Even though I am Muslim, Jesus (Isa) is very close to my heart. When I was at the madrasa, the stories of the prophet Isa were often told by my teacher. In addition to the story of the prophet Muhammad, the story of the prophet Isa (Jesus) I often hear either at school or on the internet. In the course of my life, I have encountered philosophies, sciences and spiritual teachings from various traditions. Life is rich and colourful.
Amid life's journey, Buddhism found me. Several times, my life was saved by the teachings of Buddha, or what is widely known as Buddha Dharma. His teachings are so simple and useful for realizing a meaningful life. In this very complex 21st century, his teachings can help many people. Interestingly, the teachings of Buddha and Jesus are not only similar but identical.
Both made compassion the centre of their teachings. They both see that compassion is more important than justice. In reality, justice is important, especially to organize life together. However, justice is often used to cover up his true will, namely revenge. Therefore, the idea of justice can not only prolong hatred but can also give birth to new conflicts.
In this article, there will be a connection between the teachings of Buddha and Jesus. I am referring to the research done by Hanson, and the studies I have done before.
This study is important because religion remains important in the lives of many people. Thus, inter-religious dialogue cannot be avoided. A dialogue that is only possible, if there is understanding. And understanding will emerge if there is a desire to learn from each other. This paper is a space to learn from each other, as well as to build the bridges between religions that we need to live together peacefully.
Buddha and Jesus
Jesus, the figure known as a prophet, healer, moral philosopher, political philosopher and, even, God himself. By his admission, Jesus was the Messiah, that is, the saviour of man from his sins. He was not only well versed in Jewish teachings but also had a great deal of knowledge about the Asian worldview. There are two grounds for this view. The first is the historical basis, and the second is the textual basis of the teachings of Jesus himself.
There are two explanations for this. First, Jesus went to visit India which is a great home for the development of Asian spirituality. Second, the teachings of Asian spirituality were widespread in the Jewish community at that time. What is clear, the influence of Asian spirituality, especially Buddhism, is very clear in the teachings of Jesus. Most likely, Jesus studied it in the “lost times”, where there is no record of him between the ages of 12 and 30 in the various officially recognized Gospels.
The teachings of Jesus are also very similar to the Asian view of spirituality. His words, in particular, are very similar to those taught by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) who lived about 500 years before Jesus. In other words, Jesus spoke like a man who was well versed in the teachings of the Buddha. The way of teaching is also the same, namely by using short stories to convey certain moral messages. This is coupled with the common values taught, namely compassion and the courage to think critically in understanding traditions.
At the time of Jesus' life, the land of Israel also gained a lot of influence from Asia. This happened, because of the intensive international trade in the Middle East at that time. The Roman Empire made Israel a liaison with India which was the country with the largest economy at that time. Jerusalem, at that time, was an international city. The Romans also used Jerusalem as a port to invade North Africa.
In relations to Persia, the Romans also used Jerusalem as a connecting point. All of these relations, both with India, Rome and Persia, the three great empires of the time, were established since Emperor Alexander of Greece invaded, and ruled the Middle East, some 300 years earlier. Moving on the international route is not only economic merchandise, but also philosophy and religion. Given these circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that the teachings of Asian spirituality, especially Buddhism, influenced the lives of Israeli society. It was in this context that Jesus was born and taught there.
At the time of Jesus' life, Israel was under the rule of the Roman Empire. The economy was also under Roman rule. For political purposes, many records are scattered during this period. Many records are found of the Jews who settled in India and Persia. On the other hand, there is also a lot of data about the Indians who settled in Israel, as well as in various other Roman areas.
Many records of Buddhist and Zoroastrian thinkers settled in Arabia, close to Israel. In the Gospels, just after his birth, Jesus is visited by three kings. This is an Eastern tradition that is widely developed in the Persian area. Jewish traditions are also widespread in India and Persia. Until now, Jewish settlements can still be found in Punjab and Kashmir.
