At this time of year, I can't help but reflect and be fascinated by the parallels between the nativity stories of Buddha and Jesus!
Five hundred years before the Annunciation of the archangel Gabriel to Mary, Queen Maya dreamed that a lotus bearing white elephant entered her through her side. Queen Maya soon found she was with child, fulfilling the prophecy by holy men that she would give birth to a great prince destined to either conquer the world or become a fully awakened one, a Buddha. Traveling back to Devadaha, her birthplace, from the King's capital, Kapilavathhu in the foothills of the Himalayas, Queen Maya gave birth to Siddhartha, the future Buddha, in the flowering Lumbini Grove. How strangely familiar and wonderful this story is to those of us that grew up as Christians!
There are so many other profound parallels between the lives and teachings of Buddha and Christ. For example, the Buddha's first sermon was The Four Noble Truths, that of suffering, it's cause, it's cessation, and the Noble Eightfold Path that leads to liberation from suffering. Buddha proclaimed that liberation from suffering could be attained in this very life by putting his teaching to practice through holding moral precepts and practicing methods to quiet the mind to gain insight into one's own nature and the true nature of the phenomenal world. Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and can be revealed by retreating to reflect and pray in solitude. Buddha's first teaching of the Noble Eightfold path is the teaching of Right View, that our actions have repercussions, the law of karma. Jesus strongly emphasized the law of cause and effect stating, "As you sow, so shall you reap".
Buddha withdrew to the forest for six years practicing many austerities to find the way to liberation from suffering. Jesus retreated to the desert where he prayed and fasted for forty days and nights.
Buddha was tempted by the king of demons, Mara, just before his enlightenment. Jesus was tempted by Satan just before beginning his ministry. Buddha was transformed under the Bodhi tree. Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, as Moses was transfigured before the burning bush. Buddha saw past lives upon his awakening and the cycle of birth and death of all living beings. Jesus saw Elijah and Moses.
Buddha taught the importance of letting go of what is unwholesome and replacing it with what is wholesome, letting go of greed, hatred, delusion and ignorance and finding loving-kindness, compassion, altruistic joy for the success and well being of others, and complete equanimity. How reminiscent this is of the Sermon on the Mount!
The Buddha taught that one has to put down the very notion of one's self to be awakened to one's true nature. Jesus taught dying to one's self to be reborn in spirit. Christ himself died only to be resurrected, having conquered human suffering and death. The notion of rebirth was not foreign to people in Palestine at that time. There were those that believed Jesus was Elijah reborn.
With Mahayana Buddhism, the parallels are even stronger. The ideal of the Bodhisattva is emphasized, teaching aspiring Bodhisattva's to awaken Bodhicitta, the Wisdom Consciousness that removes the separation of self and other, enabling the Bodhisattva to spontaneously act for the welfare and liberation of all sentient beings. From the Mahayana Buddhist perspective, Jesus is a great Bodhisattva, living a totally selfless existence, healing the sick, feeding the poor, forgiving the most wretched in society for their sins, and giving hope for salvation. He has truly been a light of the world as has Buddha.
Given the many parallels between the lives and teachings of Jesus and Buddha, it is small wonder that many Buddhists also celebrate Christmas as the coming of light that removes the darkness of ignorance and have special reverence for Jesus during this time. Many prominent Buddhist leaders such as the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh do not recommend that Christians convert from their faith to become Buddhists, but rather ask that they become the best Christians they can be, truly following the example of Christ and doing for others as self. When Christians see the face of Jesus in even their enemies faces and when Buddhist see even terrorists as future Buddhas, the world can't help but be blessed. No enemies can continue to be born under such conditions. As the Buddha said, "Hatred can never be conquered by hatred -- this is an ancient law."
At this time of year, whether you are Buddhist or Christian, Hindu, Jew, or Muslim, let us all rededicate ourselves to the highest ideals of our faiths, living with loving-kindness and compassion for others and being good stewards of this precious Earth. Then, the Kingdom of Heaven, the Pure Land, or Paradise will truly be at hand for all of us and our children.
Merry Christmas and may the light of wisdom give rise to great compassion in us all!
