Buddha and Jesus: See the Similarities

Discover the Shared Teachings of the World’s Greatest Rebels

Before we begin to explore the similarities between the teachings of Buddha and Jesus, beyond the mere fact, both are men who lived on Earth as humans among us. I can hear the fundamentalists of Christianity and Buddhism begrudging me now.

If so, let’s remember what most people can accept as truth about fundamentalism and extremism regardless of faith:

“Extremism is the enemy of true religion. It hijacks faith and turns it into a weapon of hatred and division.” — Dalai Lama

The only possible exception to accepting this truth is those detached from the greater reality. Pray for those who don’t know or care to know because they don’t know better. If they did, they would. That’s compassion, and one need not be religious to figure this out.

Siddhartha Gautama, widely known as Buddha, and Jesus Christ, revered as the Son of God, are revered as enlightened beings who revolutionized their respective religious contexts. Despite existing in different times and regions, these two human beings share striking similarities in their teachings and rebellion against certain aspects of organized religion.

If you love an excellent rebel story, read the history and teachings of both Buddha and Jesus. If you read any Bible with red letters, the red letters are the words of Jesus, as recorded by his disciples. Study the lives and teachings of both men, and given the willingness to improve our minds and open our hearts, we’ll find a way to see the similarities in all people, places, and things.

This article explores the history, teachings, and commonalities between Buddha and Jesus, shedding light on their shared quest to awaken humanity. We aim to “wake up” and see the similarities between our brothers and sisters of all faiths. After all, we are from the same place we return; eternal, loving light.

Both men teach us a way to find inner peace and salvation from our selfish selves even though they lived approximately 500 years apart.

The Light Is Within Us

Here’s proof from both teachers:

The Buddha said, “Look within. Be still. Free from fear and attachment, know the sweet joy of living in the way.”, “The way is not in the sky, the way is in the heart.”, “Radiate boundless love towards the entire world.” and “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14), “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12), “The kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21), and “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Could Buddha and Jesus have been more explicit?

The World’s Religious Landscape

The world’s religious landscape is rich and diverse, encompassing numerous belief systems that have guided humanity for centuries. Buddhism and Christianity are two major spiritual traditions, each with remarkable figures and teachings.

To offer context of the relevance of world religions today, here’s a breakdown of the numbers of people in the world religions by percent of the global population:

1. Christianity: 31.5%
2. Islam: 23.2%
3. Unaffiliated (Atheists, agnostics, no affiliation): 16.3%
4. Hinduism: 15%
5. Buddhism: 7.1%
6. Folk religions: 5.9%
7. Other religions (African traditional religions, Sikhism, and others): 0.8%
8. Judaism: 0.2%

When we look at Christianity and Buddhism, as with all religions, the farther humanity gets from the roots of the spiritual teachings of the times, the more branches and leaves grow, and many of them get twisted.

Therein lies the problem with all religions; the narrow view of most humans who will never know the truth.

The Branches of Both Religions

Look at all the world religions as trees with many branches, leaves, and fruits, and you’ll see the massive divergence in thinking, belief, and application to life.

Christianity and Buddhism both encompass a wide range of variations and denominations. Here’s a high-level view of the various branches of Christianity and Buddhism:

Christianity is broadly categorized into three main branches:

1. Catholicism.?The largest Christian denomination, with the Roman Catholic Church as its primary representative. Catholicism has a hierarchical structure with the Pope as its spiritual leader.
2. Protestantism.?A diverse group of Christian denominations emerged from the Protestant Reformation. This branch includes denominations such as Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and many others.
3. Eastern Orthodoxy.?Comprising various autocephalous (self-governing) churches, including the Greek Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox Church, and others. Eastern Orthodoxy has distinct theological, liturgical, and organizational differences from Catholicism and Protestantism.

I’ve shared a phenomenal visual representation with my family and friends. The only person who ever argued it was a fundamentalist Anglican priest who lived unknowingly in a cloud of not knowing.

Please remember that this is a general overview, and the classification and number of variations can vary depending on different perspectives and scholarly interpretations.

Buddhism can be divided into several major traditions, each with its variations.

1. Theravada Buddhism.?Predominant in Southeast Asia, it follows the earliest recorded teachings of Buddha. Variations exist among countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia.
2. Mahayana Buddhism.?Widespread in East Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Mahayana encompasses various sub-traditions like Zen, Pure Land, and Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana).
3. Vajrayana Buddhism.?Also known as Tibetan Buddhism, it is practiced primarily in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, and Mongolia. Vajrayana incorporates esoteric practices and rituals.
4. Other Buddhist Traditions.?There are minor Buddhist traditions, such as Nichiren Buddhism, which emerged in Japan, and Jodo Shinshu, a Pure Land school.