The important question that needs to be answered is, are there Buddhists living in Israel? By the time Jesus lived, Buddhism had developed for more than 500 years. The teachings have spread in various parts of the world, especially in Asia and the Middle East. It is also possible that Buddhism provided the basis for the development of several schools in Ancient Greek philosophy, such as the Stoics and philosophical Cynicism. This happened, due to the actions of Emperor Alexander 300 years before Jesus who invaded the entire Middle East and North India.
Some researchers see, that after Alexander invaded North India, India sent many Buddhist missionaries to all corners of the Middle East. King Ashoka did this. In Israel, Judaism has long met with Buddhism. In many ways, this encounter was a preparation for the birth of Christianity. The spread of Buddhism can also be seen in Egypt, especially in the city of Alexandria.
Within the Jewish tradition, there was a small tradition that developed, namely the Gnostic tradition. They reject rational and optimistic religious teachings. In other words, they rejected the official Jewish teachings about Yahweh and the Torah. On the other hand, the Gnostics believed in the existence of a God who was beyond reason. His influence was felt in the thoughts of John the Baptist as well as in Jesus himself.
Some scholars even argue that the Gospel of John is very close to the Asian style of spirituality, especially Buddhism. His style is intuitive and poetic. This is what characterizes Jesus in comparison to more traditional Jewish teachings. It can be concluded that Buddhism had spread in Israel and Palestine two hundred years before Jesus was born. The interplay between Judaism and Buddhism is unavoidable.
One of the thinkers who directly discuss this issue is Jacques Derrida, a French philosopher. For him, Christianity had teachings that were directly opposite to the teachings of Judaism. However, the two are closely related historically and geographically. Jesus plays a very important role here. Three things are important to note.
First, Jesus saw that God's relationship with humans is a direct relationship. There is no need for certain intermediaries, such as religious leaders or houses of worship. The most important thing is the inner state and the goodwill of the man himself. This is the most important core of Christian morality as well as spirituality. This view contradicts the pre-existing traditional Jewish teachings.
Second, Jesus saw virtue as more important than justice. And, the highest virtue is compassion for all beings. Jesus clearly stated the dangers of the old view, namely, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Going further, he also states the importance of forgiving those we hate, and those who hate us. Forgiveness has no limits.
Third, Jesus saw the giving of aid not to be announced to the public at large. Praying is also not to be exhibited in the wider community. Often, these are signs of sheer hypocrisy. Giving to others and praying should be done in secret. This, according to Jesus, is both a prayer and a sincere gift.
These three views of Jesus are very close to those of Essenes. This is the name of a sect in Judaism that developed about 150 years before Jesus was born. This happened at a time when Ashoka, the Buddhist King of India, was sending many Buddhist thinkers all over Asia and the Middle East. The word "Essenes" has its roots in the Sanskrit language, namely Eeshani. This is another name for Shiva, a very important concept in Asian spirituality, especially Yoga.
Another school that developed in the Middle East was Mithraism. This flow is especially developed in Persia. At that time, Zoroastrianism also flourished in Persia and Israel. The influence of Indian civilization is very strong here because Mithras is also considered one of the important gods in the Hindu tradition. Mithraism became one of the major religions of the Roman Empire in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. It also influenced the development of early Christianity there.
This crossing of civilizations shows one thing clearly, that Jesus had encountered Asian teachings, especially Buddhism. It is possible that Jesus studied both Buddhism and Zoroastrianism when he was young. In one passage in the Gospels, Jesus discusses with several scholars the things that developed in his time. This of course is also related to the Buddhist philosophy and Zoroastrianism that developed there. After that, there are no more records of Jesus, until he is about 29 years old.
Some historical data shows that Jesus had left Israel. In Islamic tradition, Jesus is known as a travelling prophet. He is also known as a guide for people who are travelling. Jesus is also known as the Messiah because he never stayed in one place. He was always around to spread his teachings. This of course opens up the great possibility, that Jesus studied the teachings of Asian spirituality.
