jesus's buddhist journey

Exploring Spirituality: Did Jesus Study Buddhism?

Did Jesus, the central figure of Christianity, have any connections to Buddhism? It may seem like an unlikely question, given the stark differences between the two religious traditions. However, there are intriguing similarities between the teachings of Jesus and Buddha that have piqued the curiosity of scholars. Is there a hidden link waiting to be discovered? Let’s delve into the potential intersections between Jesus and Buddhism to uncover a fascinating spiritual journey.

Key Takeaways

• There are striking similarities between the teachings of Jesus and Buddha.
• Both figures emphasized inner transformation and the pursuit of enlightenment.
• Buddhism had already spread across Asia during Jesus’ time.
• While there is no definitive evidence of direct influence, scholars have identified parallels in their teachings.
• Exploring the connections between Jesus and Buddhism offers insights into universal spiritual truths.

The Teachings of Jesus and Buddha

Both Jesus and Buddha emphasized the importance of inner transformation and the pursuit of enlightenment. Jesus taught about love, compassion, forgiveness, and the kingdom of God, while Buddha focused on the nature of suffering and the path to liberation from it. Both teachings share a common emphasis on inner peace, selflessness, and the awakening of humanity.

Similarities in Teachings

Jesus and Buddha shared profound insights that resonate with people across cultures and generations. Here are a few essential similarities between their teachings:

• Love and Compassion: Both Jesus and Buddha emphasized the power of love and compassion in transforming lives. Jesus preached about loving one’s neighbor and even loving one’s enemies, while Buddha spoke of metta, the practice of unconditional love and benevolence towards all beings.
• Inner Peace: Jesus and Buddha both emphasized the attainment of inner peace as essential for spiritual growth and well-being. Jesus taught that blessed are the peacemakers, while Buddha focused on the cultivation of peace within oneself through meditation and mindfulness.
• Selflessness: Both Jesus and Buddha emphasized the importance of selflessness and the transcendence of egoic desires. Jesus taught that those who lose their lives for his sake will find true life, while Buddha spoke of the ultimate liberation that comes from letting go of attachments and the illusion of a separate self.
• Divine Nature: Jesus and Buddha both highlighted the divine nature within individuals. Jesus referred to the kingdom of God within, while Buddha spoke of the inherent Buddha-nature present in all beings, waiting to be realized.

By exploring these shared teachings, we can gain a deeper understanding of spiritual truths that transcend religious boundaries. The convergence of Jesus and Buddha’s teachings offers profound wisdom for personal growth, inner harmony, and the betterment of humanity as a whole.

Historical Context: Buddhism in Jesus’ Time

During the time of Jesus’ life, Buddhism had already spread across parts of Asia, including India, where Buddha lived and taught. It is possible that Buddhist ideas and teachings could have reached the regions where Jesus lived. Understanding the historical context of Jesus’ time provides insights into the potential interactions between different spiritual traditions.

As Jesus embarked on his spiritual journey, the world around him was undergoing diverse religious and philosophical developments. In this section, we’ll explore the historical background of Buddhism during Jesus’ time, offering a glimpse into the possible influences and intersections that may have shaped his teachings.

Examining the historical context helps us appreciate the global interconnectedness of spiritual traditions. It sheds light on the rich tapestry of ideas present during Jesus’ time, allowing us to explore the potential parallels and influences between his teachings and the philosophical currents of Buddhism.

As we move forward, we’ll delve deeper into the connections between Jesus and Buddha, seeking to uncover the universal truths that transcend time, culture, and individual belief systems.

Connections between Jesus and Buddhism

While there is no definitive evidence of direct influence between Jesus and Buddhism, scholars have identified several similarities between their teachings. Both emphasized the importance of selflessness , inner transformation , and the concept of divine nature within individuals.

The parallel teachings of Jesus and Buddha suggest a shared understanding of universal spiritual truths. Although their historical contexts and cultural backgrounds differ, their messages converge on the fundamental principles of love, compassion, and enlightenment.

The Shared Teachings

Jesus’ emphasis on selflessness is reflected in his teachings about loving one’s neighbor as oneself and turning the other cheek in response to violence. Similarly, Buddha advocated for compassion towards all living beings and the development of altruistic qualities.

Both Jesus and Buddha sought to guide individuals towards inner transformation . Jesus encouraged his followers to cultivate a pure heart and practice forgiveness, while Buddha taught the importance of mindfulness and self-reflection to achieve personal growth.

Furthermore, Jesus and Buddha both recognized the divine nature within individuals. Jesus referred to humanity’s potential to embody the kingdom of God within themselves, while Buddha emphasized the awakening of one’s true nature and the realization of enlightenment.

A Visual Representation of the Similarities

Image: A visual representation of the similarities between Jesus and Buddha.

Although Jesus and Buddha lived in different times and cultural contexts, their teachings align in remarkable ways. The universality of their messages invites individuals to reflect on the shared wisdom and embrace the principles of selflessness, inner transformation, and the recognition of divine nature within themselves.

The Impact of Buddhism’s Teachings

Buddhism’s teachings have had a profound impact on individuals and societies worldwide. Through principles such as mindfulness and compassion, Buddhism offers valuable insights and practices that address modern challenges and promote personal and societal well-being.

Mindfulness, a core concept in Buddhism, encourages individuals to be fully present in the current moment, fostering self-awareness and a deeper understanding of one’s thoughts, emotions, and actions. This practice has gained significant recognition in recent years, as scientific research highlights its potential in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.

By cultivating mindfulness, individuals can develop a greater sense of clarity, focus, and resilience in facing the complexities of modern life. It enables them to navigate challenges and find inner peace amidst the chaotic nature of the world we live in. Through mindfulness practices like meditation and breath awareness, Buddhism provides practical tools to enhance mental well-being and promote a balanced approach to daily life.

Compassion, another fundamental teaching of Buddhism, encourages individuals to extend kindness, understanding, and empathy to oneself and others. In a world marked by division and conflict, the cultivation of compassion becomes an essential tool for fostering harmony and interconnectedness.

Research indicates that practicing compassion can enhance emotional well-being, improve social relationships, and even benefit physical health. By developing a compassionate outlook, individuals can contribute to creating a more compassionate society, addressing issues such as inequality, discrimination, and violence.

Buddhism’s teachings on mindfulness and compassion provide practical guidance for individuals seeking to navigate the challenges of the modern world with greater resilience, empathy, and peace of mind. These teachings have the potential to transform not only individual lives but also entire societies, emphasizing the profound impact spirituality can have on addressing contemporary issues.

Exploring spirituality and uncovering the similarities between the teachings of Jesus and Buddha can be a transformative journey. Both spiritual leaders emphasized the significance of inner transformation, selflessness, and compassion as pathways to enlightenment. By delving into these connections, we can gain a deeper understanding of universal truths and the potential for harmony among diverse spiritual traditions.

Although it remains speculative whether Jesus studied Buddhism, the parallels between their teachings highlight the shared wisdom and timeless principles that transcend religious boundaries. Both Jesus and Buddha beckon us to awaken to our divine nature, inspiring us to cultivate love, compassion, and forgiveness in our lives.

By embracing the insights from Jesus and Buddha, we can embark on a spiritual quest that transcends religious dogma and fosters a greater appreciation for the interconnectedness of all beings. Exploring spirituality in this way invites us to expand our consciousness, engage in self-reflection, and cultivate a more compassionate and meaningful existence.

Did Jesus study Buddhism?

There is no definitive evidence that Jesus studied Buddhism. However, some scholars propose a potential connection between Jesus and Buddhism, suggesting that he may have been influenced by Buddhist teachings.

What are the similarities between the teachings of Jesus and Buddha?

Both Jesus and Buddha emphasized the importance of inner transformation, selflessness, and compassion. They both taught about the awakening of humanity, the pursuit of enlightenment, and the importance of love and forgiveness.

What was the historical context of Buddhism during Jesus’ time?

Buddhism had already spread across parts of Asia, including India, where Buddha lived and taught, during the time of Jesus’ life. It is possible that Buddhist ideas and teachings could have reached the regions where Jesus lived.

Was Jesus influenced by Buddhism?

While there is no definitive evidence of direct influence, scholars have identified similarities between the teachings of Jesus and Buddha. These similarities suggest a shared understanding of universal spiritual truths.

What impact have Buddhism’s teachings had on individuals and societies?

Buddhism’s teachings, including mindfulness and compassion, have had a significant impact on individuals and societies worldwide. These teachings offer insights into personal and societal harmony, addressing modern challenges such as stress, anxiety, and conflicts.

What can exploring the connections between Jesus and Buddhism teach us about spirituality?

Exploring the similarities between the teachings of Jesus and Buddha can deepen our understanding of spirituality and universal truths. Both figures offered guidance on inner transformation, selflessness, and compassion, inviting individuals to awaken to their divine nature.

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BBC Documentary: Jesus Was A Buddhist Monk (Accounts For The ‘Missing Years’)

A thought-provoking documentary suggests Jesus Christ — a Jewish preacher and religious leader who became the central figure of Christianity — was a Buddhist Monk. The documentary indicates that Jesus was not crucified and that he spent decades travelling and was ultimately laid to rest after His death at the Roza Bal Shrine located in Srinagar, Kashmir.

Mostly based on the gaping holes in Jesus’ life — between the ages of 13 and 29 — research suggests that the reason why there is no Biblical record of the whereabouts of Jesus is that he was greatly influenced by Buddhism.

A documentary aired by the BBC indicates that Jesus Christ was NOT crucified and that he was a Buddhist monk. The intriguing documentary asks countless questions that many have refused to answer. As noted in the documentary, the story of Christianity features the most famous name in history, as well as the most famous event in history, the crucifixion.

For some or even many true believers, the fact that Jesus was crucified, died, rose again and ascended into heaven can be considered as definitive truth.

