Customer Reviews

Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings (Seastone Series)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I doubt that "Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings" will convert many Christians to Buddhism or Buddhists to Christianity. I hope that it will help to build tolerance between the two religions, which is what I believe is the author's intent. "Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings" shows that there are many similarities between the teachings of Jesus and Buddha. Both were great spokesmen for compassion and nonviolence. However, by focusing on the similarities between the teachings of Jesus and Buddha, this book might be somewhat naïve about the differences between Christianity and Buddhism. A couple of reviewers have pointed to "John 14:6 'I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by me.'" The reviewers appear to be using the inherent intolerance of this teaching as a selling point for Christianity. For me it was the intolerance of such biblical scriptures that drove me away from Christianity, the religion that I was raised with and that I once strongly believed in. I could not reconcile how such teachings can be of a loving or just god so I eventually reached the point where I could no longer believe in or worship that god. I then gradually started searching for another belief system. Because of both the similarities AND the differences, Buddhism had a naturally strong appeal to me. Buddha's teachings against attachment, even to his own teachings, are especially appealing to me. Perhaps Jesus was actually speaking against attachments to biblical scriptures when he said "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by me." Perhaps he was saying that only his words were the true words of God and telling his followers not to allow them selves to become attached to biblical scriptures that preceded him or may follow him (i.e.: some have argued that Paul was a corruptor of Jesus' teachings). Unfortunately, if that is what Jesus meant, many Christians do the opposite. They attach to biblical scriptures that allow them to chastise the sins of others and let go of Jesus' teachings. This is especially true of his teachings that interfere with worldly profits, egos or vengeance (i.e.: "that which has Caesar on it belongs to Caesar", "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the gates of heaven", "remove the log from your eye before pointing out the splinter in your neighbors", "let he who is without sin cast the first stone", "if someone strikes you, turn the other cheek", etc.). Regardless of how Jesus may have meant "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by me", it is most often used as a teaching of intolerance toward other belief systems. Books like "Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings", "Living Buddha, Living Christ", "Spiritual Advice For Buddhists And Christians" and "The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus" might help build tolerance between the two religions. That is why I am giving "Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings" five stars. Unfortunately, such books cannot change the inherent intolerance of some biblical scriptures. That makes the task of these books much more difficult.

I truly enjoyed this book. It kind of saddens me to read all the negative reviews about it, because they have only come from Christians who think that this book is supposed to reveal some kind of universal "truth". All this book is trying to do is relate to people how the two religions are so similar in what they are trying to attain, and what their key figures taught and said.
All this stuff about Christianity having the true God is nonsense, because it shows an ignorance of Buddhism. Buddha never once concerned himself with metaphysical matters, and none of Buddhism confuses itself with the invisible world that we cannot prove beyond earthly concepts. That's not to say that Buddhists don't believe in God. It's just a practical religion that says that you can end suffering, and the dependence on something else (like a belief structure and doctrines) in order to do so will never truly end your suffering. It's food for thought, and this book for me was the perfect gateway into this intellectual freedom. That's what's great about this book, the words and concepts are there, but feeling and message are up to the reader. It certainly does a good job of bridging a gap between two misunderstood faiths.

Located on this book's pages are some amazingly similar sayings that will leave you hungry to learn more about both Buddhism and Christianity. Edited by Marcus Borg, in the preface he states that "If the Buddha and Jesus were to meet, neither would try to convert the other-not because they would regard such an effort as hopeless, but because they would recognize each other." I believe after reading this book that you will feel the same way!

Striking similarities start with the book's very first set of sayings... "Do to others as you would have them do to you", attributed to Jesus and "Consider others as yourself", attributed to Buddha. Throughout the book the parallels are amazing up to and including the very last set... "Then Jesus cried again with a load voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split", and "At the Blessed Lord's final passing there was a great earthquake, terrible and hair-raising, accompanied by thunder".

The book begins with some discussion about why these two great religious figures may have such similar stories and sayings, but I would have liked to see the author expand on that more. The book is basically just side by side comparisons of similar quotes and concepts and it is up to the reader to form his own conclusions as to why they are so much alike.

All in all this is a worthwhile and easy read... a definate recommend to anyone interested in religion or philosophy.

This book was one to which I was looking for great amounts of information and comparative studies between the sayings of Jesus and the Buddha. What I received was a beatiful little book with one verse or set of verses from the Christian scripture on one page and a verse from a sutra on the opposite page......that's it!!! No scholarly discussion, no commentary, no historical information.....nothing else but the two "versions" of the same saying. This reads more like a Hazelton daily meditation book than an academic comparison between the sayings of [perhaps] two of the greatest, most influential, and well known prophets of recorded history (the other being Muhammad). This is a cute little book to keep in the bathroom or on your bed-side table. It is NOT an academic or scholarly comparison of the Parellal Sayings of Jesus and the Buddha. 1 star for cuteness, 1 star for context, no stars for scholarship.

This lovely book works beautifully as a meditation aid, or for those searching for the essence of two of the world's great faiths, Christianity and Buddhism. It is astonishing to discover just how much the two religious leaders had in common, just how universal certain core truths really are.

