Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions by T. W. Doane

CHAPTER XXIX.

CHRIST BUDDHA AND CHRIST JESUS COMPARED. "The more I learn to know Buddha the more I admire him, and the sooner all mankind shall have been made acquainted with his doctrines the better it will be, for he is certainly one of the heroes of humanity." _FausbÃ¶ll._ The _mythological_ portions of the histories of Buddha and Jesus are, without doubt, nearer in resemblance than that of any two characters of antiquity. The _cause_ of this we shall speak of in our chapter on "Why Christianity Prospered," and shall content ourselves for the present by comparing the following analogies:

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Chapter 1 Ch.1
INTRODUCTION. Ch.2
Chapter XXXIX.), we have considered the _Miracles of Christ Jesus_, the Ch.3
PART I. Ch.4
INTRODUCTION iii Ch.5
CHAPTER I. Ch.6
CHAPTER II. Ch.7
CHAPTER III. Ch.8
CHAPTER IV. Ch.9
CHAPTER V. Ch.10
CHAPTER VI. Ch.11
CHAPTER VII. Ch.12
CHAPTER VIII. Ch.13
CHAPTER IX. Ch.14
CHAPTER X. Ch.15
CHAPTER XI. Ch.16
CHAPTER XII. Ch.17
CHAPTER XIII. Ch.18
CHAPTER XIV. Ch.19
CHAPTER XV. Ch.20
CHAPTER XVI. Ch.21
CHAPTER XVII. Ch.22
CHAPTER XVIII. Ch.23
CHAPTER XIX. Ch.24
CHAPTER XX. Ch.25
CHAPTER XXI. Ch.26
CHAPTER XXII. Ch.27
CHAPTER XXIII. Ch.28
CHAPTER XXIV. Ch.29
CHAPTER XXV. Ch.30
CHAPTER XXVI. Ch.31
CHAPTER XXVII. Ch.32
CHAPTER XXVIII. Ch.33
CHAPTER XXIX. Ch.34
CHAPTER XXX. Ch.35
CHAPTER XXXI. Ch.36
CHAPTER XXXII. Ch.37
CHAPTER XXXIII. Ch.38
CHAPTER XXXIV. Ch.39
CHAPTER XXXV. Ch.40
CHAPTER XXXVI. Ch.41
CHAPTER XXXVII. Ch.42
CHAPTER XXXVIII. Ch.43
CHAPTER XXXIX. Ch.44
CHAPTER XL. Ch.45
PART I. Ch.46
CHAPTER I. Ch.47
CHAPTER II. Ch.48
CHAPTER III. Ch.49
147. See also Smith: Chaldean Account of Genesis, p. 48, and Volney's Ch.50
CHAPTER IV. Ch.51
CHAPTER V. Ch.52
357. Josephus: Jewish Antiquities, book xviii. ch. 13. Dunlap: Son of Ch.53
CHAPTER VI. Ch.54
CHAPTER VII. Ch.55
5. Not to lie. 6. Not to swear. 7. To avoid impure words. 8. To be Ch.56
CHAPTER VIII. Ch.57
CHAPTER IX. Ch.58
CHAPTER X. Ch.59
Book ii. ch. 36.) Ch.60
CHAPTER XI. Ch.61
182. Inman: Ancient Faiths, vol. ii. pp. 782, 783; and Goldziher: Hebrew Ch.62
125. Smith's Bible Dictionary art. "Chemosh." Ch.63
PART II. Ch.64
CHAPTER XII. Ch.65
CHAPTER XIII. Ch.66
CHAPTER XIV. Ch.67
CHAPTER XV. Ch.68
CHAPTER XVI. Ch.69
CHAPTER XVII. Ch.70
CHAPTER XVIII. Ch.71
CHAPTER XIX. Ch.72
CHAPTER XX. Ch.73
Introduction. Some of these are ascertained, by historical or Ch.74
31. Anacalypsis, vol. i. p. 649. Ch.75
CHAPTER XXI. Ch.76
CHAPTER XXII. Ch.77
CHAPTER XXIII. Ch.78
CHAPTER XXIV. Ch.79
9. Hist. Hindostan, vol. ii. pp. 498-500.) Ch.80
CHAPTER XXV. Ch.81
CHAPTER XXVI. Ch.82
CHAPTER XXVII. Ch.83
173. Albert Barnes, in his "Lectures on the Evidences of Christianity," Ch.84
CHAPTER XXVIII. Ch.85
1. "Crishna was born of a chaste virgin, called Devaki, who was selected Ch.86
1. Jesus was born of a chaste virgin, called Mary, who was Ch.87
2. A chorus of Devatas celebrated with song the praise of Devaki, Ch.88
2. The angel of the Lord saluted Mary, and said: "Hail Mary! Ch.89
3. The birth of Crishna was announced in the heavens by _his Ch.90
3. The birth of Jesus was announced in the heavens by _his Ch.91
4. On the morn of Crishna's birth, "the quarters of the horizon were Ch.92
4. When Jesus was born, the angels of heaven sang with joy, Ch.93
5. Crishna, though royally descended, was actually born in a state the Ch.94
5. "The birth of Jesus, the King of Israel, took place under Ch.95
6. "The moment Crishna was born, the whole cave was splendidly Ch.96
6. The moment Jesus was born, "there was a great light in the Ch.97
