Jesus In India — Page 84
84 J e s u s i n I n d i a Buddha been called Saasta or the Master. If Jesus has been called Blessed in the Gospels, so has the Buddha been named Sugt — the Blessed. If Jesus has been called Prince, so has the Buddha been called Prince. Jesus has also been described in the Gospels as one who fulfils the object of his coming, so has the Buddha been called in Buddhistic Scriptures Siddhartha—one who fulfils the object of his coming. Jesus has also been called by the Gospels the refuge of the tired and the weary, so has the Buddha in Buddhistic Scriptures been called Asarn Sarn — the refuge of the refuge- less. Jesus has also been called by the Gospels King, though he said that his was the kingdom of Heaven, so also has the Buddha been called the King. The similarity of events pertaining to both is also proved by events. Just as Jesus was tempted by the Devil with the riches and kingdoms of the world provided he made obeisance to him, so was Buddha tempted when the Devil said to him that he would give him the pomp and splendour of kings if he abandoned the austerity of his living and returned home. But, just as Jesus did not obey the Devil, so, it is recorded, the Buddha too did not obey him. 35 See Buddhism by T. W. Rhys Davids and Buddhism by Sir Monier Williams. This shows that the same titles which Jesus ascribes to himself in the Gospels, have been ascribed to the Buddha in Buddhistic Scriptures which were compiled much later; and just as Jesus was tempted by the Devil, so do these books claim that the Buddha was also tempted by the Devil; 35 See Appendix, extracts 1,2,3,4,5 (Translator) See Chinese Buddhism by Edkins, Buddha by Oldenberg translated by W. Hoey; Life of Buddha translated by Rockhill. (Author)