If you don't think that Buddha and Jesus taught the same message...?

Question

Have you actually read what they both said? Can they be interpreted as having the same message?

I don't think Christians step outside of the bible much to explore other religions or philosophies because that could be viewed as blasphemous by some in the church, unfortunately. If you sit down and listen to both, they are pretty much talking the same language.

RUDY: you made my point...Jesus didn't want followers either. Christians misinterpret what Jesus said and created a religion around him instead of being like him.

LION: that quote means "be like me" not "worship me"...that's the problem with interpretations.

Answer 1

Both Jesus and Buddha had messages of peace, fellowship and mutual respect. Both put little merit (okay, NO merit) in worldly possessions or positions of power, and both advocated bloodless sacrifices. (although Buddha was speaking more towards any killing of anything for any reason and Jesus was speaking specifically towards religious sacrifices.) Other then that, there are few similarities.

Jesus spoke about god as the one true god, the creator just as all Abrahamic religions do. Buddha dismissed the existence of an all powerful god. Jesus said he was the ONLY way. Buddha taught that there are many ways. Jesus taught that sin can be forgive by god by asking him for absolution. (granted, this is translated as meaning many things, including that you must go to confession, that you must ask god himself for forgiveness and that only Jesus will forgive you of your sins if you truly repent in your heart and ask him...and other.) Buddha never claimed that sins (bad karma) will be removed just by asking for it to happen. Only good karma can negate bad karma directly and realizing the truth and entering Nirvana will purge ALL karma...good and bad. BIG Difference. Jesus talked about heaven and the afterlife as a goal. Nirvana is a goal, but it's not heaven in the same context at all.

So! Are the philosophies of Jesus and Buddha similar. Absolutely! Yes. Are they the same, Absolutely not!!! They overlap in some areas and they diverge in many others. From a purely philosophical perspective, they have much the same message. From a religious perspective they are as different as apples and ground beef.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Yes, that is what I am trying to say so many times in this forum and I only get thumbs down. Look at what the Great Buddha is saying and meditate on His words without prejudice or comparing your religion. After that only compare with the teaching of Christ, and voila, you get wisdom and understand what dying to the world means. You have to leave the world in order to be enlighten.
This is what the Great Buddha is saying and many have not found the simple truth, even now many are still meditating in caves and deny themselves of the world but yet are enlighten. Many died without getting to that level. It is sad for they are searching for truth.
It is not only Buddha words of wisdom, but the Tao, or Bhagavagita all points to Godhead and teaches the way, but many did not or cannot see the truth they are talking and therefore interpret it as best as they knew or according to the knowledge of this world.
Look who they are referring to. Let those have wisdom of the Holy Kingdom understand.

Edit : Rudy P, You have the wisdom. It is not similarities teaching but the word of wisdom He is reaching across. Look into that.

Answer 3

Their messages were worlds apart. I quote Dr. Ravi Zacharias, who is an expert on world religions. He states: "Buddha taught that we should free ourselves from illusions of self-hood, God, forgiveness, and individual life hereafter. We should focus on a life wherein good deeds outweigh the bad. Buddha believed that all life is suffering and that to escape from rebirth we must understand our nature. If we extinguish hungers and detach ourselves form desires, (namely , relationships), we will then offset all impure acts and thoughts. That is the Buddhist's hope."
Now as a Christian of nearly 15 years and an Ordained Bishop, I can tell you that Christ's message was totally different. To begin with He assured us of God and the fact that He was God in the flesh (John 14:1-12). He dealt with our sin nature (Matthew 15:11-20), and the fact that none of us are good (Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:18). He told us that we must believe that He is the only way to God (John 14:6) and that to have eternal life forever in God's kingdom we must be born again and believe in Him and His message (John 3:1-21). He alone gives eternal life and as a recipient, I should strive to live according to the teachings of Christ my Savior. All the claims that He made were validated when He died on the cross for the sins of humanity and He arose from the dead three days later. He is the Lord of life. To say Christ is not God's Son or even to say that He never existed is to willingly deny much historical evidences.
You raised a very good question and I tried to answer with an honest and sincere heart. I also agree with you that for the most part,Christians don't "step outside of the bible much to explore other religions or philosophies..."
Hope you have a great day.

Answer 4

You are absolutely right... they are speaking about the same underlying reality. Just keep in mind, Christianity that is taught these days comes from Paul... which is that sacrifice for sin thing. Jesus didn't teach that... he said "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice" Matthew 9:13.

But if you really get into what Jesus was talking about, yes indeed, it is very similar to what Buddha said. So in my opinion, your observation is right on target.

Answer 5

I never read the message from Buddha but I do know for sure that the message of Jesus was borrowed from other cultures. So yes, it could be the same message.

Answer 6

Actually their message are not the same, but both share plenty of simiralities; embracing kindness and accepting others by love regardless of differences.
Differences are; Buddha mention nothing about Creator and god by saying the world is an always changing illusion, but Jessue taught that there is no other eternal happiness other than the path to his father. Buddha taught us to avoid unsatisifation by living a simple life and understanding our-self, but Jesus taught us to live with good company and enjoyable life style including wine and parties.
Buddha final reward is free of dissatisifaction by achieving enlightment, and Juses final reward is to live in heaven at after life.
Remarkably Buddha taught that the cycle of reincarnation is eternal suffering, and Jesus taught nothig of reincarination but hellish fear and rewarding heaven.

Answer 7

Yes I have tried to read what many founders of various religions have written or said.I agree with you totally that,leaving aside variation in language,mannerism and mode of imparting knowledge to disciples,what all said really boils down to the same thing.But for the fanatics or hard liners and clergy (who have a vested interest),all religions can easily coexist and flourish.

Answer 8

they aren't really the same, although jesus does reference to compassion a lot.. Since the bible was written way after jesus was dead, it's hard to say it's his actual words, whereas the buddhas words were written down while he was alive..

Jesus said this is this, that is that.. god is the answer..

Buddha said, this is this, but not always.. who makes the questions?

maybe you see what I'm trying to point out here.. It's not exactly the same message..

Answer 9

Yes, all true spiritual teachers are communicating the same truth. The differences are a result of different cultural context, the limitations of language and after the fact additions and interpretations.

Answer 10

I disagree, simply because Jesus said something that is unique among all other beliefs that declare "exclusivity".
and that is found in John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

That cancels out all other beliefs,tis the reason so many people hate Christianity