Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions Part 84

[293:1] This has evidently an allusion to the Trinity. Buddha, as an incarnation of Vishnu, would be one G.o.d and yet three, three G.o.ds and yet one. (See the chapter on the _Trinity_.)

[293:2] See Bunsen's Angel-Messiah, p. 45, and Beal: Hist. Buddha, p.

177.

_Iamblichus_, the great _Neo-Platonic mystic_, was at one time _transfigured_. According to the report of his servants, _while in prayer to the G.o.ds_, his body and clothes were changed to a beautiful gold color, but after he ceased from prayer, his body became as before.

He then returned to the society of his followers. (Primitive Culture, i.

136, 137.)

[293:3] See ch. xxvii.

[293:4] See that recorded in Matt. viii. 28-34.

[293:5] See ch. xxiii.

[293:6] Bunsen's Angel-Messiah, p. 49.

[293:7] See Matt. xxviii. John, xx.

[293:8] See chap. xxiii.

[293:9] See Acts, i. 9-12.

[293:10] See ch. xxiv.

[293:11] See Ibid.

[293:12] See ch. xxv.

[293:13] Matt. xvi. 27; John, v. 22.

[293:14] "Buddha, the Angel-Messiah, was regarded as the divinely chosen and incarnate messenger, the vicar of G.o.d, and G.o.d himself on earth."

(Bunsen: The Angel-Messiah, p. 33. See also, our chap. xxvi.)

[293:15] Rev. i. 8; xxii. 13.

[293:16] John, i. 1. t.i.tus, ii. 13. Romans, ix. 5. Acts, vii. 59, 60.

[293:17] Muller: Hist. Sanscrit Literature, p. 80.

[293:18] This is according to Christian dogma:

"Jesus paid it all, All to him is due, Nothing, either great or small, Remains for me to do."

[293:19] Muller: Science of Religion, p. 28.

[293:20] "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your father which is in heaven."

(Matt. vi. 1.)

[293:21] "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed." (James, v. 16.)

[294:1] Bunsen: The Angel-Messiah, pp. x. and 39.

[294:2] "That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." (John, i. 9.)

[294:3] Matt. iv. 1; Mark, i. 13; Luke, iv. 2.

[294:4] Muller: Science of Religion, p. 140.

[294:5] Matt. v. 17.

[294:6] Muller: Science of Religion, p. 243. See also, Bunsen's Angel-Messiah, pp. 47, 48, and Amberly's a.n.a.lysis, p. 285.

[294:7] John, iv. 1-11.

Just as the Samaritan woman wondered that Jesus, a Jew, should ask drink of _her_, one of a nation with whom the Jews had no dealings, so this young Matangi warned Ananda of her caste, which rendered it unlawful for her to approach a monk. And as Jesus continued, nevertheless, to converse with the woman, so Ananda did not shrink from this outcast damsel. And as the disciples "marvelled" that Jesus should have conversed with this member of a despised race, so the respectable Brahmans and householders who adhered to Brahmanism were scandalized to learn that the young Matangi had been admitted to the order of mendicants.

[294:8] Muller: Religion of Science, p. 249.

[294:9] Matt. v. 44.

[294:10] Hardy: Eastern Monachism, p. 6.

[294:11] See Matt. iv. 13-25.

[294:12] "And there followed him great mult.i.tudes of people." (Matt. iv.

25.)

[294:13] Hardy: Eastern Monachism, pp. 6 and 62 _et seq._

While at Rajageiha Buddha called together his followers and addressed them at some length on the means requisite for Buddhist salvation. This sermon was summed up in the celebrated verse:

"To cease from all sin, To get virtue, To cleanse one's own heart-- This is the religion of the Buddhas."

--(Rhys David's Buddha, p. 62.)

[294:14] See Matt. viii. 19, 20; xvi. 25-28.

[295:1] Muller: Science of Religion, p. 27.

[295:2] Hardy: Eastern Monachism, p. 230.

"Gautama Buddha is said to have announced to his disciples that the time of his departure had come: 'Arise, let us go hence, my time is come.'

Turned toward the East and with folded arms he prayed to the highest spirit who inhabits the region of purest light, to Maha-Brahma, to the king in heaven, to Devaraja, who from his throne looked down on Gautama, and appeared to him in a self-chosen personality." (Bunsen: The Angel-Messiah. Compare with Matt. xxvi. 36-47.)

[295:3] "Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee." (Matt. xii. 38.)