Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions Part 81

22. Jesus performed great miracles for the good of the mankind, and the legends concerning him are full of the greatest prodigies and wonders.[293:4]

23. By prayers in the name of Buddha, his followers expect to receive the rewards of paradise.[293:5]

23. By prayers in the name of Jesus, his followers expect to receive the rewards of paradise.

24. When Buddha died and was buried, "the coverings of the body unrolled themselves, and the lid of his coffin was opened by supernatural powers."[293:6]

24. When Jesus died and was buried, the coverings of the body were unrolled from off him, and his tomb was opened by supernatural powers.[293:7]

25. Buddha ascended bodily to the celestial regions, when his mission on earth was fulfilled.[293:8]

25. Jesus ascended bodily to the celestial regions, when his mission on earth was fulfilled.[293:9]

26. Buddha is to come upon the earth again in the latter days, his mission being to restore the world to order and happiness.[293:10]

26. Jesus is to come upon the earth again in the latter days, his mission being to restore the world to order and happiness.[293:11]

27. Buddha is to be judge of the dead.[293:12]

27. Jesus is to be judge of the dead.[293:13]

28. Buddha is Alpha and Omega, without beginning or end, "the Supreme Being, the Eternal One."[293:14]

28. Jesus is Alpha and Omega, without beginning or end,[293:15] "the Supreme Being, the Eternal One."[293:16]

29. Buddha is represented as saying: "Let all the sins that were committed in this world fall on me, that the world may be delivered."[293:17]

29. Jesus is represented as the Saviour of mankind, and all the sins that are committed in this world may fall on him, that the world may be delivered.[293:18]

30. Buddha said: "Hide your good deeds, and confess before the world the sins you have committed."[293:19]

30. Jesus taught men to hide their good deeds,[293:20] and confess before the world the sins they had committed.[293:21]

31. "Buddha was described as a superhuman organ of light, to whom a superhuman organ of darkness, Mara or Naga, the Evil Serpent, was opposed."[294:1]

31. Jesus was described as a superhuman organ of light--"the _Sun_ of Righteousness"[294:2]--opposed by "the old Serpent,"

the Satan, hinderer, or adversary.[294:3]

32. Buddha came, not to destroy, but to fulfill, the law. He delighted in "representing himself as a _mere link_ in a long chain of enlightened teachers."[294:4]

32. Jesus said: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill."[294:5]

33. "One day Ananda, the disciple of Buddha, after a long walk in the country, meets with Matangi, a woman of the low caste of the Kandalas, near a well, and asks her for some water. She tells him what she is, and that she must not come near him. But he replies, 'My sister, I ask not for thy caste or thy family, I ask only for a draught of water.' She afterwards became a disciple of Buddha."[294:6]

33. One day Jesus, after a long walk, cometh to the city of Samaria, and being wearied with his journey, sat on a well.

While there, a woman of Samaria came to draw water, and Jesus said unto her: "give me to drink." "Then said the woman unto him: How is it that thou, being a Jew, asketh drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans."[294:7]

34. "According to Buddha, the motive of all our actions should be _pity_ or _love_ for our neighbor."[294:8]

34. "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you."[294:9]

35. During the early part of his career as a teacher, "Buddha went to the city of Benares, and there delivered a discourse, by which Kondanya, and afterwards _four_ others, were induced to become his disciples. From that period, whenever he preached, mult.i.tudes of men and women embraced his doctrines."[294:10]

35. During the early part of his career as a teacher, Jesus went to the city of Capernaum, and there delivered a discourse. It was at this time that _four_ fishermen were induced to become his disciples.[294:11] From that period, whenever he preached, mult.i.tudes of men and women embraced his doctrines.[294:12]

36. Those who became disciples of Buddha were told that they must "renounce the world," give up all their riches, and avow poverty.[294:13]

36. Those who became disciples of Jesus were told that they must renounce the world, give up all their riches, and avow poverty.[294:14]

37. It is recorded in the "Sacred Canon" of the Buddhists that the mult.i.tudes "_required a sign_" from Buddha "that they might believe."[295:1]

37. It is recorded in the "Sacred Canon" of the Christians that the mult.i.tudes required a sign from Jesus that they might believe.[295:2]

38. When Buddha's time on earth was about coming to a close, he, "foreseeing the things that would happen in future times," said to his disciple Ananda: "Ananda, when I am gone, you must not think there is no Buddha; the _discourses_ I have delivered, and the _precepts_ I have enjoined, _must be my successors_, or representatives, and be to you as Buddha."[295:3]

38. When Jesus' time on earth was about coming to a close, he told of the things that would happen in future times,[295:4]

and said unto his disciples: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."[295:5]

39. In the Buddhist _Somadeva_, is to be found the following: "To give away our riches is considered the most difficult virtue in the world; he who gives away his riches is like a man who gives away his life: for our very life seems to cling to our riches. But Buddha, when his mind was moved by pity, _gave his life_ like gra.s.s, for the sake of others; why should we think of miserable riches! By this exalted virtue, Buddha, when he was freed from all desires, and had obtained divine knowledge, attained unto Buddhahood. Therefore let a wise man, after he has turned away his desires from all pleasures, do good to all beings, even unto sacrificing his own life, that thus he may attain to true knowledge."[295:6]

39. "And behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? . . .

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."[295:7] "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal."[295:8]

40. Buddha's aim was to establish a "Religious Kingdom," a "_Kingdom of Heaven_."[296:1]

40. "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the _Kingdom of Heaven_ is at hand."[296:2]

41. Buddha said: "I now desire to turn the wheel of the excellent law.[296:3] For this purpose am I going to the city of Benares,[296:4]

to give light to those enshrouded in darkness, and to open the gate of Immortality to man."[296:5]

41. Jesus, after his temptation by the devil, began to establish the dominion of his religion, and he went for this purpose to the city of Capernaum. "The people which sat in darkness saw great light, and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up."[296:6]

42. Buddha said: "Though the heavens were to fall to earth, and the great world be swallowed up and pa.s.s away: Though Mount Sumera were to crack to pieces, and the great ocean be dried up, yet, Ananda, be a.s.sured, the words of Buddha are true."[296:7]

42. "The law was given by Moses, but grace and _truth_ came by Jesus Christ."[296:8]

"_Verily_ I say unto you . . . heaven and earth shall pa.s.s away, _but my words shall not pa.s.s away_."[296:9]

43. Buddha said: "There is no pa.s.sion more violent than voluptuousness.

Happily there is but one such pa.s.sion. If there were two, not a man in the whole universe could follow the truth." "Beware of fixing your eyes upon women. If you find yourself in their company, let it be as though you were not present. If you speak with them, guard well your hearts."[296:10]

43. Jesus said: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time. Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to l.u.s.t after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."[296:11]

44. Buddha said: "A wise man should avoid married life as if it were a burning pit of live coals. One who is not able to live in a state of celibacy should not commit adultery."[297:1]

44. "It is good for a man not to touch a woman," "but if they cannot contain let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn." "To avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife and let every woman have her own husband."[297:2]

45. "Buddhism is convinced that if a man reaps sorrow, disappointment, pain, he himself, and no other, must at some time have sown folly, error, sin; and if not in this life then in some former birth."[297:3]