7. "Soon after Crishna's mother was delivered of him, and while she was Ch.98
7. "Jesus spake even when he was in his cradle, and said to Ch.99
8. The divine child--Crishna--was recognized, and adored by cowherds, Ch.100
8. The divine child--Jesus--was recognized, and adored by Ch.101
9. Crishna was received with divine honors, and presented with gifts of Ch.102
9. Jesus was received with divine honors, and presented with Ch.103
10. "Soon after the birth of Crishna, the holy Indian prophet Nared, Ch.104
10. "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, behold, Ch.105
11. Crishna was born at a time when Nanda--his foster-father--was away Ch.106
11. Jesus was born at a time when Joseph--his Ch.107
12. Crishna, although born in a state the most abject and humiliating, Ch.108
12. Jesus, although born in a state the most abject and Ch.109
13. Crishna's father was warned by a "heavenly voice," to "fly with the Ch.110
13. Jesus' father was warned "in a dream" to "take the young Ch.111
14. The ruler of the country in which Crishna was born, having been Ch.112
14. The ruler of the country in which Jesus was born, having Ch.113
15. "Mathura (pronounced Mattra), was the city in which Crishna was Ch.114
15. Matarea, near Hermopolis, in Egypt, is said to have been Ch.115
16. Crishna was preceded by _Rama_, who was born a short time before Ch.116
16. Jesus was preceded by _John_ the "divine herald," who was Ch.117
17. Crishna, being brought up among shepherds, wanted the advantage of a Ch.118
17. Jesus was sent to Zaccheus the schoolmaster, who wrote out Ch.119
18. "At a certain time, Crishna, taking a walk with the other cowherds, Ch.120
18. "In the month Adar, Jesus gathered together the boys, and Ch.121
19. Some of Crishna's play-fellows were stung by a serpent, and he, Ch.122
19. When Jesus was at play, a boy was stung by a serpent, "and Ch.123
20. Crishna's companions, with some calves, were stolen, and hid in a Ch.124
20. Jesus' companions, who had hid themselves in a furnace, Ch.125
21. "One of the first miracles performed by Crishna, when mature, was Ch.126
21. One of the first miracles performed by Jesus, when mature, Ch.127
22. A poor cripple, or lame woman, came, with "a vessel filled with Ch.128
22. "Now, when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the Ch.129
23. Crishna was crucified, and he is represented with arms extended, Ch.130
23. Jesus was crucified, and he is represented with arms Ch.131
24. At the time of the death of Crishna, there came calamities and bad Ch.132
24. At the time of the death of Jesus, there came calamities Ch.133
26. Crishna said to the hunter who shot him: "Go, hunter, through my Ch.134
26. Jesus said to one of the malefactors who was crucified Ch.135
28. Jesus, after being put to death, rose again from the Ch.136
29. Crishna ascended bodily into heaven, and many persons witnessed his Ch.137
29. Jesus ascended bodily into heaven, and many persons Ch.138
30. Crishna is to come again on earth in the latter days. He will appear Ch.139
30. Jesus is to come again on earth in the latter days. He Ch.140
32. Crishna is the creator of all things visible and invisible; "all Ch.141
32. Jesus is the creator of all things visible and invisible; Ch.142
33. Crishna is Alpha and Omega, "the beginning, the middle, and the end Ch.143
33. Jesus is Alpha and Omega, the beginning, the middle, and Ch.144
34. Crishna, when on earth, was in constant strife against the evil Ch.145
34. Jesus, when on earth, was in constant strife against the Ch.146
36. Crishna was transfigured before his disciple Arjuna. "All in an Ch.147
36. "And after six days, Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John Ch.148
