wouldn't present it as fact by saying "How many of you know this?"? or something like that.

Edited June 30, 2008 by Brucenkhamen

[awakened]

'Acharya' is not my teacher. It is a pseudonym she writes under. Her real name, which she is open about, is D.M. Murdock.

Staying on topic, some of the reviews posted here may assist you in deciding whether to buy the book. http://www.amazon.com/review/product/19318...howViewpoints=1

I did make an error saying 'amazing'. I should have said 'amazing and compelling'.

[camerata]

* He was resurrected, as his coverings were unrolled from his body and his tomb was opened by supernatural powers.

Evidence please.

I've come across this before. It's from the little-known Mahamaya Sutra. There's even a painting of the Buddha peeping out of a coffin.

If we compare the traditional manner of the death of Christ and the Buddha, they are quite different and perhaps reflect the different world-view of Christians and Buddhists. Christ was violently torn out of this life, humiliated and crucified in the middle of his short mission. He seems to have been abandoned by god and by his small group of followers. The Buddha, however, attained enlightenment, established a large community of followers and taught for 45 years before peacefully passing into complete nibbana.

[jumnien]

regarding "peacefully passing into nirvana", I understood that the buddha got a "bad burrito" as they say and died from complications of bacterial food poisoning.

[camerata]

The Buddha's life ceased while he was in the 4th jhana. That's pretty peaceful.

[jumnien]

Assuredly, his mind and soul were at peace. His body, however, was spurting from both ends, thus spoketh the Buddha.

[sgtpeppers]

don't feed the troll

[jumnien]

Siddhartha Gautama

Died: 483 BC

Cause of death: food poisoning

Born: 563 BC

Death Summary: He suffered great pain, haemorrages and vomiting due to food poisoning.

You might want to google: Buddha's death "food poisoning" and take a look at the more than 210,000 entries. Or just live on in denial, your choice!

It does make one wonder about the menu of the last supper!

Edited June 30, 2008 by sunrise07

[camerata]

Death Summary: He suffered great pain, haemorrages and vomiting due to food poisoning.

This misses the point of my post. As an arahant, the Buddha felt pain but he didn't suffer from it or complain about it. He was totally at peace. This is in contrast to the mental anguish of Christ on the cross, asking god why he'd forsaken him.

[jumnien]

Death Summary: He suffered great pain, haemorrages and vomiting due to food poisoning.

This misses the point of my post. As an arahant, the Buddha felt pain but he didn't suffer from it or complain about it. He was totally at peace. This is in contrast to the mental anguish of Christ on the cross, asking god why he'd forsaken him.

Good point, nice contrast!

This discussion of his death is crucial to an understanding of Buddha's life.

Edited June 30, 2008 by sunrise07

[AKC]

""Siddhartha Gautama

Died: 483 BC

Cause of death: food poisoning""

The most absurd thing I've EVER heard in my life.

also

"Buddha was born on December 25th of the virgin Maya"

Siri Mahamaya was the king Pimpisan's wife

I guess that the writer might forgot to use his/her brain to write this article

Edited January 11, 2009 by AKC

[sabaijai]

Agree, and I think this topic has been exhausted, considering Buddha and Jesus were born around 600 years apart, it's all too random. Topic closed.