However, throughout history, many have questioned these events. Would a man — Jesus — die after only six hours on the cross? Was he drugged? And what really occurred in the Sepulcher, and if Jesus did not ascend into heaven, then where did the central figure of Christianity go?

For many authors these questions risk undermining the entire idea behind Christianity and are extremely controversial. The most crucial part of the story behind Jesus Christ — which all Christians faithfully believe — is the ‘idea’ that Jesus Christ rose from the dead — the resurrection, the primary story of the heart of Christianity.

Long story short, the documentary questions the life of Jesus and asks numerous controversial questions about life, was Jesus excommunicated, and did he flee to the Himalayas?

According to the documentary, Jesus spent years teaching in various, distant holy cities like Jagannath, Rajagriha and Benares, and He eventually fled to the Himalayas, where He continued his studies in Buddhism. Many authors, including a German scholar by the name of Holger Kersten, wrote about Jesus and his life suggesting that He had settled in Sindh, among the Aryans.

The documentary aired by the BBC suggests that Jesus fled and escaped death to Afghanistan with several Jewish settlers. Local stories seem to confirm the theory suggesting that Jesus spent years in the Kashmir Valley and remained there until He died at the age of 80.

The Lost Years Of Jesus

The lost years of Jesus (or dark years) refer to the undocumented period between the infancy of Jesus and the beginning of his ministry according to the New Testament.

The Gospels relate the birth of Jesus, and the subsequent trip to Egypt to escape the fury of Herod (Matthew 2: 13-23). There is a general reference to Mary and the young Jesus living in Nazareth (2:23 Matthew, Luke 2: 39-40). There is also an isolated account of the visit of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to the city of Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover when Jesus was twelve years old (Luke 2: 41-50).

However, after this, there is a gap in history that covers eighteen years in the life of Christ (from 12 to 30 years). Apart from the generic allusion that Jesus was advancing in wisdom, stature, and in the favor of God and man (Luke 2:52), the Bible says nothing more about the life of Jesus during this period of time. A common assumption among Christians is that Jesus simply lived in Nazareth during that period.

Interestingly, authors Gruber and Kersten (1995) also claim that Buddhism had a substantial influence on the life and teachings of Jesus. The authors claim that Jesus was influenced by the teachings and practices of the “Therapists” described by the authors as teachers of the Theravada Buddhist School which were established in Judea.

Gruber and Kersten assert that Jesus lived the life of an ideal Buddhist and taught Buddhism to his disciples. Their work follows in the footsteps of Oxford New Testament scholar Barnett Hillman Streeter, who established in the 1930s that the moral teaching of Buddha has four striking resemblances to the Sermon on the Mount — a collection of sayings and teachings credited to Jesus, which emphasizes his moral teaching found in the Gospel of Matthew (chapters 5, 6, and 7).

The Sermon is the longest continuous section of Jesus speaking found in the New Testament and has been one of the most widely quoted elements of the Canonical Gospels. Many scholars believe that Jesus may have been inspired by the Buddhist religion and that the Gospel of Thomas and many manuscript texts found in Nag Hammadi, Egypt, reflect this possibility.

Books like The Agnostic and Beyond Beliefs: The Secret Gospel of Thomas by Elaine Pagels and The Original Jesus by Gruber and Kersten discuss these theories. Interestingly, in 1887 Russian author Nicholas Notovitch visited India and Tibet. He stated that in the monastery of Hemis Ladakh he heard of a manuscript on the “Life of Saint Issa, the Best of the Sons of Men.”

Issa is the Arabic name of Jesus.

Its history, together with a text translated from the “Life of Saint Issa”, was published in French in 1894 under the name “The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ”, and subsequently translated into English, German, Spanish, and Italian.

Check out the documentary  and let us know what you think:

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About the Fourth R

This Editorial was published in the Fourth R, Westar's bi-monthly Magazine . First published in 1987, The Fourth R shares the latest thinking from religion scholars and writers—in non-technical language aimed at a general audience.

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Jesus in Tibet

Robert m. price from the fourth r volume 14-3 may–june 2001.

Have you ever wondered how Jesus might have been occupying himself before his public appearance to be baptized by John? One of the most popular guesses today is that Jesus was traveling to the Far East, specifically to Tibet in the exotic Himalayas. Is there any evidence for this astonishing claim?

Infancy Stories

Anyone who has read the various infancy gospels knows how early Christian imagination felt impelled to fill the space between Jesus' nativity and his maturity by creating a raft of divine child stories. These second- and third-century documents include infancy gospels attributed to James, to Thomas the Israelite, and to Matthew.

James covers pretty much the same territory as the infancy narratives of the canonical gospels (Matthew chapters 1 and 2; Luke chapters 1 and 2), namely the angelic annunciations of Jesus' miraculous conception and birth, visits of shepherds and wise men, and some other interesting details. For instance, the Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Savior tells us the Magi knew to come see the newborn king because Zoroastrian scripture had foretold his birth!

Thomas and Matthew major in the events of Jesus' childhood, what he might have been doing with his divine knowledge and powers before he embarked on his public ministry. In one particularly famous episode, the boy messiah makes a set of model sparrows from the clay of the brook. A member of the junior Pharisee association charges him with breaking the Sabbath commandment, so he claps his hands and brings the birds to life, whereupon they fly away chirping. Another time, some brat collides with young Jesus on the playground. Jesus gives him a dirty look and declares, "You will go no further on your way!" And the kid keels over dead. Hoping to curb this delinquent behavior, Joseph sends Jesus to a local schoolmaster. Jesus already possesses the very knowledge of God himself and thus is naturally impatient with the plodding pedantry of his teacher, who regards Jesus' own precocity as mere impudence. Hence the old man smacks Jesus with a ruler — and keels over dead. You get the picture.

The infancy gospels are all pious in a naive and superstitious way, and most of them are also pretty hilarious, reminding us how hard it is to tell when ancient writers meant to be taken literally, or even seriously. In any case, these old stories are all set before Jesus has reached age twelve, his age in Luke's story of Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:41–52). But that left the gap between age twelve and Jesus' first public appearance at around the age of thirty.

The Missing Years

Over the centuries there have been various fanciful attempts to fill in that blank as well. Legend-mongers have sent the young man Jesus to Egypt, to be initiated into ancient mysteries and magic; to Britain, with his uncle, Joseph of Arimathea (who, according to the same legends, would return there with the Holy Grail, the chalice used at the Last Supper, some years afterward); and to India, Persia and Tibet, to learn the ways of various yogis and mahatmas. In the wake of today's New Age movements, these modern Jesus legends have gained a whole new readership, one that takes the stories very seriously indeed. Those of us committed to promoting a better grasp of the historical Jesus question today usually find ourselves busy with the misconceptions of traditionally religious people, but we must not avoid the very different, and equally dubious, accounts of Jesus popular in less traditional quarters.

The infancy gospels are all pious in a naive and superstitious way, and most of them are also pretty hilarious, reminding us how hard it is to tell when ancient writers meant to be taken literally, or even seriously.

The Life of St. Issa

Of these "missing years" stories, the only one worth dealing with here is that underlying Nicholas Notovitch's Unknown Life of Jesus Christ , since this one claims an ancient documentary basis, and has its partisans even today.

In 1887 , Notovitch, a Russian Jew converted to Greek Orthodoxy and a war correspondent (possibly a spy), visited the city of Leh, capital of the district of Ladakh on the border of India and Tibet. He had a toothache and sought treatment at a Moravian mission station there. But his imagination got the better of him, and in 1894 , he wrote a book which told a new and much improved version of the story. Now it seemed he had visited the Tibetan lamasery (monastery) of Hemis (also spelled Himis). Here he mentioned folk legends he had picked up about a prophet named Issa, who sounded strikingly like Jesus (in fact, it's the Arabic for Jesus). He was informed, he said, that the Hemis monastery itself housed a two-volume manuscript called The Life of Saint Issa ! He hesitated to ask for access to the sacred book, but announced he would return. This happened sooner than expected, however, when he fell from his horse and broke his leg. Carried back to the monastery, he arranged to have Saint Issa read aloud and translated for him as he recuperated. As the story unfolded, his initial suspicions were confirmed: this could be nothing less than a hitherto-unknown chapter in the career of Jesus. He listened carefully and made copious notes. He reorganized much of the material to make it suitable for Western readers and he finally produced The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ (1894). The book created an international furor.

Müller Refutes Notovitch's Story

The book did not escape the scrutiny of scholars. For one thing, Notovitch could offer no manuscript for examination, only an excuse for lacking one (he could not take it from the monastery). The great Orientalist Max Müller, editor of the epoch-making Sacred Books of the East series of translated Eastern scriptures, took an interest in Notovitch's claims. He pointed out that such an honored work as Notovitch described would inevitably have been included in the great canon lists of Tibetan books, the Kanjur and the Tanjur — but it wasn't.

Plus, Notovitch's frame story itself smacked too much of the legendary, the fictive. For the Russian maintained that the Life of Saint Issa was first compiled when Jewish merchants, having journeyed to India, told the recent news of Jesus' fiery preaching and crucifixion in Judea. By a Dickensian stroke of luck, among the crowd of those who heard this tale just happened to be the very Asians who had themselves met Issa in India a few years before! And these people were somehow certain that this Jesus was the same as the Issa whom they had known.

Worse yet, Müller shared a letter (June 29, 1894) from an English woman who had visited Leh in Ladakh, including the Hemis lamasery, where she checked out Notovitch's story. She reported that, according to the abbot, "There is not a single word of truth in the whole story! There has been no Russian here. No one has been taken into the Seminary for the past fifty years with a broken leg! There is no life of Christ there at all!" [Goodspeed, p.11].

After Müller's attack, Notovitch began to back-pedal, changing his story in the preface of the 1895 edition. This time it seemed that there had been no single two-volume work as he had first claimed, but that he had assembled his Unknown Life from fragmentary notices scattered among many Tibetan scrolls.