37. Crishna was "the meekest and best tempered of beings." "He preached Ch.149
37. Jesus was the meekest and best tempered of beings. He Ch.150
38. "Crishna is the very Supreme Brahma, though it be a _mystery_ how Ch.151
38. Jesus is the very Supreme Jehovah, though it be a Ch.152
39. Jesus is the second person in the Christian Ch.153
40. Crishna said: "Let him if seeking God by deep abstraction, abandon Ch.154
40. Jesus said: "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy Ch.155
41. Crishna said: "Whate'er thou dost perform, whate'er thou eatest, Ch.156
41. Jesus said: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or Ch.157
42. Crishna said: "I am the cause of the whole universe; through me it Ch.158
42. "Of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things." Ch.159
43. Crishna said: "I am the light in the Sun and Moon, far, far beyond Ch.160
43. "Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying: I am the light Ch.161
44. Crishna said: "I am the sustainer of the world, its friend and Lord. Ch.162
44. "Jesus said unto them, I am the way, the truth, and the Ch.163
45. Crishna said: "I am the Goodness of the good; I am Beginning, Ch.164
45. "I am the first and the last; and have the keys of hell Ch.165
46. Crishna said: "Then be not sorrowful, from all thy sins I will Ch.166
46. Jesus said: "Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven Ch.167
130. Savary: Travels in Egypt, vol. i. p. 126, in Hist. Hindostan, vol. Ch.168
CHAPTER XXIX. Ch.169
1. Buddha was born of the Virgin Mary,[289:1] who conceived him without Ch.170
1. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, who conceived him Ch.171
2. The incarnation of Buddha is recorded to have been brought about by Ch.172
2. The incarnation of Jesus is recorded to have been brought Ch.173
3. When Buddha descended from the regions of the souls,[290:1] and Ch.174
3. When Jesus descended from his heavenly seat, and entered Ch.175
4. The birth of Buddha was announced in the heavens by an _asterim_ Ch.176
4. The birth of Jesus was announced in the heavens by "his Ch.177
5. "The son of the Virgin Maya, on whom, according to the tradition, the Ch.178
5. The Son of the Virgin Mary, on whom, according to the Ch.179
6. Demonstrations of celestial delight were manifest at the birth of Ch.180
6. Demonstrations of celestial delight were manifest at the Ch.181
7. "Buddha was visited by wise men who recognized in this marvelous Ch.182
7. Jesus was visited by wise men who recognized in this Ch.183
8. The infant Buddha was presented with "costly jewels and precious Ch.184
8. The infant Jesus was presented with gifts of gold, Ch.185
9. When Buddha was an infant, just born, he spoke to his mother, and Ch.186
9. When Jesus was an infant in his cradle, he spoke to his Ch.187
10. Buddha was a "dangerous child." His life was threatened by King Ch.188
10. Jesus was a "dangerous child." His life was threatened by Ch.189
11. When sent to school, the young Buddha surprised his masters. Without Ch.190
11. When sent to school, Jesus surprised his master Zaccheus, Ch.191
12. "When _twelve_ years old the child Buddha is presented in the Ch.192
12. "And when he was _twelve_ years old, they brought him to Ch.193
13. Buddha entered a temple, on which occasion forthwith all the statues Ch.194
13. "And as Jesus was going in by the ensigns, who carried the Ch.195
14. "The ancestry of Gotama Buddha is traced from his father, Ch.196
14. The ancestry of Jesus is traced from his father, Joseph, Ch.197
15. When Buddha was about to go forth "to adopt a religious life," Ch.198
