Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions Part 80

CHAPTER XXIX.

CHRIST BUDDHA AND CHRIST JESUS COMPARED.

"The more I learn to know Buddha the more I admire him, and the sooner all mankind shall have been made acquainted with his doctrines the better it will be, for he is certainly one of the heroes of humanity."

_Fausboll._

The _mythological_ portions of the histories of Buddha and Jesus are, without doubt, nearer in resemblance than that of any two characters of antiquity. The _cause_ of this we shall speak of in our chapter on "Why Christianity Prospered," and shall content ourselves for the present by comparing the following a.n.a.logies:

1. Buddha was born of the Virgin Mary,[289:1] who conceived him without carnal intercourse.[289:2]

1. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, who conceived him without carnal intercourse.[289:3]

2. The incarnation of Buddha is recorded to have been brought about by the descent of the divine power called the "_Holy_ Ghost," upon the Virgin Maya.[289:4]

2. The incarnation of Jesus is recorded to have been brought about by the descent of the divine power called the "Holy Ghost," upon the Virgin Mary.[289:3]

3. When Buddha descended from the regions of the souls,[290:1] and entered the body of the Virgin Maya, her womb a.s.sumed the appearance of clear transparent crystal, in which Buddha appeared, beautiful as a flower.[290:2]

3. When Jesus descended from his heavenly seat, and entered the body of the Virgin Mary, her womb a.s.sumed the appearance of clear transparent crystal, in which Jesus appeared beautiful as a flower.[290:3]

4. The birth of Buddha was announced in the heavens by an _asterim_ which was seen rising on the horizon. It is called the "Messianic Star."[290:4]

4. The birth of Jesus was announced in the heavens by "his star," which was seen rising on the horizon.[290:5] It might properly be called the "Messianic Star."

5. "The son of the Virgin Maya, on whom, according to the tradition, the 'Holy Ghost' had descended, was said to have been born on Christmas day."[290:6]

5. The Son of the Virgin Mary, on whom, according to the tradition, the 'Holy Ghost' had descended, was said to have been born on Christmas day.[290:7]

6. Demonstrations of celestial delight were manifest at the birth of Buddha. The _Devas_[290:8] in heaven and earth sang praises to the "Blessed One," and said: "To day, _Bodhisatwa_ is born on earth, to give joy and peace to men and Devas, to shed light in the dark places, and to give sight to the blind."[290:9]

6. Demonstrations of celestial delight were manifest at the birth of Jesus. The angels in heaven and earth sang praises to the "Blessed One," saying: "Glory to G.o.d in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."[290:10]

7. "Buddha was visited by wise men who recognized in this marvelous infant all the characters of the divinity, and he had scarcely seen the day before he was hailed G.o.d of G.o.ds."[290:11]

7. Jesus was visited by wise men who recognized in this marvelous infant all the characters of the divinity, and he had scarcely seen the day before he was hailed G.o.d of G.o.ds.[290:12]

8. The infant Buddha was presented with "costly jewels and precious substances."[290:13]

8. The infant Jesus was presented with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.[290:14]

9. When Buddha was an infant, just born, he spoke to his mother, and said: "I am the greatest among men."[290:15]

9. When Jesus was an infant in his cradle, he spoke to his mother, and said: "I am Jesus, the Son of G.o.d."[290:16]

10. Buddha was a "dangerous child." His life was threatened by King Bimbasara, who was advised to destroy the child, as he was liable to overthrow him.[291:1]

10. Jesus was a "dangerous child." His life was threatened by King Herod,[291:2] who attempted to destroy the child, as he was liable to overthrow him.[291:3]

11. When sent to school, the young Buddha surprised his masters. Without having ever studied, he completely worsted all his compet.i.tors, not only in writing, but in arithmetic, mathematics, metaphysics, astrology, geometry, &c.[291:4]

11. When sent to school, Jesus surprised his master Zaccheus, who, turning to Joseph, said: "Thou hast brought a boy to me to be taught, who is more learned than any master."[291:5]

