Where Did Jesus Die? — Page 185
Chapter Twelve—The Unknown Life of Jesus 185 There is another point, which I consider advisable to dis- cuss here. The life and the teachings of Buddha bear so close and striking a resemblance to the life and the teachings of Jesus that many thinkers have declared that Christianity is only a copy of Buddhism. Dr. K. S. MacDonald writes: Mr. R. C. Dutt begins his chapter on Buddhism and Christianity in his Ancient India with the words ‘The moral precepts and teachings of Buddhism have so much in common with those of Christianity, that some connec- tion between the two systems of religion has long been suspected. ’ 1 Dr. Ernest J. Eitel writes: Attentive readers will have noticed in this rough sketch of Buddha’s life many details singularly coinciding with inci- dents in the life of our Saviour as reported by the Gospels. Sakyamuni Buddha, we are told, came from heaven, was born of virgin, welcomed by angels, received by an old saint who was endowed with prophetic vision, presented in a temple, baptised with water and afterwards baptised with fire; he astonished the most learned doctors by his understanding and answers, was led by the spirit into the wilderness and, having been tempted by the devil, the 1. Macdonald: The Story of Barlaam and Joseph; Introduction, p. xivii. Calcutta, 1895.