15. When Jesus was about "beginning to preach," the _devil_ Ch.199
16. _Mara_ said unto Buddha: "Go not forth to adopt a religious life, Ch.200
16. The _devil_ said to Jesus: If thou wilt fall down and Ch.201
17. Buddha would not heed the words of the Evil One, and said to him: Ch.202
17. Jesus would not heed the words of the Evil One, and said Ch.203
18. After _Mara_ had left Buddha, "the skies rained flowers, and Ch.204
18. After the _devil_ had left Jesus, "angels came and Ch.205
20. Buddha, the Saviour, was baptized, and at this recorded water Ch.206
20. Jesus was baptized by John in the river Jordan, at which Ch.207
21. "On one occasion toward the end of his life on earth, Gautama Buddha Ch.208
21. On one occasion during his career on earth, Jesus is Ch.209
22. "Buddha performed great miracles for the good of mankind, and the Ch.210
22. Jesus performed great miracles for the good of the Ch.211
23. By prayers in the name of Buddha, his followers expect to receive Ch.212
23. By prayers in the name of Jesus, his followers expect to Ch.213
24. When Buddha died and was buried, "the coverings of the body unrolled Ch.214
24. When Jesus died and was buried, the coverings of the body Ch.215
25. Buddha ascended bodily to the celestial regions, when his mission on Ch.216
25. Jesus ascended bodily to the celestial regions, when his Ch.217
26. Buddha is to come upon the earth again in the latter days, his Ch.218
26. Jesus is to come upon the earth again in the latter days, Ch.219
28. Buddha is Alpha and Omega, without beginning or end, "the Supreme Ch.220
28. Jesus is Alpha and Omega, without beginning or Ch.221
29. Buddha is represented as saying: "Let all the sins that were Ch.222
29. Jesus is represented as the Saviour of mankind, and all Ch.223
30. Buddha said: "Hide your good deeds, and confess before the world the Ch.224
30. Jesus taught men to hide their good deeds,[293:20] and Ch.225
31. "Buddha was described as a superhuman organ of light, to whom a Ch.226
31. Jesus was described as a superhuman organ of light--"the Ch.227
32. Buddha came, not to destroy, but to fulfill, the law. He delighted Ch.228
32. Jesus said: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, Ch.229
33. "One day Ananda, the disciple of Buddha, after a long walk in the Ch.230
33. One day Jesus, after a long walk, cometh to the city of Ch.231
34. "According to Buddha, the motive of all our actions should be _pity_ Ch.232
34. "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to Ch.233
35. During the early part of his career as a teacher, "Buddha went to Ch.234
35. During the early part of his career as a teacher, Jesus Ch.235
36. Those who became disciples of Buddha were told that they must Ch.236
36. Those who became disciples of Jesus were told that they Ch.237
37. It is recorded in the "Sacred Canon" of the Buddhists that the Ch.238
37. It is recorded in the "Sacred Canon" of the Christians Ch.239
38. When Buddha's time on earth was about coming to a close, he, Ch.240
38. When Jesus' time on earth was about coming to a close, he Ch.241
39. In the Buddhist _Somadeva_, is to be found the following: "To give Ch.242
39. "And behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what Ch.243
40. Buddha's aim was to establish a "Religious Kingdom," a "_Kingdom of Ch.244
40. "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Ch.245
41. Buddha said: "I now desire to turn the wheel of the excellent Ch.246
41. Jesus, after his temptation by the devil, began to Ch.247
42. Buddha said: "Though the heavens were to fall to earth, and the Ch.248
42. "The law was given by Moses, but grace and _truth_ came by Ch.249