12. "When _twelve_ years old the child Buddha is presented in the temple. He explains and asks learned questions; he excels all those who enter into compet.i.tion with him."[291:6]

12. "And when he was _twelve_ years old, they brought him to (the temple at) Jerusalem . . . . While in the temple among the doctors and elders, and learned men of Israel, he proposed several questions of learning, and also gave them answers."[291:7]

13. Buddha entered a temple, on which occasion forthwith all the statues rose and threw themselves at his feet, in act of wors.h.i.+p.[291:8]

13. "And as Jesus was going in by the ensigns, who carried the standards, the tops of them bowed down and wors.h.i.+ped Jesus."[291:9]

14. "The ancestry of Gotama Buddha is traced from his father,

_Sodhodana_, through various individuals and races, all of royal dignity, to _Maha Sammata_, the first monarch of the world. Several of the names and some of the events are met with in the Puranas of the Brahmans, but it is not possible to reconcile one order of statement with the other; and it would appear that the Buddhist historians have introduced races, and invented names, that they may invest their venerated Sage with all the honors of heraldry, in addition to the attributes of divinity."[292:1]

14. The ancestry of Jesus is traced from his father, Joseph, through various individuals, nearly all of whom were of royal dignity, to Adam, the first monarch of the world. Several of the names, and some of the events, are met with in the sacred Scriptures of the Hebrews, but it is not possible to reconcile one order of statement with the other; and it would appear that the Christian historians have invented and introduced names, that they may invest their venerated Sage with all the honors of heraldry, in addition to the attributes of divinity.[292:2]

15. When Buddha was about to go forth "to adopt a religious life,"

_Mara_[292:3] appeared before him, to tempt him.[292:4]

15. When Jesus was about "beginning to preach," the _devil_ appeared before him, to tempt him.[292:5]

16. _Mara_ said unto Buddha: "Go not forth to adopt a religious life, and in seven days thou shalt become an emperor of the world."[292:6]

16. The _devil_ said to Jesus: If thou wilt fall down and wors.h.i.+p me, I will give thee all the kingdoms of the world.[292:7]

17. Buddha would not heed the words of the Evil One, and said to him: "Get thee away from me."[292:8]

17. Jesus would not heed the words of the Evil One, and said to him: "Get thee behind me, Satan."[292:9]

18. After _Mara_ had left Buddha, "the skies rained flowers, and delicious odors pervaded the air."[292:10]

18. After the _devil_ had left Jesus, "angels came and ministered unto him."[292:11]

19. Buddha fasted for a long period.[292:12]

19. Jesus fasted forty days and nights.[292:13]

20. Buddha, the Saviour, was baptized, and at this recorded water baptism the Spirit of G.o.d was present; that is, not only the highest G.o.d, but also the "Holy Ghost," through whom the incarnation of Gautama Buddha is recorded to have been brought about by the descent of that Divine power upon the Virgin Maya.[292:14]

20. Jesus was baptized by John in the river Jordan, at which time the Spirit of G.o.d was present; that is, not only the highest G.o.d, but also the "Holy Ghost," through whom the incarnation of Jesus is recorded to have been brought about, by the descent of that Divine power upon the Virgin Mary.[292:15]

21. "On one occasion toward the end of his life on earth, Gautama Buddha is reported to have been _transfigured_. When _on a mountain_ in Ceylon, suddenly a flame of light descended upon him and encircled the crown of his head with a circle of light. The mount is called _Pandava_, or yellow-white color. It is said that 'the glory of his person shone forth with double power,' that his body was 'glorious as a bright golden image,' that he 'shone as the brightness of the sun and moon,' that bystanders expressed their opinion, that he could not be 'an every-day person,' or 'a mortal man,' and that his body was divided into _three_[293:1] parts, from each of which a ray of light issued forth."[293:2]

21. On one occasion during his career on earth, Jesus is reported to have been transfigured: "Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a _high mountain_ apart. And was transfigured before them: and his face did s.h.i.+ne as the sun, and his raiment as white as the light."[292:16]

22. "Buddha performed great miracles for the good of mankind, and the legends concerning him are full of the greatest prodigies and wonders."[293:3]