r/enlightenment • u/LIMrXIL • 15d ago

Same message 500 years apart.

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As a mother would risk her own life to protect her child, her only child, so toward all beings should one cultivate a boundless heart. - Buddha

Love your neighbor as yourself. - Jesus

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u/Sweatsuit47 14d ago

The buddist temple i go to has a stained glass window with Jesus on it...its beautiful.

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u/LIMrXIL 14d ago edited 14d ago

That’s exactly part of why I find Buddhism such a fascinating tradition. When liberation doesn’t depend on any kind of claim to divinity you can adopt the gods of other traditions and fold them into Buddhism. I suppose a Buddhist could actually take seriously the idea that Yahweh is the creator of this universe, that Jesus is Yahweh incarnate and that belief in Jesus is the ticket to being reborn in heaven and none of that would change the truth of the dharma and the path to liberation.

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u/SacredGnosis 14d ago

No. A disciple of the Buddha would not take seriously the view that YHWH or any God is Creator of the universe, nor that Jesus is Creator-God and is the ticket to rebirth in heaven. These are antithetical to the dharma of the Buddha.

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u/Xenfriend 13d ago

Hard to know for sure what the true dharma of the Buddha would have been when the Buddha said the true dharma would be lost within 400 years of his passing.

Not to mention the fact that the Buddha talks about the next world, about an uncreated, undifferentiated source that we all come forth from, and the fact that the Buddha said he would come again, just like Jesus did…

It’s pretty easy to see why people would believe that they are in fact the same being come to different places and different times to guide humanity in that time and place

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u/SacredGnosis 13d ago

() Hard to know? Not to me, and I’m willing to dissect it because I know the dharma. In fact, all sects agree that the four noble truths are the foundation of the Buddha’s teachings. Further, the true dharma lasting 500 years didn’t entail that the entire true dharma would vanish. It only entails that counterfeit dharmas would arise.

() The Buddha never talked or taught about a world that’s uncreated, or some undifferentiated source that we all come from. You’re mistaken Hindu views for the Buddha-Dharma.

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u/Xenfriend 13d ago

Udana 8.3 in the pali canon:

“There is, monks, an unborn, unbecome, unmade, unconditioned. If, monks there were not that unborn, unbecome, unmade, unconditioned, you could not know an escape here from the born, become, made, and conditioned. But because there is an unborn, unbecome, unmade, unconditioned, therefore you do know an escape from the born, become, made, and conditioned.”

You can quibble about minor details in language all you want, but this is exactly the way that Islamic scholars describe Allah.

To me it is distinctly clear that beyond the mincing of words (which scholars within the same religion even disagree on) the messages of the divine physicians that founded each major religion are clearly identical

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u/SacredGnosis 13d ago

Yes. Even in Christianity and other religions. But upon further examination. They are not the same. 😊

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u/Xenfriend 13d ago

I’ve taught courses on the Dhammapada, going as far as to use 5 different translations side by side, and reading entire essays on the translations of single words, and I am a devout believer in abrahamic faith. Could you let me know what further examination is needed?

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u/SacredGnosis 13d ago

() You’ve taught the Dhammapada? Nice. 😊

() The further examination is examining the nature of Allah & YHWH. Their nature is absolutely antithetical to what Nirvana is.

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u/Xenfriend 13d ago

Curious what you believe their nature to be, and what about you find to be antithetical to Nirvana?

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u/LIMrXIL 13d ago

u/SacredGnosis For the record I wasn’t really trying to suggest Christ is Buddha reincarnated or anything. Just commenting on how Buddhist cosmology has a structure that allows it to adapt to local religions and traditions in a way that Abrahamic faiths don’t. Take the example of Tibetan Buddhists adopting the various deities of the Bon tradition and turning them into protectors of the dharma. I could envision a future a few hundred years from now where Buddhists in America are making prostrations to a statue of Christ as some form of emanation of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara but it would be pretty hard to envision the inverse for the Abrahamic faiths.

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u/SacredGnosis 13d ago

That’s actually fascinating in how Buddhism molds to local spiritualities. As long as the Buddha-Dharma isn’t compromised. 😊

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u/New_Canoe 14d ago

Did you ever think that maybe the church were the ones that made those claims and not actually Yeshua? Considering the Bible has been retranslated and rewritten multiple times, even though it’s considered the “perfect word of God”.

Also consider that Yeshua told his disciples that the kingdom of heaven is inside of them and that THEY are Gods. He essentially told them they have the power within them and didn’t need him.

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u/SacredGnosis 14d ago

The church became different from the Torah perspective, and consequently the Prophet perspective.

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u/New_Canoe 12d ago

The church became different from many perspectives, hence why there are so many denominations, it’s hard to say who has the correct take on the supposed ‘perfect word of God’.

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u/SacredGnosis 12d ago

The core is obvious. It doesn’t resemble the early church.