The same year, Professor J. Archibald Douglas of Agra visited the Hemis monastery and interviewed the abbot, reading him Notovitch's Unknown Life . The abbot was outraged at the hoax and asked why crimes like Notovitch's fraud could not be punished! As abbot for the past fifteen years, he knew no one had been given shelter with a broken leg, and as a lama for forty-two years he could attest there was no such document as Notovitch claimed to have used . Notovitch was exposed as a fraud and that was the end of it for a while.

Other Witnesses

Swami Abhedananda (a disciple of the great Vedanta sage and mystic Ramakrishna) had read Notovitch's book and determined to find the truth of the matter. He was an admirer of Jesus but skeptical of Notovitch's account. So in 1922 he, too, traveled to Hemis. In the late 1970s in an interview with Dick and Janet Bock, his disciple Swami Prajnananda declared that his master "found the scrolls and he translated all the writings, all the life incidents of the Christ. He narrated those incidents in his book 'Kashmiri O Tibetti.'" [Bock, p. 21]. "Years afterwards he inquired but they said the scrolls were no longer there. I also requested to see the scrolls, but there is nothing. There are no scrolls. They have been removed, by whom we do not know." [Bock, p. 22].

But this is not exactly what Swami Abhedananda said in his book ( Journey into Kashmir and Tibet ). There we read that "he requested to be allowed to see the book. . . . The lama who was acting as our guide took a manuscript from the shelf and showed it to the Swami. He said that it was an exact translation of the original manuscript which was lying in the monastery of Marbour near Lhasa. The original manuscript [as per Notovitch] is in Pali, while the manuscript preserved in Himis is in Tibetan. It consists of fourteen chapters and two hundred twenty-four couplets (slokas). The Swami got some portion of the manuscript translated with the help of the lama attending on him." [p. 119 — why is the narrative third person in a supposed autobiography?].

The excerpt that follows closely parallels, though not exactly, the corresponding section of Notovitch's book, also included in full as an appendix. It reads as if it might be a summary or abridgment of Notovitch. Note that in Journey into Kashmir and Tibet , we read not that Swami Abhedananda himself translated the text but that he managed to get someone to translate for him from a Tibetan text he could not read. And note that the Saint Issa gospel is once again a scroll, a single document, a version of the story which Notovitch himself had since abandoned! Also, note the curious fact that the material occurs in the same order as in Notovitch's version, though Notovitch says he had to rearrange it _extensively!

Nicholas Roerich, a theosophist mystic and painter whose evocative work has its own Museum today in New York City, visited Central Asia in search of the lost city of Shamballah and other mysteries. In the 1920s he, too, visited Ladakh and later (1925) recorded what he claimed were gleanings from popular tales about Saint Issa as well as related material from a 1500-year-old Tibetan manuscript (too young by some 400 years to be Notovitch's manuscript!). But the texts Roerich quotes are simply one abbreviated set of verses from Notovitch and another from The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ , a 1908 "channeled" life of Jesus, inspired by Notovitch, written by Levi Dowling (i.e., Leo W. Dowling).

Notovitch's Story Resurfaces

In 1926 a reprint edition of Notovitch's Unknown Life stirred up the same old furor among a credulous public who did not know Müller and Douglas. Five years later, Edgar J. Goodspeed wrote an invaluable book called Strange New Gospels (later expanded as Modern Apocrypha and Famous "Biblical" Hoaxes) and explained how the hoax had first been put to rest. Goodspeed's book clamped the lid on the matter a second time.

In 1939 Dr. Elisabeth Caspari, a member of the Mazdaznan sect, journeyed into Tibet with some friends and attended a festival at the Hemis lamasery. One day during their stay, "the librarian and two other monks approached the ladies carrying three objects. Madame Caspari recognized them as Buddhist books made of sheets of parchment sandwiched between two pieces of wood and wrapped in brocades — green and red and blue seeded with gold. With great reverence, the librarian unwrapped one of the books and presented the parchments to Mrs. Gasque: 'These books say your Jesus was here!'. . . Mrs. Caspari tucked away this precious treasure in her memory, only volunteering it many years later at a Summit University Forum interview after having heard of the beautiful verses about Jesus copied by Nicholas Notovitch from ancient Tibetan manuscripts at the monastery of Himis." Note again the New Age, sectarian context of these claims. Madame Caspari first belonged to the Mazdaznan sect, founded in 1900 by a German immigrant to America named Otto Hanisch (1854–1936). Hanisch claimed his sect was a living form of ancient Zoroastrianism specializing in vegetarianism and sun-mysticism. Of course, Zoroastrianism is still alive and well, but Mazdaznan seems to have been Hanisch's own invention. Summit University, on the other hand, is part of the Summit Lighthouse (AKA The Church Universal and Triumphant) led by Elizabeth Clare Prophet. It is an offshoot of both the Theosophical Society and the Mighty I Am Movement. It is perhaps the best example of a New Age sect.

It remains quite clear that Notovitch's Unknown Life of Jesus was a hoax. It is proof enough of this that Notovitch, intimidated by Max Müller's attack, backed down and changed his story, pulling the rug out from under his subsequent defenders, who were apparently ignorant of his revisionism. And the vehement denials of the original Hemis abbot echo loud and clear. So what are we to make of the testimonies and assertions of Swami Abhedananda, Nicholas Roerich, and Mrs. Caspari? First, we must conclude Roerich's literary imagination ran away with him, especially since we can actually identify his unacknowledged sources. He provides no independent corroboration. And in the cases of Swami Abhedananda and Mrs. Caspari we are not even dealing with people who claim to have read the manuscript! Both were shown impressive volumes that they could not read, and someone else assured them that it was the Notovitch manuscript (or something corresponding to it).

The solution is simple: the monks of Hemis had come to be familiar with Notovitch's book through Douglas's efforts to debunk it, and in later years some of them told visitors what they wanted to hear, actually reading or paraphrasing from Notovitch's hoax-text itself. Even though Swami Abhedananda initially feared Notovitch's story was too good to be true, it is obvious that, if true, it would have delighted him, because the Vedanta Society highly esteems Jesus as an incarnation of Vishnu. A Jesus trained in Asia would be ideal for the Swami's beliefs. This would be no less true for Mrs. Caspari, a member of a pseudo-Zoroastrian syncretic religion. A handful of Tibetan monks, welcoming a theological agenda that made Christianity a derivative sub-set of Buddhism (Jesus having been trained in Tibet, after all), were happy to take up Notovitch's ball and run with it. Though not for long, since, as we have seen, some years later, Abhedananda's disciple was told there were no such books to be found.

So, did Jesus visit Tibet? It is possible. Such travel even in ancient times was not out of the question. But there is no real evidence that he did. The historian must always address the question of the great New Testament scholar F.C. Baur: "Anything is possible, but what is probable?" It is probable that Jesus did not visit Tibet.

Robert M. Price is Director of the Center for Inquiry and Professor of Biblical Criticism for the Center of Inquiry Institute. The founding editor of The Journal of Higher Criticism , he is the author of The Widow Traditions in Luke-Acts (1997) and Deconstructing Jesus (1999).

Jesus—The Mini-Series

‍ Something about the Easter season brings Jesus out of the vaults and projects him onto television screens. To what extent is a film about Jesus not only cinematically interesting, but literarily sensitive to the gospel sources, historically probable, and theologically satisfying? ...  Continue reading

Works Cited Swami Abhedananda, Swami Abhedananda's Journey into Kashmir and Tibet. Trans. Ansupati Dasgupta and Kunja Bihari Kundu. Calcutta: Ramakrishna Vedanta Math, 1987.

Per Beskow, Strange Tales About Jesus. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1983.

Janet Bock, The Jesus Mystery: Of Lost Years and Unknown Travels. Los Angeles: Aura Books, 1980.

Edgar J. Goodspeed, Famous "Biblical" Hoaxes. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1956.

Fida Hassnain, A Search for the Historical Jesus from Apocryphal, Buddhist, Islamic, & Sanskrit Sources. Bath: Gateway Books, 1994.

Holger Kersten, Jesus Lived in India. Trans. Teresa Woods-Czisch. Longmead, Shaftesbury, Dorset: Element Books Ltd., second edition, 1991.

Nicholas Notovitch's Unknown Life of Jesus Christ

Elizabeth Clare Prophet, The Lost Years of Jesus: Documentary Evidence of Jesus' 17-Year Journey to the East. Livingston, MT: Summit University Press, 1987.

Copyright © 2001 Polebridge Press. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the copyright holder.

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Jesus, Buddha, and the Search for Meaning

Virtuous action is the only way to calm the mind.

Full session.

Jesus and Buddha, separated by 3,000 miles and 400 hundred years, both speak to central questions of meaning. How similar — and how different — are their perspectives and how do the teachings, rituals, and histories of each tradition complement or contradict each other? Take the one-hour version of this popular Princeton course and explore how Jesus and Buddha understood the meaning of life and death, suffering, and salvation.

How a midlife crisis led the Buddha to teach

Jesus and judgment day, two teachers, 3000 miles and four centuries apart.

• 2019 Festival

Both Buddha and Jesus experienced a pivotal moment in their lives — an awakening event — after which everything changed. After this awakening event, says Princeton religion professor Jonathan Gold, they both became moral exemplars and teachers. The Buddha’s journey as a religious figure began in midlife, when he realized his own mortality. “The Buddha felt that something had to be done about the problem of suffering and the problem of death,” Gold explains. To find answers, the Buddha turned to meditation and yoga. One night during an intensely focused meditation, says Gold, the Buddha defeated the demon of desire, Mara, and attained nirvana, an awakening and complete liberation from all suffering and delusion — a kind of perfect wisdom.

Out of compassion, the Buddha turned to teaching in the hope that he could share the path to liberation with others. Followers of  the Buddha, says Gold, act virtuously and morally and follow five precepts:

The Five Precepts of Buddhism

These layers of morality are expressions of karma, Gold explains.

