Jesus, Buddha, Love, and ...

[BetheButterfly]

As a Christian, it's cool to me how much Buddha and Jesus have in common. I am currently studying the Dhammapada right now, and even though I'm not a Buddhist, it's cool to learn about Buddha and his teachings! From what I understand, the Dhammapada are Gautama Buddha's teachings?

 

Jesus' teachings are really important for Christians, since he is the One people who call themselves Christians profess to follow. Since Christians today were not around when Jesus walked and talked with his disciples, we rely on the writings of his disciples concerning what he said and did. The Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are written accounts of what he said and did. We also rely on God's Holy Spirit to lead us!!!

 

In Matthew 5, we see where Jesus commands his followers to love their enemies: (I boldened some in all the passages below.)

 

Mat. 5 NIV - Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount - Bible Gateway

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

 

In Luke 6, his teachings on loving one's enemies is also accounted, with more specifics which show what actions loving entails:

 

Luke 6 NIV - Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath - One - Bible Gateway

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

 

Now, as I study Buddha's quotes, I find it fascinating and cool that Buddha taught about not hating, way before Jesus' time!!! Gautama Buddha lived in India? centuries before Jesus lived in Israel. I wonder if Buddha knew about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel)? Regardless, it is so cool to me how similar many of Jesus' teachings are with Buddha's!

Dhammapada (1) - Pairs

"Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world.

By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased.

This is a law eternal."

 

Is "non-hatred" love? I personally think so.

The following site is really interesting, as it parallels Buddha and Jesus' teachings: Jesus and Bhudda: The Parallel Sayings, "Love Your Enemies" | Art of Dharma

Hating one's enemies is natural, but it is interesting to me that both Buddha and Jesus taught the importance of not hating people!!!

 

I think it takes a lot to "conquer" oneself to not hate. This quote, I think of Buddha's, intrigues me: "It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell." I am not sure where he said that though? In Matthew 5, Jesus used hyperbole, an extreme figure of speech, to show how important it is to control oneself.

 

Back to love, Jesus also echoed the Law of Moses' commandment to love one's neighbor as oneself: Matthew 22:29. One of my favorite passages in the Bible is when he answers the question of "Who is my neighbor?"

 

Luke 10 NIV - Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two - After - Bible Gateway

"30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

 

 

Isn't that beautiful? Love is caring for and helping people, and neighbors are !!!

 

 

What are quotes of Jesus or Buddha that inspire you to love or speak to you?

Edited March 10, 2013 by BetheButterfly

[M30USA]

Many world religions share philosophies. For example, the idea of karma is almost universal. Also the idea of extreme acts like murder are considered morally wrong by all world religions (and secular systems).

 

But, as CS Lewis recommended, we need to continue to search for the pinnacle of the truth. There is ultimately one truth (Jesus Christ and the Word of God) which is at the pinnacle. All other religions, while they share traces of the same philosophy, are not final in their truth and reality. To remain there, in the opinion of CS Lewis, is to stagnate and end with an incomplete worldview.

 

Please keep in mind, I say all this having read a pretty good array of non-Christian religous t texts: Quran, Wisdom of Laotse, Siddartha, and Jewish Bible (Tanakh). Unfortunately I haven't gotten around to the Book of Mormom yet.

[BetheButterfly]

Many world religions share philosophies. For example, the idea of karma is almost universal. Also the idea of extreme acts like murder are considered morally wrong by all world religions (and secular systems).

 

Those are very interesting points. It is interesting for example that the "Golden Rule" in some form or another is universal and is found in many different beliefs.

 

But, as CS Lewis recommended, we need to continue to search for the pinnacle of the truth.

CS Lewis' writings are very interesting. Have you read The Problem of Pain? I think that is a deep, thought-provoking book.

 

 

There is ultimately one truth (Jesus Christ and the Word of God) which is at the pinnacle.

The thing is though that not everybody learns about Jesus Christ. I really don't think Buddha knew about Jesus Christ. Does that make him ignorant of the Truth? I don't think so at all. Rather, to me it is cool how he meditated and searched for Truth and realized the values of purity as well as not hating other people. So, even though I doubt he knew about Jesus Christ, who was born centuries after him and who was not of the same group of people as Gautama Buddha, it is interesting to compare them and their lives.

 

In comparing the lives of Gautama Buddha (Prince Siddhartha Gautama) and Jesus, neither one led armies to kill people. Both rather led people through teachings and kindness to others. Now, granted there are differences in their teachings, where Jesus emphasized obeying the Father in Heaven, God, and Buddha didn't. However, it is interesting that both Siddhartha Guatama (the founder of Buddhism) and Jesus, who Christians believe is the Christ, did not strive to kill people who did not believe their teachings.

 

 

All other religions, while they share traces of the same philosophy, are not final in their truth and reality. To remain there, in the opinion of CS Lewis, is to stagnate and end with an incomplete worldview.

Actually, CS Lewis possibly believed that people could follow Jesus without knowing about him or even accepting him... For example, he wrote (and I boldened some):

 

" There are people who do not accept the full Christian doctrine about Christ but who are so strongly attracted by Him that they are His in a much deeper sense than they themselves understand. There are people in other religions who are being led by God’s secret influence to concentrate on those parts of their religion which are in agreement with Christianity, and who thus belong to Christ without knowing it. For example, a Buddhist of good will may be led to concentrate more and more on the Buddhist teaching about mercy and to leave in the background (though he might still say he believed) the Buddhist teaching on certain other points."

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (1952; Harper Collins: 2001) 208-209.

Mere C.S. Lewis: Complexity of comparing Christians and non-Christians

 

Please keep in mind, I say all this having read a pretty good array of non-Christian religous t texts: Quran, Wisdom of Laotse, Siddartha, and Jewish Bible (Tanakh). Unfortunately I haven't gotten around to the Book of Mormom yet

Have you read the Dhammapada? There are different translations, but it is very interesting. To me, it's thought-provoking to compare the Siddhartha Gautama's teachings with Jesus' teachings.

 

For example, in the following translation of the Dhammapada, they use "blessed", which reminds me of the Beatitudes that Jesus taught, accounted in Matthew 5.

 

Dhammapada: Happiness - Canto 15

(I boldened some)

 

"197. Blessed indeed are we who live among those who hate, hating no one; amidst those who hate, let us dwell without hatred. 198. Blessed indeed are we who live among those who are ailing, without ailments; amidst those who are so afflicted, let us live in good health.

199. Blessed indeed are we who live among those who are yearning for sense delights, without yearning for such things; amidst those who are yearning for sense delights, let us dwell without yearning.

200. Happy indeed are we who live without possessions. Let us feed on happiness, like the radiant gods (who feed on spiritual bliss)."

 

Now, while I don't agree with all of the above, I do think it's cool how Jesus taught about not being fixated on riches or the temporary pleasures of this world. His teachings in Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27-37 are in agreement with verse 197, and his teachings about not going after worldly wealth/pleasures are in agreement with verses 199 and 200.

 

For example, Jesus said the following, accounted in Matthew 6 (I boldened some.) :

Matthew 6 NIV - Giving to the Needy - ?Be careful not - Bible Gateway

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."