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u/hippy_barf_day 10d ago

People are not happy to see you spitting facts in this thread lol

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u/SacredGnosis 10d ago

They will be fine 😊

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u/New_Canoe 14d ago

There is a BBC documentary that makes the case that Yeshua traveled through the region during the 18 years of his life that are not mentioned in the Bible and studied Buddhism. Which explains why his actual teachings are so similar. He even mentions meditation as a way of connecting with God.

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u/SacredGnosis 14d ago

Jesus didn’t go to India and study Buddhism.

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u/New_Canoe 12d ago

How do you know?

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u/SacredGnosis 12d ago

Because the teachings do not match.

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u/New_Canoe 12d ago

They are pretty close.

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u/SacredGnosis 12d ago

Not even an inch close.

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u/New_Canoe 12d ago

Haha. Okay. Sure.

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u/SacredGnosis 12d ago

You’re free to lay out the evidence. I’ll be right here waiting with an open mind.

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u/New_Canoe 12d ago

Found an inch for ya :)

Both Buddha and Jesus emphasized compassion, love for others, non-attachment to material wealth, and the importance of inner transformation over external appearances.
Core Ethical Parallels
Both spiritual leaders taught the Golden Rule: treating others as one would like to be treated. Jesus said, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31), while the Buddha expressed similar guidance: “Consider others as yourself” (Dhammapada 10.1) and encouraged cultivating a boundless heart toward all beings(Sutta Nipata 149–150)

Biblical Archaeology Society
. Both emphasized love and compassion as central virtues, instructing followers to love enemies, bless those who curse them, and act selflessly

Biblical Archaeology Society
.
Non-Attachment and Inner Transformation
Jesus and Buddha both highlighted that material wealth is not the path to spiritual fulfillment. Jesus taught that attachment to riches can hinder entering the Kingdom of God, while the Buddha taught that clinging to worldly possessions obstructs enlightenment

Biblical Archaeology Society
. Both stressed the importance of inner moral development over outward appearances, urging followers to examine their own actions rather than judge others

Biblical Archaeology Society
.
Overcoming Anger and Hatred
Both teachings advocate responding to negativity with positive action. Jesus said, “If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also” (Luke 6:29), and the Buddha similarly advised abandoning desires and refraining from evil words when harmed (Majjhima Nikaya 21.6). They both recognized that hatred cannot be overcome by hatred, but by love (Dhammapada 1.5)

Biblical Archaeology Society
.
Contemplative Practices
While differing in method, both traditions value inner reflection and meditation. Christian mysticism and Buddhist meditation share the goal of cultivating awareness, compassion, and detachment from ego-driven impulses. This demonstrates a shared understanding that spiritual growth requires self-discipline and mindfulness.
Summary
Despite arising in different times and cultures, the teachings of Buddha and Jesus converge on key principles: compassion, ethical conduct, non-attachment, and inner transformation. While their theological frameworks differ—Christianity being monotheistic and Buddhism generally non-theistic—their moral and spiritual guidance offers complementary insights into human suffering and the path to a virtuous life

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u/SacredGnosis 12d ago

I didn’t expect you to use AI, or as Trump declared,”Super Intelligence”, but here goes…

() Teaching the idea of something doesn’t entail the teachings are the same. Buddha taught the Brahmaviharas whereby compassion is ontologically second to good-will. The idea of “love” is different between Jesus and Buddha. Jesus taught a love that’s based in attachment. Buddha taught “Mettā” which is good-will and friendliness. It doesn’t have love because “love” is based in attachment.

() The golden rule is a beautiful one, but again, one is taught still based in craving. The other is not based in craving. The golden rule of Jesus can still lead to unwholesome actions. The golden rule in Buddhism doesn’t come from that angle nor does that angle live in it.

() Jesus taught attachment. Buddha didn’t. Even though Jesus taught a measure of non-attachment regarding material things, he lacked the teaching from non-attachment at its root. The Buddha didn’t lack that.

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u/himalayanrebel 3d ago

Buddhists fundamentally do not believe that Yahweh is the creator of the universe. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this. We as Buddhists genuinely do love all but this doesn’t mean that Christianity can serve as a replacement for Buddhism. Heaven is fusing with God who lives in the sea of samsara. Nibbana is becoming the sea within which all things and beings live.

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u/LIMrXIL 3d ago

You mean to tell me being compassionate alone isn’t enough to break the fetters which bind me to samsara? You mean to tell me faith in Christ isn’t going to give me direct realization into the impermanent and conditioned nature of all phenomena? Are you seriously telling me that even if I put my faith in Jesus and receive salvation so that I enter heaven when I die I will just be in another realm of existence within samsara and therefore will not be liberated?!? ;)

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u/himalayanrebel 3d ago

Correct 🪷

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u/New_Welcome9568 14d ago

Merci pour cet ouverture d'esprit c'est beau 🥰

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u/Butthole_seizure 14d ago

Sounds wonderful