To summarize, the branches of both religions entail further divisions, and denominations have unique beliefs, practices, and organizational structures.

The only problem with understanding the “word of God” is human understanding. And it’s a universal problem we can overcome by choosing to “wake up” and see the similarities in everything.

The Life and Path of Buddha

Buddha, whose estimated historical dates are around 563 BCE to 483 BCE, was born as Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini, now in modern-day Nepal. He was a prince who renounced his royal life to seek answers to the nature of human suffering.

After years of spiritual exploration and deep meditation, he attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, becoming Buddha, which means “the awakened one.”

At the core of Buddha’s teachings are the?Four Noble Truths, which form the foundation of Buddhism. They articulate the nature of suffering (dukkha), its origin (samudaya), the cessation of suffering (nirodha), and the path leading to the cessation of suffering (magga).

The?Eightfold Path?serves as the means to attain liberation from suffering, emphasizing principles such as right association, right speech, right livelihood, and right mindfulness.

Jesus’ Life and Teachings

Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem around 4 BCE and crucified around 30 CE, emerged as a central figure in Christianity. His life and teachings are chronicled in the New Testament of the Bible. While his historical existence has been widely accepted, his life and message interpretation varies among Christian denominations.

Jesus rebelled against the religious norms of his time, emphasizing a direct and personal relationship with God. His teachings focused on love, compassion, forgiveness, and the kingdom of God. Jesus emphasized the importance of awakening humanity from its spiritual slumber, inviting individuals to experience a transformation of heart and mind.

Finding the Similarities Between Teachers

Buddha and Jesus challenged prevailing religious traditions, offering a fresh perspective resonating with those seeking spiritual liberation.

Their teachings opposed six common aspects of religion: authority, ritual, speculation, tradition, grace, and mystery. Drawing upon the insights of Huston Smith’s book, “The World’s Religions,” we can explore their shared critique:

1. Authority.?Buddha and Jesus encouraged individuals to rely on their inner wisdom and discernment rather than blindly accepting dogma or religious authorities.
2. Ritual.?Budda and Jesus emphasized the importance of personal transformation over rigid adherence to rituals, urging followers to embody spiritual principles daily.
3. Speculation.?Both figures discouraged excessive metaphysical speculation, focusing on practical and ethical matters that alleviate suffering.
4. Tradition.?Buddha and Jesus challenged the ossification of religious traditions, inviting individuals to break free from rigid structures and embrace transformative spirituality.
5. Grace.?They emphasized the potential for personal growth and awakening within every individual, emphasizing the transformative power of love, compassion, and selflessness.
6. Mystery.?Buddha and Jesus acknowledged the limitations of human understanding, encouraging humility and an openness to the ineffable dimensions of spiritual experience.

Buddha and Jesus, separated by time and geography, share profound similarities in their teachings and rebellion against certain aspects of organized religion. Their emphasis on personal transformation, direct experience, and awakening humanity from spiritual slumber highlights their shared goal of guiding individuals toward a deeper understanding of themselves and their world.

The prolific work of Huston Smith in his book “The World’s Religions” sheds light on these shared aspects. Smith states,?“Buddha and Jesus were both revolutionary figures who sought to liberate individuals from the confines of religious dogma and awaken them to the transformative power of inner realization.”

Their teachings offer a path to spiritual liberation that transcends cultural boundaries and unifies humanity under compassion, love, and wisdom.

By examining the similarities between Buddha and Jesus, we can better understand and appreciate different spiritual traditions. Rather than focusing on their differences, it is essential to recognize the common ground they share. The teachings of Buddha and Jesus provide valuable insights into the universal principles that underlie human existence, offering guidance on how to live a meaningful and compassionate life.

By embracing the shared values of compassion, love, and awakening, we can bridge divides, promote understanding, and work together towards a more harmonious and compassionate world.

In conclusion, the histories and teachings of Buddha and Jesus reveal remarkable parallels that can bring humanity closer together. These enlightened beings challenged their respective religious contexts’ authority, ritual, speculation, tradition, grace, and mystery, emphasizing personal transformation, direct experience, and awakening from spiritual slumber.

Their teachings transcend time and cultural boundaries, offering guidance on alleviating suffering and leading a compassionate and awakened life. Recognizing and appreciating these shared aspects can foster unity, understanding, and harmony among diverse religious and spiritual traditions, ultimately working towards a more compassionate and enlightened world.

This article was originally published on Medium. I’m a partner in a commercial real estate investment, development, and consulting firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona. When not serving our client investors, my passion and mission is empowering people to transform by understanding the convergence of faith, spirituality, and science. Subscribe to The God Chill newsletter on Substack by?clicking here.