Jesus was a wanderlust. He taught and spread his ideas in various places. This was clear from his tendencies when he was 12 years old. His teachings certainly did not come from a vacuum. During the lost years, he learned a lot from the various traditions that existed. Of course, he also met enlightened masters.
In the Bible, several pieces of information can be found. After he emerged from his disappearance, Jesus was already 29 years old. He was about to be baptized by John the Baptist. After that, Jesus then gave some of his views. The people around him were amazed at the depth and wisdom of Jesus' thoughts.
They wondered, how could a child carpenter have such knowledge and wisdom? There are two explanations. First, Jesus had learned from various enlightened teachers. One of them is Buddhist monks and Yogis from India. Both were scattered in various parts of the Middle East at that time. Second, they were just shocked, after not seeing Jesus for a long time.
To me, the first explanation is more in line with common sense. There is no mythology there. There is no excessive speculation in it. Nicolas Notovitch's book, The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ, may provide some information. The book was born out of his research and travels to Kasmir.
He visited a monastery in Kasmir. He saw records from the past about the presence of a person named Isa. Further research shows that Jesus was involved in many Asian teachings, especially Buddhism, Yoga, Vedanta and Zoroastrianism. He is open to all people, regardless of their caste and position in society. For his attitude, he was at odds with the more traditional Zoroastrian and Hindu religious leaders. According to the data, Jesus arrived in Cashmere at the age of 14 and left him at the age of 29.
Of course, the book immediately became a hot topic in Europe. The Russian Orthodox Church called the research fraud. The UK even sent some people to bury all the evidence related to the research. Various methods were used to prevent Notovitch's work from gaining the public's trust. However, ideas are the most contagious thing in the world. Notovitch's views have begun to become part of the general conversation in Christianity.
The link between European, Middle Eastern and Indian civilizations has been found for a long time. This is most evident in terms of language. Various European and Middle Eastern languages have their roots in Sanskrit. Regarding Jesus, many experts have found that Jesus' teachings took a lot from the teachings of Buddha, especially the various parables he taught. The teachings in the New Testament Gospels bear many similarities to the teachings of the Buddha that spread 500 years earlier. The history of Jesus of Nazareth, as revealed by the New Testament, is an imitation of the Buddha, and is combined with mythology borrowed from other nations.
Other sources also state the same thing. Fida Hassnain, a Buddhist thinker from Kashmir, stated emphatically, that Jesus left Israel at the age of 13 years. Then he walked with the merchants towards Damascus, Babylon, Persia and Kashmir. He was there for 17 years. There, he studied Buddhism, Vedanta and Yoga. At the age of 29, he returned to Israel.
Hassnain based his views on several sources. In Tibet found text with the title "Glass Mirror". The text mentions a man named Jesus. He is a teacher and creator of a religion. He declared himself to be the saviour of the world as well as the Son of God. He follows the basic teachings of the Buddha.
Sources from the Islamic tradition also speak more or less the same. There are about 21 sources from the Islamic tradition that mention the name, Isa. In some other traditions in the Middle East, he is also known as Yuz Asaph. In the late 9th century, a Persian thinker named Kamaluddin also mentioned Jesus. One of the ancient texts from Kashmir, namely the Bhavishya Maha Purana, also mentions the encounter of King Shalivahana who met a foreigner who called himself Ishvara Turnam (son of Allah) in the year 80. They all mention the existence of Jesus in Kashmir.
There are many other sources about Jesus in the Kashmir area. However, all of this certainly cannot be taken for granted as the truth. One thing that can be concluded is, that Jesus came out of Israel, and spread his teachings to various places in the Middle East and North India.