“How you act in the world is a direct reflection of your state of mind,” he says, and the Buddha teaches that virtuous action is the only way to calm the mind. By the same token, a calm mind sees how to act virtuously. “All you have to do is calm down and look, and you can see what’s right and wrong,” says Gold.

The Buddha’s teachings focus mainly on interior transformation — how to accept suffering and transcend it. Jesus’s story, on the other hand, focuses on how God’s spirit impels him to action, challenging evil powers and social and political suffering, says Elaine Pagels, professor of religion at Princeton. Watch Pagels detail the events that guided Jesus on his spiritual path:

Jesus’s teachings are contextualized by the belief that a day of judgement is coming, says Pagels. How will God judge the world? The principle of divine judgement is utterly straightforward, she explains — what you give is what you get. If you give to others generosity, understanding, and forgiveness, God will be generous, understanding, and forgiving to you. “It’s a precisely reciprocal response to your actions,” she says.

Jonathan Gold says a key benefit of studying religion is “that by juxtaposing differences and similarities, we can highlight the unique particularities of each tradition even as we deepen our understanding of what they share.” The teachings of Jesus and Buddha occur in different cultural contexts but the Bible and Buddhist scriptures share many principles. One obvious example, says Elaine Pagels, is that the five precepts can be seen in the ten commandments (with the exception of “take no intoxicants.” Wine was seen in Jewish tradition not as an intoxicant, but part of celebrating joyful events).

Big Idea Facebook Twitter Email Copy link If these [religious] traditions weren’t reappropriated, recreated, reinvented, and transformed to deal with the needs and issues of very different generations and people all over the world in different situations, they wouldn’t survive. Elaine Pagels

Both Buddha and Jesus asked their followers to do more than just refrain from negative behavior. “The Buddhist tradition says that most of our motivations need to be reexamined,” Gold explains. It’s not enough to be superficially moral and doing good for the sake of appearances —  you should be actively thinking about others more than yourself, and, adds Pagels, following the age-old golden rule: do unto others what you would have them do to you.

Additional Information

Through Personal Testament, ‘Why Religion?’ Explores Belief in the 21st Century

Elaine Pagels, Why Religion?

Paving the Great Way: Vasubandhu's Unifying Buddhist Philosophy

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Buddhism and Jesus Christ

As a whole, Buddhism has little directly to say about Jesus Christ. It does acknowledge what most men do: that He was a great person. For the most part, however, His Gospel teachings are largely ignored and a more convenient Jesus is accepted: one who, along with the Buddha, smiles serenely.

But on the other hand, there is a sense in which Buddhism explicitly rejects Jesus Christ. What Christian belief in a personal Savior from sin represents to Buddhism is a serious form of personal ignorance. Personal Savior? No “person” exists. So what is there to save? And no genuine Savior can exist either, for we must ultimately save ourselves. The central message of Christianity (Jn. 3:16) is thus dismissed as remnants of beclouded consciousness.

After all, one could expect that in Buddhism the biblical Christ would be rather objectionable, for he rejects what Buddhism accepts and accepts what Buddhism rejects. He stresses sin and repentance before God (Jn. 5:34; Mt. 4:17). He believes in a loving, infinite-personal Creator who makes moral demands upon and judges His creatures (Lk. 12:5). He denies the possibility of self-perfection and refers to himself alone as the Savior of the world (Mt. 20:28; 26:28; Jn. 6:29, 47; 14:6). He not only believes in a creator God, the creator God is His personal Father (Jn. 14:5-6); He is God’s unique and only Son (Jn. 3:16, 18). Spiritual enlightenment and salva­tion come only by Him (Jn. 14:6) because Jesus is “the true light” of the world (Jn. 1:9; 8:12; 12:46). It is impossible that these could come through Buddha and his philosophy, or through Bodhisattvas and their sacrifice of remaining in the world, or through any other self-achieving method (cf., Mt. 19:24-26). Jesus Christ utterly rejects polytheism and paganism (e.g., Mt. 6:7; 22:37; Lk. 4:8). His worldview is thoroughly based on moral absolutes and it is by His moral standards that all creatures, heavenly and earthly, will be judged and required to give an ac­count (Jn. 5:22-29; Col. 1:16-18; Lk. 10:19-20; 1 Cor. 6:3). Jesus accepted the permanency (Mt. 25:46) and utility of suffering (Heb. 2:10; 5:8-9)—indeed it is by suffering alone that the world is redeemed and through which (in part) God sanctifies His people (1 Pet. 2:21, 24; 3:18; 4:1; Phil. 3:10).

Although ecumenically minded people would find it difficult to accept, the Jesus Christ of history is not merely un-Buddhist; He is anti-Buddhist. If we could bring Jesus and Buddha together for a discussion, neither Jesus nor Gautama would find the other’s worldview acceptable. According to Christ, Buddha would certainly not have been spiritually enlight­ened—far from it. His rejection of a creator God would classify him as a pagan unbeliever, however adept he was at philosophical speculation. “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God” (Ps. 14:1). Such a man would need repentance and faith in the one true God (Jn. 17:3). In other words, Jesus’ view of Buddha is that he would require salvation—just like everyone else.

And conversely, Buddha would have no need for Christ as Savior, for Buddha taught total, unswerving self-reliance. Compare this with Jeremiah 17:5—“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord.” Thus, in discussing Buddhism’s appeal to modern man, Stephen Neill is correct in observ­ing that this appeal is based squarely upon prideful self-sufficiency:

Whereas Theravada views the Buddha as an enlightened man (more enlightened, no doubt, than the biblical Christ, but still a man), Mahayanists have placed Buddha on the level of a divine being who rivals Christ in his deity, although still falling far short of the biblical concept.

The Mahayana text Matrceta Satapancasatkastotra I, 2-4 states of Buddha:

The Lotus Sutra (Saddharmapundarika) says of him “He thus becomes the Saviour of the world with its Gods” (XXIV, 17). [3]

Finally, in the area of miraculous, we find another disagreement with Christian faith: “It may be fairly said that Buddhism is not a miraculous religion in the sense that none of its central doctrines depend on miracles.” [4]

By contrast, how many Christological themes or doctrines depend upon the miraculous? Messianic prophecy (Isa. 9:6; Ps. 22), the incarnation (Phil. 2), virgin birth (Mt. 1:25), Christ’s miracles as proof of his Messiahship (Mt. 8:15-17), the miracles associated with the crucifixion (Mt. 27:50-53), resurrection (Lk. 24:36-39) and atonement (e.g., the miracle of regeneration), the ascension (Acts 1:9-10), the second coming (Mt. 24), etc. The differ­ences are again striking.

In conclusion, Buddha and Jesus are not just a little bit short of being friends. The suffer­ing and exaltation of Christ is hardly equivalent to the serene peacefulness of the Buddha entering nirvana. Jesus came to save the world, not himself (Jn. 12:27). Indeed, Jesus said, “He that would save his life will lose it” (Mt. 16:25). He obeyed and glorified the very God whom Buddha contentedly rejected (Jn. 17:4).

• ↑ Stephen Neill, Christian Faith and Other Faiths (2nd ed.) (Great Britain: Oxford Univer­sity Press, 1970),, p. 118-119.
• ↑ Edward Conze et al. (eds.), Buddhist Texts Through the Ages (NY: Philosophical Li­brary, Inc., 1954), p. 194.
• ↑ Sir Charles Eliot, Hinduism and Buddhism , Vol. I. (NY: Barnes and Noble, Inc., 1971), p. 325.

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25 Comments

well if we seek perfection for ourselves its not really perfection right?

It would put you on a futile quest of seeking the unattainable bliss, It will cause you to seek a path of self destruction and terrible suffering without blessing all the days of you miserable self centered life of horror, religion delights in this, it will then promise you eternal suffering in death, for not fulfilling your duty on earth, you know, the one thing we dread and avoid until we are so tired and week we long for it, the pain and suffering becomes so great its our last lingering hope of relief.

In spite of all the deeply thought out comparisons between Jesus Christ and Buddhism, and some people’s need or want, to try and find common ground, in the end it’s not complicated, and a there must be a final conclusion and decision determined. Is Jesus Christ the Truth, and who he claims himself to be, or not? If he is, that would mean that everything he told us was the truth, and what you could take to the bank with all assuredness. But if not, then in reality, he was merely a flesh and blood man, who was deceived concerning his own identity, and who was a deeply, emotionally disturbed man. There is no middle ground to be had, and how someone might answer that question, is either the most profoundly important decision that everyone will have to make in life, and whether they were asked or not. Or it’s all foolishness, and absurd, and it wouldn’t make an iota of difference one way or another, because ultimately, when you’re dead, you’re dead, end of story. But no matter what someone believes, I think we could all agree, that the stakes are high. And so in my humble opinion, I would suggest that for all those in doubt, or just not quite sure what the truth is, everyone should research the subject to the best of their ability, and examine the available facts on both sides of the fence, not just our preferred side. And then for those who may possess, even if only a shred of integrity, that they’re able to gather together, use it, to choose Wisely.

Curious. I would expect Buddhism has little directly to say about Jesus Christ since the Buddha died more than 500 years before Jesus was born. However, The Sermon on the Mount shares much with the teaching of the Buddha, who encourages freedom from possessions and the love of the world. The Gospels say: do not resist evil, love your enemy, live in poverty, shun pride and falsehood and greed. The Buddha also teaches this. Both have at their core sympathy for the whole world, the welfare of the whole of humanity, and promoting of a spirit of unity and mutual love. Jesus is far from anti-Buddhist. In fact, I’d say Jesus, who is about love and forgiveness, is not “anti” anything and would embrace the Buddha.

That’s true, the same could be said of the HEBREW prophets, it seems the unreligious buddha’s enlightenment came to him when he submitted to one greater, does your understanding make you a buddha, perfect, superior or GOD. Would Jesus embrace Gandhi? or the doings of the british empire?

