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Could Jesus be compared to Buddha in this sense and in this sense alone: Buddha ignored the laws that the Vedas prescribed in order to be the ideal human. There are many. He did not preach so much about breaking laws but showed the way to be free of bondage and suffering, that liberation did not lie so much in the observing of Vedic laws as in one’s own actions and intent.
It seems to me, Jesus similarly was teaching a different way of being. Not so much as to offend Judaism but to show the way to a spiritual connection with the cosmos.
I welcome your thoughts.
Could Jesus be compared to Buddha in this sense and in this sense alone: Buddha ignored the laws that the Vedas prescribed in order to be the ideal human. There are many. He did not preach so much about breaking laws but showed the way to be free of bondage and suffering, that liberation did not lie so much in the observing of Vedic laws as in one’s own actions and intent.
It seems to me, Jesus similarly was teaching a different way of being. Not so much as to offend Judaism but to show the way to a spiritual connection with the cosmos.
I welcome your thoughts.
I see Jesus as the Maitreya that Buddha (some 500 years before Jesus's birth) predicted would arise as the PERFECT manifestation of Maitri (Agape love?).
Could Jesus be compared to Buddha in this sense and in this sense alone: Buddha ignored the laws that the Vedas prescribed in order to be the ideal human. There are many. He did not preach so much about breaking laws but showed the way to be free of bondage and suffering, that liberation did not lie so much in the observing of Vedic laws as in one’s own actions and intent.
It seems to me, Jesus similarly was teaching a different way of being. Not so much as to offend Judaism but to show the way to a spiritual connection with the cosmos.
I welcome your thoughts.
What does the scripture say?
Matthew 5:17 - Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
So here, Jesus is saying he is not abolishing the law, the contract, the Old Testament, he is saying he is here to fulfill it, as in to honor a contract, to follow it.
Matthew 5:18 - For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Here Jesus is saying to follow all of the OT laws, every single last one, including diet and circumcision; always, until heaven and earth disappear.
Matthew 5:19 - Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Here is an attack on Paul, who said the law must be followed except for the diet and circumcision laws, and also said he was the least of the apostles (using the same word).
In the same chapter of Matthew, Jesus also talks about the law, but then adds to them, so not only is murder wrong, being angry is also wrong; and calling someone a fool will put that person in danger of being punished in the fire of Hell.
A little later, he reminds people about the law on adultery, but then adds that even thinking sexually about another woman is adultery. Presumably because she is innocent in this thought crime, only he should have his crushed by rocks.
So Jesus and Buddha appear to not be following the same ideals.
Matthew 5:17 - Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
So here, Jesus is saying he is not abolishing the law, the contract, the Old Testament, he is saying he is here to fulfill it, as in to honor a contract, to follow it.
Matthew 5:18 - For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Here Jesus is saying to follow all of the OT laws, every single last one, including diet and circumcision; always, until heaven and earth disappear.
Matthew 5:19 - Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Here is an attack on Paul, who said the law must be followed except for the diet and circumcision laws, and also said he was the least of the apostles (using the same word).
In the same chapter of Matthew, Jesus also talks about the law, but then adds to them, so not only is murder wrong, being angry is also wrong; and calling someone a fool will put that person in danger of being punished in the fire of Hell.
A little later, he reminds people about the law on adultery, but then adds that even thinking sexually about another woman is adultery. Presumably because she is innocent in this thought crime, only he should have his crushed by rocks.
So Jesus and Buddha appear to not be following the same ideals.
You are not relying on what Jesus said. You are relying on what our ancestors THOUGHT He said and meant. As the ultimate pragmatist, you have to recognize that the "laws" were attempts to provide very "carnal minds" with practical guidelines for developing the proper spiritual state of mind. It is our spiritual state of mind that determines our spiritual status, NOT our carnal or worldly obedience to laws.
You are not relying on what Jesus said. You are relying on what our ancestors THOUGHT He said and meant. As the ultimate pragmatist, you have to recognize that the "laws" were attempts to provide very "carnal minds" with practical guidelines for developing the proper spiritual state of mind. It is our spiritual state of mind that determines our spiritual status, NOT our carnal or worldly obedience to laws.
Good point Mystic. Jesus’ actions don’t follow certain laws. He acted with compassion and wisdom and without fear. His words “turn the other cheek” is very powerful. as is the thing about the needle and the camel. Are these not new ways of thinking about what laws to follow?
Good point Mystic. Jesus’ actions don’t follow certain laws. He acted with compassion and wisdom and without fear. His words “turn the other cheek” is very powerful. as is the thing about the needle and the camel. Are these not new ways of thinking about what laws to follow?
Yes, good point, Mystic, we can not take the alleged eyewitness account literally, let us take it literally. I have become dizzy with the eye rolling.
Could Jesus be compared to Buddha in this sense and in this sense alone: Buddha ignored the laws that the Vedas prescribed in order to be the ideal human. There are many. He did not preach so much about breaking laws but showed the way to be free of bondage and suffering, that liberation did not lie so much in the observing of Vedic laws as in one’s own actions and intent.
It seems to me, Jesus similarly was teaching a different way of being. Not so much as to offend Judaism but to show the way to a spiritual connection with the cosmos.
I welcome your thoughts.
In the sense that he taught to ignore human-made rules, sure. But no, Jesus was not teaching "a way to a spiritual connection with the cosmos". He taught a way to have peace with God, the Creator of the cosmos.
Jesus fully believed the OT and did not view the OT commandments and laws as human-made. His point was more that there are higher principles of love, justice, mercy and compassion that may be violated by strict and slavish adherence to the letter of the commandments and laws. This is why "love God" and "love your neighbor" are the two transcendent guiding principles through which the other laws and commandments must be filtered. Not a different way of being but a closer connection to the reality of God.
Jesus fully believed the OT and did not view the OT commandments and laws as human-made. His point was more that there are higher principles of love, justice, mercy and compassion that may be violated by strict and slavish adherence to the letter of the commandments and laws. This is why "love God" and "love your neighbor" are the two transcendent guiding principles through which the other laws and commandments must be filtered. Not a different way of being but a closer connection to the reality of God.
The bold is what is meant by the letter versus the Spirit of the laws. Our ancestors insisted on the "strict and slavish adherence" to commandments and apparently so have most Christians.
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