The influence of Buddhism, and much of Asian philosophy, is also very evident in the teachings of Jesus. Until now, there are four Gospels that are considered official by various churches, namely the Gospels written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Everything that Jesus said in the four Gospels can easily be found in earlier sources in Buddhism that existed 500 years before Jesus was born. It is no exaggeration to say, then, that Jesus thought, spoke and acted like a disciple of the Buddha.
It is important to study the language here. Gautama Buddha, who lived 500 years before Jesus, spoke the Pali language. His disciples then developed Buddhism by using Sanskrit. As Buddhism spread throughout the Middle East, many Buddhist texts were later translated into Latin, ancient Greek and Aramaic (which was spoken by Jesus). The language may be different, but the content conveyed by Gautama Buddha and Jesus is the same.
Some important things should be clarified. Jesus and Buddha were born, and later received visits from three sages. This is a sign of respect in the Asian tradition, that a great person has been born. Both are also considered intelligent and talented children. Their knowledge surpassed that of children of his age, even beyond those of his contemporaries.
Jesus and Buddha underwent strenuous fasting in wild nature, far from human touch. This tradition is not found in the Jewish tradition but is very strong in the Asian tradition. While fasting, Jesus and Buddha also experienced temptations from Satan. Both managed to overcome the temptation. This success became an important point for the spiritual development of both.
Jesus and Buddha also began to work, when they were about 30 years old. Those who are interested in their teachings are not important people in society, such as religious leaders, rich people or nobles, but people from low social classes. Some of them even became faithful disciples and followed the journey of Jesus and Buddha. Some of them change their names as a sign, that they are starting a new life.
Jesus and Buddha did not work in one place. They go around teaching. Along the way, they also perform some miracles, such as healing people. However, that is not the main point of their teachings. Jesus and Buddha also did not accumulate excessive material possessions. They live simply with their students.
Jesus and Buddha worked a lot among the outcasts in society. They see no difference between people, whether they are rich or poor, or have high or low social status. Jesus and Buddha spoke of universal love and peace with all beings. Their way of teaching is also similar, namely by using simple stories, to convey the values they want to teach. Many of their stories have similarities.
Because of their just, peaceful and open demeanour, Jesus and Buddha were often worshipped like kings. The Buddha was greeted like a king when he entered the city of Rajagripa. Jesus was the same when he entered Jerusalem. On several occasions, Jesus and Buddha delivered their main teachings on a mountain. For both, the mountain is a very suitable place to change one's mind from within.
Because of his open attitude, Jesus and Buddha were often hostile to religious leaders. Buddha was suspected by the Brahmins, namely Hindu religious leaders. Meanwhile, Jesus was hostile to the Pharisees, the Jewish religious leaders. Jesus was finally crucified because the Jewish religious leaders hated him. The role of the Roman empire was also great in this regard.
Jesus and Buddha saw the importance of spreading this universal peace teaching. So before they died, both of them sent their disciples to spread their teachings. Jesus and Buddha saw that everyone could be saved from endless suffering. Some sources even mention, their death was followed by some miraculous events. However, we need not go too far into this.
Jesus and Buddha affirmed, that killing, stealing and lying are not allowed. It destroys human peace, as well as relationships with other humans. The morality they teach is also similar. Peace is more valuable than war, whatever its form. Wealth should be used to help those in need, not watering oneself with luxury.
Therefore, Jesus and Buddha strongly opposed all forms of slavery. They also oppose the caste system which sees certain groups of people as superior and more honourable than others. Instead, they teach, that we live by letting go of all fixation on self-interest, or selfishness. We are also encouraged to love all, not only family and friends but also our enemies. This is one of the most revolutionary ideas of Jesus and Buddha.
Some of Jesus' statements are very similar to what the Buddha said five hundred years earlier. For example, Jesus emphasized how fragile a person who builds a house on sand is. The Buddha has also said the same thing. Fragile cities, says Buddha, are built on sand. Both of them also emphatically stated the great teaching of all time, which is to see others as yourself. Do to others as you would want others to do to you.