43. Buddha said: "There is no passion more violent than voluptuousness. Ch.250
43. Jesus said: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old Ch.251
44. Buddha said: "A wise man should avoid married life as if it were a Ch.252
44. "It is good for a man not to touch a woman," "but if they Ch.253
45. "Buddhism is convinced that if a man reaps sorrow, disappointment, Ch.254
45. "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was _blind Ch.255
46. Buddha knew the thoughts of others: "By directing his mind to the Ch.256
46. Jesus knew the thoughts of others. By directing his mind Ch.257
47. In the _Somadeva_ a story is related of a Buddhist ascetic whose eye Ch.258
47. It is related in the New Testament that Jesus said: "If Ch.259
48. When Buddha was about to become an ascetic, and when riding on the Ch.260
48. When Jesus was entering Jerusalem, riding on an ass, his Ch.261
CHAPTER XXX. Ch.262
1. "But as the benefit of Initiation was great, such as were convicted Ch.263
1. "For as the benefit is great, if, with a true penitent Ch.264
2. "At their entrance, purifying themselves, by washing their hands in Ch.265
2. See the fonts of _holy water_ at the entrance of every Ch.266
3. "The priests who officiated in these sacred solemnities, were called Ch.267
3. The priests who officiate at these Christian solemnities Ch.268
4. The Pagan Priest dismissed their congregation with these words: Ch.269
4. The Christian priests dismiss their congregation with these Ch.270
CHAPTER XXXI. Ch.271
CHAPTER XXXII. Ch.272
CHAPTER XXXIII. Ch.273
CHAPTER XXXIV. Ch.274
10. His words are as follows: Ch.275
CHAPTER XXXV. Ch.276
886. Taylor's Diegesis and Reber's Christ of Paul.) Ch.277
CHAPTER XXXVI. Ch.278
1. I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth: Ch.279
1. I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and Ch.280
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Ch.281
4. Suffered under (whom it might be), was crucified, dead, and Ch.282
7. He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Ch.283
7. He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of Ch.284
8. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the Ch.285
12. The resurrection of the body; and the life Ch.286
1. To Mercury and Minerva, Tutelary Gods. Ch.287
3. To the Divinity of Mercury the Availing, the Powerful, the Ch.288
3. To the Divinity of St. George the Availing, the Powerful, Ch.289
4. Sacred to the presiding helpers, St. George and St. Ch.290
6. The Mystical Letters I. H. S.[397:2] Ch.291
5. Drink no wine. Ch.292
12. Quoted in Taylor's Diegesis, p. 42.) Ch.293
CHAPTER XXXVII. Ch.294
1. _For the perpetuation of knowledge._ Orders were given to the chief Ch.295
2. _For the increase of knowledge._ One of the chief objects of the Ch.296
3. _For the diffusion of knowledge._ In the museum was given, by Ch.297
414. In Athens itself philosophy awaited its doom. Justinian at length Ch.298
1. That, "orders were given to the chief librarian to buy at the king's Ch.299
2. That, "one of the chief objects of the museum was that of serving as Ch.300
3. That, "any books brought by foreigners into Egypt were taken at once Ch.301
4. That, "there flocked to this great intellectual centre students from Ch.302
5. That, "the Christian church received from it some of the most eminent Ch.303
6. That, the chief doctrines of the Gnostic Christians "had been held Ch.304
7. That, "the College of ESSENES at Ephesus, the Orphics of Thrace, the Ch.305
8. That, "_the introduction of Buddhism into Egypt and Palestine Ch.306
9. That, "_Buddhism_ had actually been planted in the dominions of the Ch.307
10. That, "it is very likely that the commentaries (Scriptures) which Ch.308