Didn’t Buddha live like 400+ yrs before Jesus? So how can he judge him? And would a Buddhist judge any person?

Yes he did, he learnt of the promise to come which was from the beginning and was part of the religion of his collapsing and corrupted empire. He was contemporary to the empires that would fulfill the prophecies of Isaiah, he was ancestor to those who were prompted by the prophecies of that day to follow the astrological signs that led them to the promise, the infant child of promise. Yes a buddhist would and does judge all person according to his kind of religion. Do you know anyone steeped in religion, any religion, that does not judge and is not racist or is not superior? A minority religion may bung on false humility, but only till it establishes itself. NO religion is for peace. Even islam is submissive where it is a minority, which religion is peaceful in reality

Buddha was contemporary with a world wide revival of monotheism, King Nebuchadnezzar came face to face with prophet Danial and God himself, this would have came to PRINCES’S attention, hence his quest for truth, He was not unfamiliar with Ahura Mazda, Zarathustra and the Persian empire, the babylonian Magi were led by Jewish/Hebrew prophets, worship was monotheistic, Buddha aligned himself with the new monotheistic teaching, there became a great awareness of the coming savior, it was this awareness and the recorded prophetic utterances of that time that led the great empires of the east of whom Buddha Zoroaster were ancestors of, to the dwelling place of the child KING of KINGS in a stable wrapped in swaddling with his mum and farm animals with gifts..

I can not post because i use spam words .What are you talking about

sick sick sick i HAVE RE WRITTEN THIS 20 TIMES what is spam words

Its futile and argumentative to push an ungodly belief in any religion, every religion is exactly the same in essence.

False!!! Can Buddah provide you with eternal life? How many profecies did he fulfilled? Did he raised from the dead like Jesus? Did his disciples died for his teaching like the Christian disciples of the first century? Does Buddah provide love, joy, peace, patience…? If Buddah was a mere man, there is nothing he can do for other man spiritually talking. Just meditating make you better than other people, really???

The beauty of the Buddha’s teaching (that’s how you spell it btw) is that we are our own saviours….no need to make up imaginary friends 🙂

Yes Buddha did those things because it’s the same person – reincarnation.

Meditation does indeed mellow you out…for real. Try it you’ll like it. If you practice Buddhism you will experience and give more love, more joy, more peace, more patience…that is true. I have tried it and it seems to work. It’s all about truth, however. If indeed the Lord Jesus Christ is THE truth, then no other philosophy or religion can stand against Him.

Who created the earth that buddha was born on?

Who knows!!! The Buddha taught that origins and karma are two areas not worthy of fussing over since you can’t prove either. The creation story is central and key to Christianity, and it makes a lot more sense that SOMEBODY made all this…but we don’t know for sure. If you have faith you can believe it, but you have no proof. That’s why the Buddha taught not to bother with such questions and to bother instead with our practical life here on earth…

Every religion introduces you to the polytheistic occult

I would be more interested in what Buddha and Buddhism says about Christ rather than the conclusions drawn as to what they would think of each other based no their beliefs. That information is interesting but I’m looking for something else

God loved us all so much he sent Jesus into Mary to grow up as the only perfect human to be a sacrifice and pay Gods price for everyone’s sins. All we do is be grateful, thank Him and offer our lives to Him. He wants to give everyone eternal life with Him. A gift! Say thank you, believe Him and obey His book, the Bible. It contains all we need for a wonderful life. We can live healed and even prosperous His way. J parrott

I don’t agree with this article at all. The Buddha would have told his followers to follow Jesus the true enlightened one. Buddha didn’t like the concept of gods or God because he came from Hinduism knew it was a scam and set out to seek truth and enlightenment. Just like Buddhist think of Christians as the Catholic Church and don’t want any part of it VS living like Jesus, teaching his ways and loving people. I think the Buddha (not present day Buddhists or what they might teach) would have been all about Jesus and his biggest advocate. Just sayin

Jesus was the reincarnation of Buddha . http://www.buddhamaitreya.org

Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh. All you buddha got it all wrong. In the beginning was the word and the word was with Gid and the word was God. John 1:1

Christianity seems to relieve its followers of responsibility. “It’s God’s will” is a frequent mantra. No one can prove what is true with respect to religion(s) or what will happen after death. Be the best person you can be, treat others as you wish to be treated, take responsibility for your actions and realize.

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Jesus and Buddha

Interfaith friendship.

Jesus and Buddha Friday, December 8, 2017

In his book Jesus and Buddha , New Testament theologian Marcus Borg (1942-2015) highlights numerous sayings in the teachings of Jesus that are strikingly similar, if not identical, to the teachings of the Buddha who lived some six centuries earlier. There have been some attempts to explain these similarities through historical access, which is a remote possibility. Borg suggests a more meaningful view: that Jesus and the Buddha had both discovered the same spiritual goal and destiny, or I would say the one Holy Spirit that is guiding all of history. The Jewish Kabbalah, Muslim Sufism, and the teachings of the Tao also reveal a map toward non-dual consciousness and oneness.

Let me just share just a few of the parallel teachings Borg gathers in his book [1], and you will see how they are coming from the same non-dual perspective:

Jesus says, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31). The Buddha says, “Consider others as yourself” (Dhammapada 10.1).

Jesus says, “If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also” (Luke 6:29). Buddha says, “If anyone should give you a blow with his hand, with a stick, or with a knife, you should abandon any desires [to hurt him] and utter no evil words” (Majjhima Nikaya 21.6).

Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me” (Matthew 25:45).  Buddha says, “If you do not tend one another, then who is there to tend you? Whoever would tend me, he should tend the sick” (Vinaya, Mahavagga 8.26.3).

Jesus and Buddha diagnose the human dilemma similarly. Our suffering is primarily based on ignorance. The vast majority of humanity lives in blindness about who we are and where we are going. Jesus and Buddha both speak about anxiety, attachment, grasping, craving, and self-absorption.

Unfortunately, Christianity became so concerned with making sure everybody believed that Jesus was God (faith in Jesus) that we largely ignored his teachings on detachment, simplicity, nonviolence, and anxiety (the faith of Jesus). Our Buddhist brothers and sisters can help us remember these teachings at the core of our faith; they can help us be better, truer Christians. And we can help them, or at least give them very few reasons to dislike us ! Why not try this novel idea?

On many levels, Jesus and Buddha talked about the same experience of transformation. In the end, all spirituality really is about transformation, dying before we die and being reborn as our True Selves in Love.

Gateway to Silence: We are already one.

References: [1] Marcus Borg, Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings (Ulysses Press: 1999). These passages were selected from the chapter “Compassion.”

Adapted from Richard Rohr and James Finley, Jesus and Buddha: Paths to Awakening , disc 2 (Center for Action and Contemplation: 2008), CD , DVD , MP3 download .

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Yearning for Peace: Teachings of Jesus and the Buddha

By Kathy Keary

Each year the Catholic Church marks January 1 as the World Day of Peace, a tradition began in 1968 when Pope Paul VI declared: “ The world must be educated to love Peace, to build it up and defend it .”

In his Invocation for Peace , Pope Francis petitions the divine to “instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace” and “to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister.” He prays that “the words ‘division,’ ‘hatred,’ and ‘war’ be banished from the heart of every man and woman.”

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The popes are not alone in their calls for peace; the theme is prevalent in diverse faith traditions embraced by God’s people scattered throughout the globe. In his book, Living Buddha, Living Christ, Thich Nhat Hanh, a highly regarded Vietnamese Buddhist monk, quotes Professor Hans Kung, a Swiss Catholic priest: “Until there is peace between religions, there can be no peace in the world.” Hanh instructs: “Learn and practice nonattachment from views in order to be open to receive others’ viewpoints. To me, this is the most essential practice of peace.”

As we begin a new year in a divided world that thirsts for peace, our Contemplative Living Series will turn its focus to the many ways in which two contemplatives, Jesus Christ and the Buddha, proclaimed similar messages that continue to stand at the heart of Christianity and Buddhism.

Jack Kornfield, a well-respected psychologist, meditation teacher, and founder of two of the largest Buddhist centers and communities in the United States opines: “When we listen deeply to their [Jesus and Buddha] words, we find that in many ways, they speak with one heart … Jesus and Buddha say to us today, ‘Follow me.’ Do we dare?”

Marcus Borg, a renowned American Anglican New Testament scholar states in his book, Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings:

Jesus and Buddha are the two most remarkable religious figures who have ever lived. Moreover, there are striking similarities between them. I have sometimes said 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 one another.

Borg points out several similarities between Jesus and Buddha.

• Their ethical teaching is remarkably similar. This includes not only specific teachings such as love of neighbor but also lessons in the area of general principles such as the primacy of compassion.
• Compassion is the main characteristic of a bodhisattva, a Buddhist saint. Jesus summarized the life that would result from following his way by saying” “Be compassionate as God is compassionate.”
• Both experienced life-changing transformation around the age of 30.
• Both began spiritual movements within their own religious traditions: Judaism in the case of Jesus and Hinduism in the case of Buddha.
• There are similarities in the religious traditions that blossomed out of their teachings.
• The magnitude of their impact upon their followers was immense. Both were exalted being perceived as more than human; however, neither affirmed this position.
• Both were wisdom teachers. Borg elaborates: “Wisdom is not just about moral behavior, but about the ‘center,’ the place from which moral perception and moral behavior flow.”
• Both challenged the status quo contradicting customary ways of seeing and being as a path of transformation. In the words of Borg: “Both were teachers of the way less traveled.”
• The Buddha called people away from grasping, the cause of suffering, to letting go of grasping, the path of freedom from suffering. Similarly, Jesus preached dying to an old way of being to put on a new way of being.

Borg also points out key difference between Jesus and the Buddha.