Both also teach very unique views. Love your enemy. If he hits you on the left cheek, said Jesus, turn the other cheek. Buddha also said the same thing. Do not retaliate for any evil deeds of others.
Jesus emphasized that we should do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us and pray for the good of those who hurt us. This would be in line with the teachings of the Buddha. Hate, said the Buddha, does not disappear with hate, but with love. We must learn to go beyond anger with love, and beyond evil with good. This is a universal truth, according to the Buddha.
Jesus taught that all his disciples should love one another. The Buddha also taught the same thing. Love, for him, is life itself that encompasses everything. However, to be able to love, according to the Buddha, humans must have the courage to train their minds first. This is what slightly distinguishes the teachings of the two great teachers.
Jesus also taught that people should not judge one another. Only God, for Jesus, has the right to judge human hearts and actions. Buddha taught the same thing. For the Buddha, man must learn to train himself, and not to meddle in the affairs of others. After being able to train their minds enough, people can then help others, and don't judge them arbitrarily.
Both teach unconditional love. The Buddha gave a good parable. Love is like the sun that shines on everyone. He doesn't choose between good people and bad people. It also does not differentiate between the rich and the poor.
Jesus also taught the same thing. He uses the parable of God's love for man. For Jesus, God's love is like rain that falls on everyone. He doesn't choose between rich people or poor people. Nor does he distinguish between sinners and saints.
In terms of attitude to life, Jesus also has many similarities with Buddha. They see the importance of giving. Jesus emphasized, if you want to be a perfect human being, you must sell all your possessions and give them to the poor. Only then can you have treasures in heaven. Buddha taught the same thing.
Miserly people will live in misery. Only fools are stingy with their wealth. They are attached to their property. And attachment is the main source of life's suffering. A generous person will find peace and happiness in his heart.
The birth of Jesus is associated with prophecies made in the Jewish tradition about the birth of a saviour, or Messiah. This would coincide with a similar story in the Indian tradition. Then, the Messiah will come a second time to save all mankind. This would coincide with the prophecy in India about the return of Krishna to save the world from evil.
The story of Krishna is a traditional story in India. He had been scattered there for hundreds of years, long before Jesus was born. It's about 300 years to be exact. The story spread in the Middle East along with the arrival of Buddhist and Vedantic thinkers there. His influence was most evident in the Essenes in Jewish religious circles.
There is a great resemblance between the story of Krishna and the story of Christ, who is the divine embodiment of Jesus. Krishna, in Indian tradition, is considered to be the incarnation of Vishnu, one of the Mahadevas. Krishna's mother also conceived him, when he was a virgin. This is similar to the idea, that Mary, the mother of Jesus, also became pregnant, while still a virgin. There are several other similarities.
Krishna and Jesus were born in a period of oppressive totalitarian rule. The two tyrants ordered the killing of little children. They are Herod in Israel and Kansa in India. The story of the birth of Jesus is also very similar to the story of the birth of Krishna. Both were born in the middle of the night. And when both died, according to the story, many things happened in the sky.
The word Messiah itself, which is often attached to Jesus, has its roots in the word Maitreya in Sanskrit. This means that the person who is predicted will be the saviour of mankind. In the Jewish tradition, the Messiah is the one who will come, and save the Jewish nation. Meanwhile, in India, especially in the Buddhist tradition, Maitreya is the Buddha who will save people from Samsara, namely the repetition of the process of life that leads people to suffer. The mythological stories surrounding the birth and life of Jesus stick closely to Indian traditions, especially the life of Gautama Buddha.
The names for both of them also tend to be the same, namely the saviour, the enlightened, the blessed and even the king. Jesus is called the King of the Kingdom of Heaven. Meanwhile, Buddha is indeed a king who now lives and teaches to save all human beings from suffering. Similarities are increasingly seen in the ritual traditions of both Christianity and Buddhism. The structure of the religious organization is not much different.
