| Parallel Beginnings | |
|---|---|
| God | the Unconditioned |
| Heaven | Nirvana |
| Jesus (Yeshua of Nazareth) | Gautama (Siddartha Gautama) |
| Jewish founder of Christianity | Hindu founder of Buddhism |
| virgin birth account | virgin birth account |
| tempted by Satan | tempted by Mara |
| Good News of the Kingdom of God | the Dharma (law) of Liberation |
| Sermon on the Mount | Sermon of "Turning the Wheel of Dharma" |
| taught in parables | taught in parables |
| Feet kissed by Mary Magdalene | Feet kissed by Pasanedi |
| Betrayed by Judas | Betrayed by Devadatta |
| Crucified | possibly poisoned |
| Ascension | Parinirvana |
| the Anointed One (Messiah, Christ) | the Awakened One (Buddha, Enlightened) |
| Savior | Bodhisattva |
| Parallel developments | |
| the Church | the Sangha |
| Gospels | Sutras |
| Bible | Tripitaka, Prajna Paramita, and many other writings |
| Apostolic succession | Lineage of dharma transmission |
| Faith promoted 300 years later by Emperor Constantine | Faith promoted 300 years later by Emperor Ashoka |
| Church councils | Buddhist councils |
| missionaries | missionaries |
| monasteries | monasteries |
| After flourishing in the Middle East, now a minority religion in area of its birth | After flourishing in India, now a minority religion in area of its birth |
| Parallel Paths | |
| agape (spiritual love) | maitri (lovingkindness) |
| the world | samsara |
| Purification (Purgatory) | Rebirth (Reincarnation) |
| hell | hell realms |
| imago Dei (image of God) | Buddha-nature |
| Christ within you | Realizing your Buddha-nature |
| Theosis/Deification | Awakening, Enlightenment |
| the Way | the Dharma |
| chant | chant |
prayer candles
| prayer flags |
| saints | buddhas, bodhisattvas |
| angels | devas |
| demons | demons |
| relics | relics |
| Shroud of Turin | Buddha's Tooth |
| Four Spiritual Laws | Four Noble Truths |
| 10 Commandments | Eightfold Path |
| rosaries | rosaries (malas) |
| icons | icons (thangkas) |
| statues | statues |
| the "Jesus Prayer" | nembutsu |
| Sign of the Cross | Taking Refuge |
| contemplation | meditation |
| New Jerusalem | Western Paradise |
| sin | dukkha(unsatisfactoriness) |
| Parallel Schools??? | |
| Eastern Orthodoxy (teachings of the Church Fathers) | Theravada (teachings of the Elders) |
| devotional Catholicism (saints, Heaven) | Kwan Yin, Amitabha, Pure Land (enlightened beings, Paradise) |
| Mysticism (direct experience of God) | Zen (direct experience of the Ultimate) |
| Protestantism (Scripture and salvation) | Nichiren, Pure Land (Scripture and salvation) |
| Charismatic / Pentecostal (enthusiasm) | Vajrayana (enthusiasm) |
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Buddhist-Christian Parallels
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