11. That, "the principal doctrines and rites of the _Essenes_ can be Ch.309
12. That, "among the doctrines which the _Essenes_ and _Buddhists_ had Ch.310
13. That, "they (the _Essenes_) had a flourishing university or Ch.311
14. That, "the _very ancient_ and Eastern doctrine of the Ch.312
15. That, "we hear very little of them (the _Essenes_) after A. D. 40; Ch.313
CHAPTER XXXVIII. Ch.314
CHAPTER XXXIX. Ch.315
1. _The birth of Christ Jesus_ is said to have taken place at _early Ch.316
2. _Christ Jesus was born of a Virgin._ In this respect he is also the Ch.317
3. _His birth was foretold by a star._ This is the bright _morning Ch.318
4. _The Heavenly Host sang praises._ All nature smiles at the birth of Ch.319
5. _He was visited by the Magi._ This is very natural, for the Magi were Ch.320
6. _He was born in a Cave._ In this respect also, the history of Ch.321
6. _He was ordered to be put to death._ All the Sun-gods are fated to Ch.322
7. _He was tempted by the devil._ The temptation by, and victory over Ch.323
8. _He was put to death on the cross._ The Sun has now reached his Ch.324
Chapter XII. we saw that several illustrious females were believed to Ch.325
9. "_And many women were there beholding afar off._"[493:3] The tender Ch.326
10. "_There was darkness all over the land._"[494:5] In the same manner Ch.327
11. "_He descended into hell._"[494:8] This is the _Sun's_ descent into Ch.328
12. _He rose again from the dead, and ascended into heaven._ Ch.329
13. _Christ Jesus is Creator of all things._ We have seen (in Chapter Ch.330
14. _He is to be Judge of the quick and the dead._ Who is better able Ch.331
15. _He will come again sitting on a white horse._ The "second coming" Ch.332
CHAPTER XL. Ch.333
1. This Paul owns himself a _deacon_, the lowest ecclesiastical grade Ch.334
2. The Gospel of which these Epistles speak, had been extensively Ch.335
book xviii. ch. ii. 3.) Ch.336
1. It was never quoted by any of our Christian ancestors Ch.337
2. Josephus has nowhere else mentioned the name or word Ch.338
5. It is _not_ quoted by Chrysostom,[564:5] though he often Ch.339
6. It is _not_ quoted by Photius, though he has three articles Ch.340
7. Under the article _Justus of Tiberius_, this author Ch.341
8. Neither Justin, in his dialogue with Typho the Jew, nor Ch.342
9. But, on the contrary, Origen openly affirms (ch. xxxv., bk. Ch.343
1. This passage, which would have served the purpose of Christian Ch.344
2. It is not quoted by Tertullian, though he had read and largely quotes Ch.345
3. And though his argument immediately called for the use of this Ch.346
4. This Father has spoken of Tacitus in a way that it is absolutely Ch.347
5. It is not quoted by Clemens Alexandrinus, _who set himself entirely Ch.348
6. It has been nowhere stumbled upon by the laborious and all-seeking Ch.349
7. Tacitus has in no other part of his writings made the least allusion Ch.350
8. The use of this passage as part of the evidences of the Christian Ch.351
9. There is no vestige nor trace of its existence anywhere in the world Ch.352
10. No reference whatever is made to this passage by any writer or Ch.353
11. The interpolator of the passage makes Tacitus speak of "_Christ_," Ch.354
12. The word "_Christ_" is _not a name_, but a TITLE;[567:2] it being Ch.355
13. When Tacitus is made to speak of Jesus as "Christ," it is equivalent Ch.356
15. Tacitus is also made to say that the _Christians_ had their Ch.357
16. "The disciples were _called_ Christians first at Antioch" (Acts xi. Ch.358
17. The worshipers of the Sun-god, _Serapis_, were also called Ch.359
6. _He was ordered to be put to death._ Ch.360