How are all these similarities explained? One view that is quite common is called the universalist view. The essence of his view is that the basis of human existence has similarities, regardless of cultural or religious differences. All humans are looking for a way to get out of their life's suffering, be it disciples of Jesus, Buddha, or all. All humans also long for something bigger than themselves.
This view appears in the thinking of great philosophers, such as Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. They see that the basic pattern of human experience is universal. Socio-cultural influences exist but do not change the common basic human experience that exists. This is why Jesus and Buddha came to the same conclusion, even though they lived in different times. This is also why almost all religions have the same values and patterns.
Indeed, if you look closely, the teachings of Jesus and Buddha are very, very similar. As if they convey the same message in different packaging. The similarities are not only at the language level, but also the level of argument structure, and content. Realizing this, in the 20th and 21st centuries, the cooperation between the two religions is indeed getting closer. Thomas Merton from the Christian side, and the Dalai Lama from the Buddhist side.
This can be seen from two points of view. First, all these similarities are mere coincidences. However, if examined more deeply, this view is not strong enough. Second, as mentioned earlier, humans have the same natural state. Jesus and Buddha would have come to the same conclusion, even though their teachings never actually met.
There is a universal law that guides humans to true happiness. This universal law can be applied in two ways, namely training the mind and being wise in daily life. Jesus and Buddha discovered this law, although their teachings, perhaps, did not meet face-to-face. However, this does not explain the myths surrounding Jesus and Buddha. Both are the same as the myths in the Indian tradition.
However, this view is not strong enough. Every culture has its values. Often, these values are contradictory. Not only that, people from the same religion and culture often have different values. This happens also in various religions, including Christianity and Buddhism.
The universalist view seems to ignore this. However, if you pay attention, the teachings of Jesus and Buddha are not only similar. They are the same in all respects. This is unique in the history of comparative religion. This leads to the conclusion that one teaching (Buddhism) influences another (Jesus' teaching).
About the life of Jesus, many things are not explained in the four Gospels that are recognized by Christianity. There are about 17 years in the life of Jesus that cannot be explained. This happened, between the ages of Jesus 12 and 29. These are called the Lost Years in the Biblical Silence. It can even be said, that the teachings of Jesus can only be understood from the last three years of his life.
Why did Jesus' disciples, and millions of other followers of Jesus, never speak of these lost years? The answer is no. On the other hand, many stories about Jesus are scattered throughout the Middle East and the Mediterranean. The forms also vary, both prayers, sermons and letters. In the second century AD, the Catholic Church destroyed all stories about Jesus that differed from their interpretation.
All of them are labelled as forbidden books. This brutal process even occurred until the 20th century ago. The church sends various emissaries to destroy data that contradicts their faith. A lot of data in Central Asia was destroyed. This is indeed still a time, where the power of religion and world politics cannot be separated. Threats to religion are seen as threats to certain political powers, so they are violently attacked.
The rulers of the Church wanted to confirm one thing, that Jesus was the son of God who spread the new religion in Israel. All views that differ, or question, from that point of view are considered forbidden. Existing written works were later destroyed or rewritten. The four recognized Gospels no longer correspond to the original work. Various changes were made to protect the interests of the Church authorities.
In the days of the early Church, the preservation of the image of Jesus as the son of God among the Jews was very important. The salvation of the Jewish nation depended on it. This image was important to strengthen the Jewish political struggle against the Roman Empire. As a child of God and a Jew, the image of Jesus is important to unite Jews from different groups. Therefore, all the history of Jesus related to Asian thought should be eliminated as much as possible.
Was Jesus, then, a Buddhist? The answer is yes, as well as no. What is clear, the influence of Buddhism, and Asian philosophy in general, is very much felt in the teachings of Jesus. Historical, geographical and textual evidence would support this view. Before Jesus was born, Buddhism was already widespread in the Middle East, including Jerusalem.