• The Buddha lived in India about 500 years before Jesus was born in Israel.
• Unlike Jesus, social and political passion is absent in Buddha’s teaching. Buddha did not challenge the prevalent system of domination pointing to a different social vision as Jesus did.
• Most likely because Jesus railed against the social system, his public life was drawn to an end in one to four years. Buddha’s public life spanned a period of 50 years.
• Jesus was born into the peasant class while Buddha came from the wealthy ruling class.
• In contrast to the Buddha, Jesus’ role models, were the Jewish prophets who vehemently protested against social inequity as evidenced in the Old Testament (Borg 10).

There have been several theories proposed to explain the similarities in the teachings of these two contemplatives. Borg points out: “Both Jesus and the Buddha offered a similar diagnosis of the typical human condition: blindness, anxiety, grasping, self-preoccupation. In both cases, the prescription for cure is similar: ‘seeing,’ ‘letting go,’ ‘dying.’” These same human conditions exist today as do these remedies.

New articles in this series are posted to the website every Monday. The full series can be found here:  An Invitation to Something New: The Contemplative Life . On Thursday’s we’ll send an email to remind you of the articles. Read Kathy Keary’s article “ Maintaining the Contemplative Life in a Divided World . ”

I agree with Borg who opines that the similarities between Jesus and the Buddha rests in their personal experience of the sacred. Both men were affected by a life-altering transformation that directed their way of being in the world. Their way of seeing and teaching flowed from their personal enlightenment. Both men embodied the contemplative life.

In future articles, we will explore the specific teachings of Jesus and the Buddha with an emphasis on the similarities in the words they professed. It is our hope that in doing so we will all grow in our understanding of two distinct faiths and that this understanding sets us on a path leading to acceptance, harmony and peace among the people of God.

References:

• Borg, Marcus. Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings . Berkley, California: Ulysses Press, 2004.
• Hanh, Thich Nhat. Living Buddha, living Christ . New York, New York: Riverhead Books, 2007.

Image by bruce lam from Pixabay . “Christ of Vung Tau” in Vũng Tàu, Vietnam. Completed in 1993, the concrete monument is more than 100 feet tall with an impressive combined arm span of 120 feet. Perched atop Mount Nho, the colossal Christ is further elevated by a 15-foot high platform. The stone son of God is designed in an angular style reminiscent of the art deco movement, complete with a sharply abstract halo. Visitors can ascend a staircase that rises up the body with viewing windows to the outside inset along the way. Learn more .

[Kathy Keary, a Precious Blood Companion and spiritual director, holds a master’s degree in theological studies and is a graduate of the Atchison Benedictine’s Sophia Center’s Souljourners Program, an intense study of spirituality and spiritual direction. Kathy believes that the divine is present and active in all of life and encourages others to be awakened to the God in all including the divine within. She enjoys accompanying others on their journey to wholeness discovering the person they were created to be.]

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The Lost Years of Jesus: The Life of Saint Issa

 Translation by Notovitch he Best of the Sons of Men Ancient scrolls reveal that Jesus spent seventeen years in India and Tibet From age thirteen to age twenty-nine, he was both a student and teacher of Buddhist and Hindu holy men The story of his journey from Jerusalem to Benares was recorded by Brahman historians Today they still know him and love him as St. Issa . Their ' buddha ' Notovitch . In 1894 Nicolas Notovitch published a book called The Unknown Life of Christ . He was a Russian doctor who journeyed extensively throughout Afghanistan , India , and Tibet . Notovitch journeyed through the lovely passes of Bolan, over the Punjab , down into the arid rocky land of Ladak , and into the majestic Vale of Kashmir of the Himalayas . During one of his jouneys he was visiting Leh , the capital of Ladak , near where the buddhist convent Hemis is. He had an accident that resulted in his leg being broken. This gave him the unscheduled opportunity to stay awhile at the Himis convent. Himis Convent Notovitch learned, while he was there, that there existed ancient records of the life of Jesus Christ . In the course of his visit at the great convent, he located a Tibetan translation of the legend and carefully noted in his carnet de voyage over two hundred verses from the curious document known as "The Life of St. Issa ." He was shown two large yellowed volumes containing the biography of St. Issa . Notovitch enlisted a member of his party to translate the Tibetan volumes while he carefully noted each verse in the back pages of his journal. When he returned to the western world there was much controversy as to the authenticity of the document. He was accused of creating a hoax and was ridiculed as an imposter. In his defense he encouraged a scientific expedition to prove the original tibetan documents existed. One of his skeptics was Swami Abhedananda . Abhedananda journeyed into the arctic region of the Himalayas , determined to find a copy of the Himis manuscript or to expose the fraud . His book of travels, entitled Kashmir O Tibetti, tells of a visit to the Himis gonpa and includes a Bengali translation of two hundred twenty-four verses essentially the same as the Notovitch text. Abhedananda was thereby convinced of the authenticity of the Issa legend. The lost years of Jesus map In 1925, another Russian named Nicholas Roerich arrived at Himis . Roerich , was a philosopher and a distinguished scientist . He apparently saw the same documents as Notovitch and Abhedananda . And he recorded in his own travel diary the same legend of St. Issa . Speaking of Issa , Roerich quotes legends which have the estimated antiquity of many centuries.     ... He passed his time in several ancient cities of India such as Benares . All loved him because Issa dwelt in peace with Vaishas and Shudras whom he instructed and helped. But the Brahmins and Kshatriyas told him that Brahma forbade those to approach who were created out of his womb and feet. The Vaishas were allowed to listen to the Vedas only on holidays and the Shudras were forbidden not only to be present at the reading of the Vedas , but could not even look at them.      Issa said that man had filled the temples with his abominations. In order to pay homage to metals and stones, man sacrificed his fellows in whom dwells a spark of the Supreme Spirit . Man demeans those who labor by the sweat of their brows, in order to gain the good will of the sluggard who sits at the lavishly set board. But they who deprive their brothers of the common blessing shall be themselves stripped of it.      Vaishas and Shudras were struck with astonishment and asked what they could perform. Issa bade them " Worship not the idols . Do not consider yourself first. Do not humiliate your neighbor. Help the poor. Sustain the feeble. Do evil to no one. Do not covet that which you do not possess and which is possessed by others."     Many, learning of such words, decided to kill Issa . But Issa , forewarned, departed from this place by night.     Afterward, Issa went into Nepal and into the Himalayan mountains ....     "Well, perform for us a miracle ," demanded the servitors of the Temple . Then Issa replied to them: " Miracles made their appearance from the very day when the world was created. He who cannot behold them is deprived of the greatest gift of life . But woe to you, enemies of men, woe unto you, if you await that He should attest his power by miracle ."      Issa taught that men should not strive to behold the Eternal Spirit with one's own eyes but to feel it with the heart , and to become a pure and worthy soul ....     "Not only shall you not make human offerings , but you must not slaughter animals , because all is given for the use of man. Do not steal the goods of others, because that would be usurpation from your near one. Do not cheat, that you may in turn not be cheated ....     "Beware, ye, who divert men from the true path and who fill the people with superstitions and prejudices, who blind the vision of the seeing ones, and who preach subservience to material things. "...     Then Pilate, ruler of Jerusalem , gave orders to lay hands upon the preacher Issa and to deliver him to the judges, without however, arousing the displeasure of the people .     But Issa taught : "Do not seek straight paths in darkness , possessed by fear . But gather force and support each other. He who supports his neighbor strengthens himself     "I tried to revive the laws of Moses in the hearts of the people . And I say unto you that you do not understand their true meaning because they do not teach revenge but forgiveness . But the meaning of these laws is distorted."     Then the ruler sent to Issa his disguised servants that they should watch his actions and report to him about his words to the people .     "Thou just man, "said the disguised servant of the ruler of Jerusalem approaching Issa , "Teach us, should we fulfill the will of Caesar or await the approaching deliverance ?"     But Issa , recognizing the disguised servants, said, "I did not foretell unto you that you would be delivered from Caesar; but I said that the soul which was immersed in sin would be delivered from sin ."     At this time, an old woman approached the crowd, but was pushed back. Then Issa said, "Reverence Woman, mother of the universe ,' in her lies the truth of creation. She is the foundation of all that is good and beautiful. She is the source of life and death . Upon her depends the existence of man, because she is the sustenance of his labors. She gives birth to you in travail, she watches over your growth. Bless her. Honor her. Defend her. Love your wives and honor them, because tomorrow they shall be mothers, and later-progenitors of a whole race. Their love ennobles man, soothes the embittered heart and tames the beast. Wife and mother-they are the adornments of the universe ."     "As light divides itself from darkness , so does woman possess the gift to divide in man good intent from the thought of evil . Your best thoughts must belong to woman. Gather from them your moral strength, which you must possess to sustain your near ones. Do not humiliate her, for therein you will humiliate yourselves. And all which you will do to mother, to wife, to widow or to another woman in sorrow-that shall you also do for the Spirit ."     So taught Issa ; but the ruler Pilate ordered one of his servants to make accusation against him.     Said Issa : "Not far hence is the time when by the Highest Will the people will become purified and united into one family."     And then turning to the ruler , he said, "Why demean thy dignity and teach thy subordinates to live in deceit when even without this thou couldst also have had the means of accusing an innocent one?"     From another version of the legend, Roerich quotes fragments of thought and evidence of the miraculous.     Near Lhasa was a temple of teaching with a wealth of manuscripts. Jesus was to acquaint himself with them. Meng-ste , a great sage of all the East , was in this temple .     Finally Jesus reached a mountain pass and in the chief city of Ladak , Leh , he was joyously accepted by monks and people of the lower class .... And Jesus taught in the monasteries and in the bazaars (the market places); wherever the simple people gathered--there he taught .     Not far from this place lived a woman whose son had died and she brought him to Jesus . And in the presence of a multitude, Jesus laid his hand on the child, and the child rose healed. And many brought their children and Jesus laid his hands upon them, healing them.     Among the Ladakis, Jesus passed many days, teaching them. And they loved him and when the time of his departure came they sorrowed as children.

