Do you find it challenging or logical or neither?

Question

I know some of you already know this but others are in some form of denial. The Buddha's teachings were well before Jesus taught, however, if you compare the Gnostic Gospels (they are dated well before the 4 currently in the bible) and the teachings of the Buddha, they say almost identical things. Is it possible that Jesus actually knew what the Buddha taught while he was teaching? Any and all thoughts welcome.
Namaste People!

BTW, I'm down with Jesus, just not Paul's version of Jesus.

Jesus did exist, there is historical evidence of this...at any rate, I'm a buddhist. I'm just asking for honest opinions.

I'm also not disclaiming any belief system....

The Gnostic gospels were called heretical by the Church hence why they aren't in the bible, and they did in fact predate the gospels in the bible by at least 30 years.

I'd also like to thank everyone in advance for their thoughts, no matter the content. I'm very appreciative.

I will agree there is a lot of controversy surrounding the authenticity of the Gnostic gospels but then there is a lot of controversy surrounding many texts.....

Answer 1

That's the amazing thing about religions...they all seem to teach the same underlying concepts and were supposedly of orginial thought. This is completely serious, by the way, for those that think I'm being sarcastic.

When you look at major religions of the world, what they teach and their historical backgrounds...you notice that basically, they're all teaching the same message, at different time periods to different groups of people.

It leads people, like me, to believe that religions are different to suit the needs of different people at different times, but overall you know you're on the right track when most of the major religions agree with you on some aspect or another.

Look at Islam, Buddism, Christianity and Judaism...Do they not all teach to love one another, respect one another, worship one God, etc? Exactly, my point.

I know people will just give thumbs downs because they don't agree....but this is an opinion question, and that's what I've just given.

Answer 2

I don't even know if I care to get into this. What's the pay-off? Give me a few minutes to consider this while I make a cup of coffee. It is 3:15 pm. Be right back. Okaay. It's 3:23. Big cup of coffee. Here's my decision. I respect your beliefs and I do not care to respond to the Buddha thing because I do not know anything about it. Why would I? The Gnostic Gospels were NOT well before the other 4. They were written After the others. Moreover, they were Never accepted into the NT because their authorship could not be authenticated by the early Christian church at Jerusalem around 130 AD. They are still considered by many contemporary biblical scholars to be of dubious origin. Except Elaine Pagels, of course.

Answer 3

The fact that the two teachings are almost identical--word for word--is not just coincidence. The question is whether or not Jesus received those teaching, thought that they were wise, and then passed them on, or whether or not he actually said the things he's credited with saying AT ALL. Those gospels were written after his death, and there's a possibility that those who wrote them heard the teachings, thought that they were wise, and then attributed them to Jesus. There's a lot of theories surrounding this.

Answer 4

You're right that Buddha's teachings were very close to Jesus. But you need to recognize the way Jesus went a step further. Buddha would say, "be empty of self" but Jesus would say, "be empty of self so that you could be filled with the Holy Spirit."

I like Buddha's teachings but I feel they are incomplete. Jesus completed them. Jesus rose from the dead. All of his disciples were tortured to death for claiming to have seen him risen from the dead. maybe one or two could die for a lunatic or liar but the fact that they all did is compelling evidence.

I know Paul's writings are difficult but stay open minded and careful of misunderstanding. The church in corinth had a problem of being interrupted by some women's questions so Paul said that they should wait and discuss it with their husbands at a more appropriate time. Remember that Paul also said to the men, "love your wives as Christ loved the church."

Answer 5

This is a topic I've long been interested in. I remember reading at one point a rather speculative historical essay that expressed the notion that Jesus had actually had some encounter with Buddhists, either by visiting them or meeting travellers from a place where Buddhism was practiced.

I think, though, that if one looks carefully at all religions, one might find similarities among them all, human ethics being what they are.

Fascinating question, though, and I will look forward to seeing the answers.

Answer 6

Great question, Yogini. The only people who seem to think that there is a difference in the intent of these two eminent physicians are the very same people who could benefit the most from the medecine they prescribed. I am most pleased to see how many people readily accept that the message is the same: be kind to others, feel better about yourself - your worldview is sure to follow. Thank you for being an excellent ambassador for the Buddhadharma. It takes a lot of courage to search for similarities in things and so painfully easy, as it is so painfully evident by some answers to your question, to rigidly attach to one extreme and cling to differences. It is this attachment (to self as empirically correct, or by extension, existent) that is at the root of all conflict in the world. All buddhists the world over are perplexed by the position of supposed Christians - people aspiring to be Christ-like - who contradict the teachings of Jesus in everything they do, say and think.

Answer 7

It has been hypothesized that Jesus spent some time learning in India during the span of his life for which we have little or no info. It seems entirely possible that he at least learned some from travelers.

The ideas that religions teach are not terribly creative or difficult to come up with. I think these lessons have been around since man first began to live in communities.

Answer 8

I am a Muslim and YES you are 100% correct. But if you see it this way: God sent messengers to all people the message does not vary much and if you see religion over all we are kinda teaching the same thing... no? be good, treat friends, family, wife kids, etc well, give to charity, etc... so in a way of course the message of being kind is not new.

By the way I respect all religions and I think you put it beautifully.

I am a former Christian now Muslim and I never agreed with Paul's version on things!

Answer 9

ME TOO!!

I have my own idea of Jesus, and it's not sexist like paul.


I think your touching on a very true point.
Who's to say Jesus din't learn from Buddha, he was a very wise man. All thse religions teach the same, but the little deails mean more than they should compared to the lesson they leaders are teaching.

I bet Buddha and Jesus are kicken it in heaven, wondering why people argue.


I'm a pagan, used to be catholic.

Answer 10

Sorry, but the gnostic texts were written too long after Christ's death, that's why they weren't included in the bible. So they were not written before Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. So, no, I don't find it challenging when people ask questions based on inaccuracies.