Jesus In India — Page 88
88 J e s u s i n I n d i a shall prove that the part of the moral teaching of Buddhism which resembles that of the Gospels, the titles like ‘Light’, which are attributed to the Buddha as they are to Jesus, and the Satanic temptations, are all details which were incorporated into the Buddhistic literature only after Jesus’ visit to this country which took place after the crucifixion. There is yet another resemblance between the Buddha and Jesus. Buddhist chronicles show that the Buddha during the temptation was fasting and that the fast lasted for forty days. Readers of the Gospels know that Jesus also observed a forty-day fast. Anyone who is acquainted with the teachings of Buddha and Jesus will also marvel at the close resemblance and similarity between the moral teaching of the two. For example, the Gospels say, do not resist evil, love your enemy, live in poverty, and shun pride, falsehood and greed; the same is the teaching of the Buddha. Rather the Buddhistic teaching lays greater stress on it, so much so that the killing even of ants and insects has been considered a sin. The outstanding principle of Buddhism is sympathy for the whole world, seeking the welfare of the whole of humanity and of all the animals, and promotion of a spirit of unity and mutual love. The same is the teaching of the Gospels. Again, just as Jesus sent his disciples to different countries, journeying to one himself, so was the case with the Buddha. Buddhism by Sir Monier Williams 37 records that maintain that that part which is merely the teaching of the Gospels—the parables and other reproductions from the Bible -was undoubtedly added to the Buddhistic books at the time Jesus was in this country. (Author) 37 See Appendix, extract 2. (Translator)