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Jesus & Buddha: Practicing Across Traditions

From: Angela Alston

Director: John Ankele & Anne Macksoud

Producer: John Ankele & Anne Macksoud

Genre: Documentary

Produced In: 2012

Country: United States

Story Teller's Country: United States

Tags: Americas, Belief, Global, Religion, Transcendent Vision, United States

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Label: movies

Synopsis: Three leading figures in today’s Buddhist-Christian dialogue share their personal journeys in the new documentary "Jesus and Buddha: Practicing Across Traditions." We learn how following the path of the Buddha has informed and deepened their understanding of who Jesus was and what he taught. Their experience and insight bring these two liberating archetypes alive in a way that can help guide us through our own confusion and struggle toward lives filled with joy and gratitude, compassion, and service. The film features: Father Robert Kennedy, a Jesuit priest and Zen teacher; Chung Hyun Kyung, Professor of Ecumenical Theology and Interfaith Engagement at Union Theological Seminary and a Buddhist Dharma teacher; and Paul Knitter, Professor of Theology, World Religions and Culture at Union Theological Seminary. During the course of the film, we see that the struggles and anxieties that motivate them are our own. What’s more, their reflections throw the light back on us. We can see better the prison of our ceaseless preoccupations, our obsessions, our animosities. Perhaps our own notions of the spiritual path have been limited by our need for answers and our desire for comfort. In the end it becomes clear from these witnesses that this is not a journey that depends on concepts and abstractions—and definitive answers are beyond our grasp. The journey is rather one of practice and insight. The path these travelers point us to is infinitely spacious and ultimately fulfilling—it can hold all of the contradictions and the questions as it leads further and deeper into the 'incomprehensible mystery' that is this life. Maybe we don’t need to enter a monastery or go to the desert, but some form of discipline may be necessary if we are to move beyond the self as the center of identity and into the liberating vastness of the 'Buddha-field' or the nourishing wholeness of the 'Christ-reality.'

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Home > Christian Videos > Bible Stories > What Does Buddhism Say About Jesus Christ

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What Does Buddhism Say About Jesus Christ

Published: March 3, 2024

Written by: Ronald Rentner

Jason DeRose, Managing Editor at Christian.net, uses his expertise in religion and journalism to deepen understanding of faith's societal impacts. His editorial leadership, coupled with a strong academic background, enriches the platform’s diverse content, earning him recognition in both journalism and religious circles.

Discover what Buddhism teaches about Jesus Christ and explore the connections between Buddhist beliefs and Bible stories. Gain insight into the perspectives of Buddhism on the figure of Jesus.

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Table of Contents

Introduction, the historical context of jesus christ in buddhism, the buddhist perspective on jesus christ, comparing the teachings of jesus christ and buddhism, the influence of jesus christ on buddhist thought.

What does Buddhism say about Jesus Christ? This is a question that has intrigued many individuals seeking to understand the intersection of different religious beliefs. The relationship between Buddhism and Christianity, particularly in relation to the figure of Jesus Christ, is a topic of interest for those exploring the diversity of religious thought. In this article, we will delve into the historical context of Jesus Christ in Buddhism, explore the Buddhist perspective on Jesus Christ, compare the teachings of Jesus Christ and Buddhism, and examine the influence of Jesus Christ on Buddhist thought. Through this exploration, we aim to shed light on the connections and disparities between these two influential religious traditions.

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Absence in Early Buddhist Texts : The historical context of Jesus Christ in Buddhism is an intriguing subject, as there is no direct mention of Jesus in the early Buddhist texts. The teachings of Buddhism, which originated in India, predate the birth of Jesus Christ in the Middle East. Therefore, the figure of Jesus does not appear in the foundational scriptures of Buddhism, such as the Pali Canon.

Later Encounters : It was not until several centuries after the time of the Buddha that Buddhist communities came into contact with Christian missionaries and traders. These encounters led to the exchange of religious ideas and the potential for the integration of Jesus Christ into the religious consciousness of some Buddhist communities.

Influence of Cultural Exchange : As Buddhism spread to different regions, such as Central Asia and China, it encountered diverse cultural and religious influences. This led to the assimilation of local beliefs and figures into Buddhist thought. In some cases, the figure of Jesus Christ may have been interpreted through the lens of Buddhist concepts and integrated into local religious practices.

Artistic Representations : In certain Buddhist cultures, artistic representations of Jesus Christ have been found in the form of paintings and sculptures. These depictions often reflect a blending of Buddhist artistic styles with the portrayal of Jesus, indicating a cultural and artistic exchange between Buddhism and Christianity.

Historical Interpretations : Scholars and historians have also explored the historical context of Jesus Christ in relation to Buddhist societies. Through the study of archaeological evidence and textual sources, they have sought to understand the ways in which the figure of Jesus may have been perceived and interpreted within Buddhist communities.

Interfaith Dialogue : In contemporary times, the historical context of Jesus Christ in Buddhism has become a subject of interfaith dialogue and scholarly inquiry. This dialogue aims to foster understanding and mutual respect between Buddhist and Christian practitioners, as well as to explore the intersections of their respective religious narratives.

Through an examination of the historical context of Jesus Christ in Buddhism, we gain insight into the complex dynamics of religious interaction and the ways in which diverse traditions have influenced each other over time.

Non-Divine Teacher : From a Buddhist perspective, Jesus Christ is often viewed as a remarkable teacher and moral exemplar rather than a divine figure. In Buddhist thought, the emphasis is placed on the potential for enlightenment within all beings, and Jesus may be seen as embodying the qualities of wisdom, compassion, and selflessness that are revered in Buddhist teachings.

Universal Compassion : The Buddhist perspective on Jesus Christ also highlights his message of universal compassion and love for all beings. This resonates with the Buddhist principle of mettā, or loving-kindness, which forms a core aspect of Buddhist ethical conduct and spiritual practice. Jesus' teachings on forgiveness and the alleviation of suffering are seen as aligning with the compassionate ethos of Buddhism.

Impermanence and Interconnectedness : Within Buddhist philosophy, the concepts of impermanence and interconnectedness are central to understanding the nature of existence. From this perspective, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ may be interpreted as illustrating the impermanence of worldly existence and the interconnectedness of all beings. This philosophical alignment allows for a nuanced appreciation of Jesus' role within the framework of Buddhist thought.

Rejection of Dogma : Buddhism's emphasis on personal inquiry and the rejection of dogma allows for a flexible and open-minded approach to the figure of Jesus Christ. Rather than imposing rigid theological interpretations, the Buddhist perspective encourages individuals to engage with the moral and spiritual dimensions of Jesus' teachings in a way that resonates with their own spiritual journey.

Interfaith Dialogue and Understanding : In contemporary Buddhist communities, there is a growing interest in engaging with the figure of Jesus Christ through the lens of interfaith dialogue and understanding. This perspective seeks to appreciate the ethical and moral teachings of Jesus while acknowledging the diversity of religious expressions and interpretations.

Cultural Variations : It is important to note that the Buddhist perspective on Jesus Christ may vary across different cultural and geographical contexts. In regions where Buddhism has interacted with Christianity, such as in East Asia, there may be unique interpretations of Jesus' significance within the framework of Buddhist beliefs and practices.

Symbolic Interpretations : Some Buddhist practitioners may view Jesus Christ as a symbolic representation of universal virtues and spiritual truths rather than as a historical or theological figure. This symbolic approach allows for a harmonious integration of Jesus' teachings with the broader tapestry of Buddhist wisdom.

By exploring the Buddhist perspective on Jesus Christ, we gain a deeper understanding of the diverse ways in which religious traditions intersect and inform each other, fostering a spirit of mutual respect and dialogue.

Compassion and Love : Both the teachings of Jesus Christ and Buddhism emphasize the importance of compassion and love. Jesus' message of loving one's neighbor as oneself and showing mercy to others resonates with the Buddhist principle of mettā, or loving-kindness. In Buddhism, the cultivation of compassion towards all beings is considered essential for spiritual development, reflecting a shared emphasis on universal love and empathy.

Forgiveness and Redemption : Jesus' teachings on forgiveness and the redemption of sinners find parallels in the Buddhist concept of karmic purification and the potential for spiritual transformation. Both traditions emphasize the possibility of liberation from past wrongdoings and the capacity for inner renewal through acts of forgiveness and ethical conduct.

Humility and Selflessness : The humility and selflessness exemplified in Jesus' life and teachings align with the Buddhist ideal of non-attachment and the recognition of the transient nature of worldly existence. Both traditions emphasize the value of selfless service, humility, and the relinquishment of ego-centered desires as pathways to spiritual growth and ethical living.

Inner Peace and Liberation : Jesus' invitation to find rest for the soul and experience spiritual liberation resonates with the Buddhist goal of attaining inner peace and transcending the cycle of suffering. Both traditions offer teachings on the alleviation of mental anguish, the pursuit of inner harmony, and the quest for ultimate liberation from the bonds of suffering and ignorance.

Ethical Conduct and Moral Virtue : The ethical teachings of Jesus Christ, as expressed in the Sermon on the Mount and other passages, share common ground with the ethical precepts and virtues upheld in Buddhism. Both traditions advocate for honesty, compassion, generosity, and the cultivation of moral integrity as essential aspects of a virtuous life and a harmonious society.

Teachings on Impermanence and Transcendence : The recognition of impermanence and the transient nature of worldly existence is a central theme in both the teachings of Jesus Christ and Buddhism. Jesus' teachings on the ephemeral nature of material possessions and the pursuit of spiritual treasures align with the Buddhist emphasis on the impermanence of all phenomena and the pursuit of transcendent wisdom beyond the fleeting aspects of life.

Universal Truth and Spiritual Awakening : Both Jesus Christ and the Buddha conveyed teachings that point towards universal truths and the potential for spiritual awakening. Their messages transcend cultural and religious boundaries, offering insights into the nature of reality, the human condition, and the transformative power of spiritual realization.