One minor quibble, however: I am not sure how our Islamic sisters and brothers would feel hearing Jesus and Buddha being described as *the* two greatest religious figures of human history. Surely, Muhammed must be up there as well? Nonetheless, this book is fascinating and excellent reading for contemplation.

If you are seeking a great academic comparison of the Buddha and the Christ, look elsewhere. If you are seeking devotional material, this book will disappoint you. If, however, you are interested in a beginner's reference guide outlining a few of the parallel teachings of Buddhism and Christianity, you might be interested in this book.

Oddly enough, the Introduction and Editor's Preface are at least as stimulating as the text itself. If you decide to read this book, you may wish to pay particular attention to those first few pages.

WARNING: All seeking instant gratification will be severley dissapointed. All others, prepare to think. This book is short on words- besides Borg's 17-page preface, 8-page summary on parallel lives, and the one-page introductions to each chapter, each page contains just one primary-source passage, and no analysis. The analysis is left up to the reader, as I believe Borg intended, and I found that very rewarding. I was raised in (and rebeled against) a very Catholic environment. Most who read this book do so to become comfortable and accepting of Buddhism, for me it was just the opposite. I've found that a religion I have resented so much (Christianity) is infact very similar to a religion I have always respected (Buddhism). However, I feel that you can only get as much out of this book as you put into it. Every reader will be enlightened in a different way, and learn different things about themselves and whatever faith they personally prescribe to. I would say this book is a perfect read for people of every religious background. It can serve as a pick-me-up "I need a faith-booster", and also a lying-down-before-bedtime quick read. And finally, it's one of those great reads that is just as good, and shows you just as much, every time you read it.

I was raised Christian and have long practiced vipassana meditation and follow many of the non-dogmatic principles of Buddhism, so I have had many moments of cross-cultural epiphany, over the years, in which Buddhism and Christianity confirm each other. So I browsed this book with real pleasure. The side-by-side quotes often achieve a greater depth of significance than they tend to on their own, and I feel a growing sense of the universality of the basic tenets of both traditions. Whether Jesus actually came into contact with Buddhism before the age of 30 may be impossible to determine, but, as I see it, he at least had access, through insight, to the fundmantal rightness of compassion as a path, and oneness as the goal. I find the book well-conceived, lucid, approachable, and beautifully designed, too.

It is also interesting to note that this format unexpectedly foregrounds the difference between principles and mere cultural accretions. In this light, ritual practice, questions of authority and lineage, orthodoxies of all kinds, and all the other culturally-determined trappings of religion-as-practiced can be easily shucked off to reveal the "heart of the lotus" [the "plain and simple truths"] within. In this sense, the fundamental priciples of each tradition serve as a sort of Bessamer furnace for the other, ridding it of the unnecessary and increasing its universal appeal at once. Quite a brilliant idea, and well done.

This little book, in its utter simplicity, says much more than a scholarly text ever could. The parallel sayings mutually inform each other, broadening and deepening the message of each. The design presents profound teachings in a simple, direct and highly accessible manner-uncluttered with intrusive rational discussion. Like good poetry, its profundity is in its silence.

I've often been struck on how similar all the Salvationist religions seem to be. It's unfortunate that most of the world chooses to ignore the similarities and instead wishes to hate each other based on doctrinal differences. Just look at the current Middle Eastern situation. No doubt there are many points of difference but it appears that all the major world religions share many common points as well.

This little book is a nice reminder of how the moral and ethical systems of all major world religions run sort of parallel to each other when compared. For instance, in Buddhism as well as Christianity there are admonishments such as: do unto others as you would want them to do to you, practice compassion, contentment, do not worry about material riches, practice kindness and so forth.

In this book each chapter starts with a short commentary on the material that will follow. These are divided into headings like compassion, wisdom, salvation, etc. Then on opposite sides of the pages sayings of Jesus are put up against sayings of the Buddha. These sayings sit alone on the white page so you can read them slowly and savor them. Many people in America are probably pretty familiar with the messages of Jesus but will be surprised to find many of the Buddha's teaching use parables like we find with Jesus and contain the same messages that we find in Christianity.

Some people have bashed this book for its supposed lack of great scholarship. I believe these people are missing the point. The point of this book is to emphasize the universal element that all experiences of the sacred seem to promote. It doesn't matter if you are studying mystical Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism or Christianity-they all point to the same Truth. That is, the untalkable, unthinkable Beingness that everything comes from and is a part of. Call it Godhead or God but it's the nonduality and Oneness of everything. It makes no difference if these sayings actually came from a real person with the title of Buddha or not. What matters is the path to freedom and liberation that they express. Does not being a work of great scholarship detract from the value people can gain by reading these sayings?

For these reasons I highly recommend the book. Anyone can pick it up and read these little quips and experience a better mood right off. What greater source of inspiration and enlightenment than to read sayings from two of the greatest men that ever lived and their commitment to serve and better humanity all of their lives? Their timeless messages and teachings will continue to live on and change those that embrace them.