Some thinkers object to this. Their reason is clear, namely that Christianity belongs to European civilization, and there is no influence from other civilizations. This is a view based on racism against other ethnic groups. Historical data would say differently. For more than 4000 years, Europe and Asia have met each other, both in the form of trade, war and cultural exchange by the great empires of the past.
From the West, King Alexander spread the Ancient Greek worldview to the Middle East, Central Asia to North India. He propagated this view through bloody wars and conquests. From the Eastside, King Ashoka spread Buddhist teachings to the Middle East and East Asia. He provided support for many Buddhist thinkers to spread their teachings. The encounter between Europe and Asia also took place intensively on the Silk Road which connected Europe and the Chinese Han Dynasty about a hundred years before Jesus was born.
Then, has Jesus ever been to India? It is difficult to give a definite answer. The lost years continue to be a mystery to many theologians and Bible commentators. To be sure, Jesus did not settle in Israel. He did not work as a carpenter, following his father. He travelled to various places, met with Asian philosophy, and studied it, especially Buddhism.
In India and even China, accounts of Jesus are widely scattered. It is difficult to determine the authenticity of these records. Interest in Jesus was also great in Asia, even before Christian Missionaries from Europe came there. The life stories and teachings of Buddha and Jesus are very similar. Coincidence is not an adequate explanation for this fact.
Not all civilizations have the same values as Buddha or Jesus. The similarities between the two are too distinctive and very specific. When Christian Missionaries from Europe encountered Buddhism, they called Buddhism the Christian religion of the East. That term would be inaccurate. Buddhism developed 500 years before Jesus was born. Hanson formulated a more appropriate designation. Christianity is Buddhism from the West.
Some Reflections
There are some reflections from the previous presentation. First, the uniqueness of Buddhism and the teachings of Jesus lies in its relationship to the richness of existing traditions. The crossing of traditions and teachings produces major religions that make up human civilization. Each teaching has a unique characteristic that is born from dialogue with other teachings. People can also be religious with wisdom while appreciating the richness of the teachings of other religions.
Second, the above understanding is important for inter-religious dialogue. In this 21st century, although weakened, religion still plays a big role in many societies. World peace is only possible if there is peace between religions. Interfaith dialogue plays an important role in this regard. True dialogue is only possible if there is an inter-religious understanding born of this kind of comparative study of religion.
Third, understanding history and inter-religious relations will give birth to cosmopolitan awareness. This is human consciousness as a universal being. This awareness transcends all temporary man-made social identities. In this very complex 21st century, cosmopolitan awareness is important to realize the balance of the human mind, as well as in its relationship with other humans. It is also very important to realize a balanced and civilized religious life.
Fourth, interfaith dialogue must be part of the official pattern of education. Religion cannot be taught unilaterally. This will fall on religious radicalism and narcissism that cloud life together. Religion should be taught in dialogue with other religions. The link between the teachings of Buddha and Jesus may become official teaching material that enriches all religious people.
Conclusion
Jesus studied Buddhism and spread it in Israel. This is a historical fact that is supported by geographical, historical and textual data. The content and teaching methods of Buddha and Jesus are not only similar but identical. Indeed, every religion stands and develops in dialogue with other religions and civilizations. We live in a world that is interconnected with each other, indivisible. This situation makes the relationship between religions, especially Buddhism and Christianity, not only peaceful and understanding, but enriches the wider human civilization with wisdom across generations. This needs to be understood and emphasized in any existing religious education.
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https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Unknown-Life-of-Jesus-Christ/Nicolas-Notovitch/9781625588364. - Suzuki, Shunryu. 1999. Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness: Zen Talks on the Sandokai. California.
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I also wrote this article on my readcash account
https://read.cash/@dark_spirit666/the-compassion-that-transcends-justice-and-the-relationship-of-siddhartha-gautama-buddha-and-jesus-50d7cc80