By comparing the teachings of Jesus Christ and Buddhism, we recognize the shared ethical and spiritual values that underpin these traditions, fostering a deeper appreciation of their common aspirations for human flourishing and the alleviation of suffering.

The influence of Jesus Christ on Buddhist thought is a subject that invites contemplation on the ways in which religious figures and teachings can intersect and inspire diverse spiritual perspectives. While Buddhism predates the historical emergence of Jesus Christ, the encounter with Christian ideas and the figure of Jesus has left an indelible mark on certain strands of Buddhist thought and practice.

Interfaith Dialogue and Syncretism : The encounter with Christian missionaries and traders in regions where Buddhism had taken root led to the exchange of religious ideas and the potential for syncretism. This interaction gave rise to the assimilation of certain Christian concepts and the figure of Jesus Christ into the religious landscape of some Buddhist communities. As a result, elements of Christian thought may have influenced the development of certain Buddhist beliefs and practices, leading to a rich tapestry of interfaith dialogue and cultural exchange.

Artistic and Cultural Expressions : The influence of Jesus Christ on Buddhist thought is also evident in artistic and cultural expressions. In regions where Buddhism and Christianity coexisted, artistic representations of Jesus Christ have been found in the form of paintings, sculptures, and iconography. These artistic depictions often reflect a blending of Buddhist and Christian artistic styles, indicating a cultural fusion that speaks to the diverse influences shaping religious expression.

Ethical and Moral Teachings : The ethical and moral teachings attributed to Jesus Christ have resonated with certain Buddhist communities, leading to the integration of Christian ethical principles into the ethical framework of Buddhism. Concepts such as love, compassion, forgiveness, and the pursuit of justice, as exemplified in the teachings of Jesus, have found parallels in the ethical precepts and moral virtues upheld in Buddhist teachings. This cross-pollination of ethical ideals has enriched the ethical discourse within Buddhist thought.

Philosophical Exchange : The philosophical themes present in the teachings of Jesus Christ, such as the nature of suffering, the pursuit of inner peace, and the quest for spiritual liberation, have intersected with key tenets of Buddhist philosophy. The shared emphasis on the alleviation of human suffering, the cultivation of inner virtues, and the pursuit of transcendent wisdom has engendered a dialogue between Christian and Buddhist philosophical perspectives, contributing to a nuanced understanding of the human condition and the nature of spiritual realization.

Cultural Adaptation and Interpretation : In regions where Buddhism encountered Christian influence, the figure of Jesus Christ may have been culturally adapted and interpreted within the framework of Buddhist beliefs and practices. This cultural adaptation allowed for a unique expression of Jesus' significance within the religious consciousness of certain Buddhist communities, reflecting the dynamic nature of religious syncretism and cultural exchange.

Historical and Scholarly Inquiry : Scholars and historians have engaged in the study of the historical and cultural impact of Jesus Christ on Buddhist thought. Through the examination of textual sources, archaeological evidence, and historical records, they have sought to understand the ways in which the figure of Jesus has been perceived, interpreted, and integrated within the religious narratives of Buddhist societies.

The influence of Jesus Christ on Buddhist thought exemplifies the dynamic nature of religious interaction and the capacity for diverse traditions to inform and inspire each other. This influence has contributed to the rich tapestry of religious diversity and the ongoing dialogue between different faith traditions, fostering a spirit of mutual understanding and appreciation for the interconnectedness of human spiritual experience.

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In conclusion, the exploration of what Buddhism says about Jesus Christ reveals a complex tapestry of historical, philosophical, and cultural interactions between these two influential religious traditions. While the figure of Jesus Christ does not appear in the early Buddhist texts, the historical context of Jesus in Buddhism reflects the dynamic nature of religious exchange and the potential for cross-cultural influence. The Buddhist perspective on Jesus Christ emphasizes his role as a moral exemplar and teacher, highlighting the universal values of compassion, love, and ethical conduct that resonate with Buddhist teachings. By comparing the ethical and spiritual themes in the teachings of Jesus Christ and Buddhism, we recognize the shared aspirations for human flourishing and the alleviation of suffering. The influence of Jesus Christ on Buddhist thought is evident in the realms of interfaith dialogue, artistic expression, ethical discourse, philosophical exchange, and cultural adaptation, reflecting the capacity for diverse religious traditions to inform and inspire each other. Through this exploration, we gain a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of human spiritual experience and the potential for mutual respect and dialogue across religious boundaries.

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"I was gripped after just a few paragraphs in!"

- Dr Brian Simmons - The Passion Translation Project

About the author

Learn more about Jonnathan Zin Truong and the mission God has purposed on his heart with the writing of his life story.

Are you a new believer in Jesus Christ who was touched by Jonnathan’s miraculous story? If so, click the link below to learn more.

Your journey

Are you a believer who, after reading Jonnathan’s journey, wants to see more of God activated in your life? If so, click the link below to learn more.

About the Book

Buddhists, Mormons & Jesus is the autobiography of Jonnathan Zin Truong. He shares about his early life growing up Buddhist while enduring terrible physical, emotional, and psychological abuse at the hands of his parents. Also, he shares about his radical conversion from a suicidal, Buddhist college student to a passionate follower of Jesus Christ.

Explore Jonnathan’s personal journey as he discovers the powerful love of God, explores the limits of faith and ignites a passion to empower God’s people with a display of God’s raw power through signs, miracles, and wonders.

Dive into the limitless possibilities for believers and followers of Jesus Christ through reading Jonnathan’s personal triumphs, failures, and revelations that he shares within these pages.

Reader’s Testimonials

I was gripped after just a few paragraphs in! What a story, full of pain, miracles, restoration, and healing. I can promise you this book has the potential to heal you from any form of abuse, pain, and rejection. You’ll find Jonnathan’s honesty refreshing. Let him take on his journey from Buddhism, to Mormonism, to finding Jesus. I know this story is true, I’ve met Jonnathan and his wife Olivia and I’m honored to call them friends. Get this book! You’ll be glad you did.

Dr. Brian Simmons

The Passion Translation Project

This book is the dynamic and compelling account of Jonnathan’s journey of overcoming an abusive childhood and the deepest spiritual darkness to find healing and wholeness through Jesus Christ.

Pastor Larry Taylor

Author Latter House Glory

I want to thank Jonnathan for being so brutally honest about the abuse that he suffered. This is inspiring because it shows us that no matter how bad our lives have been God can turn it around and use it for good.

If you are someone that has suffered abuse as a child you will definitely benefit by reading this book.

If you’re interested in the prophetic and walking after the spirit, this is another good reason to read this book. Jonnathan has some good illustrations of what it’s like to operate in the prophetic and walk after the spirit, even at the point of disregarding his own life.

Conrad Carriker

ConradRocks.net

I’ve personally known Jonnathan for over 18 years and this testimony of his life is as transparent as any as I’ve ever read ever! Even for someone who’s had the pleasure of knowing and walking with him through much of his life his willingness to be vulnerable about some of the worst moments of his life will leave you humbled and in awe at not only the experiences he’s lived through but the faithfulness of Father God in meeting him in the midst of his worst moments and redeeming what the enemy meant for his harm and using it to bless not only Jonnathan but everyone he has been willing to share it with.

No matter where you are in your journey with Christ, the testimonies of God throughout will encourage you and bless you and inspire you to continue on in your love walk with the most passionate, selfless, and authentic lover your soul could ever know! Be blessed!

Anthony Mack

As I sat reading this book. I found myself reliving painful moments of my own past. I saw myself in this man’s shoes. I felt the pain, love, and joy poured out onto each page. I would encourage anyone to read this book and watch as God changes the way you see yourself and your past. Half-way through you will be re-evaluating the things you thought were too painful or shameful to share, and will be ready to use those things to heal others. At the very least the testimonies of miracle after miracle will leave you wanting to know God. You can never go wrong with a desire like that.

If there is anything from your past that haunts you. If there are questions about God that you just haven’t been able to answer. Read this book. You will not regret the time spent.

Author Believe: Five Steps to Freedom

This is a MUST read for everyone! I got this book in the mail today, started reading it, and have yet to put it down. I strongly dislike reading & this had me hooked from the first page. I’ve cried ugly tears. & have laughed uncontrollably. I have set in shock thinking “can this really be a true story” and them live to tell about it?! WOW just WOW!!! Buy a butt load of these & hand out to all you know & don’t know. It would make the perfect Christmas gift if you can wait to give it away. You will not be the same after reading! Dang…. God is GREAT!!

Missy Crago

Thank you Jonathan for sharing your story with the world. This book is an amazing testimony given humbly and to glorify God. I particularly like the subtitle “A Journey of Overcoming” and what a journey it is! There is raw honesty and very hard to read experiences shared but it is so worth delving into because without the brokenness being fully revealed it would be hard to understand the wonderful work wrought by God through the author. This book is not only his testimony but his genuine love of God revealed which in turn is love for you and me because I don’t think he could have shared this story without that love. I recommend giving this book a read it is an opportunity to praise God for His miracle working power that changes situations, hearts, minds and lives.

Angel O’Malley

In his book, Buddhists, Mormons and Jesus, Jonnathan Zin Truong describes a defining moment in his life as he is preparing to commit suicide and suddenly cries out to a God that he thought he didn’t even believe in. Amazingly, he receives an answer through two girls passing by in a car that could not be a coincidence. As the true story goes on, the horrific pain and abuse he had suffered was transformed into an incredible passion to help others who were also suffering, as the love and forgiveness of Christ reached out from within him to help and heal and change lives. This book is a true affirmation of the words of Jesus: “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest

I wanted to give it 1 star because of what the author went through with the torment he’s grown up with. It really breaks my heart, but it is 100% 5 stars, hands down, because of how God unraveled it all and used those times to create a beautiful future for him and his wife. I will definitely be sharing this book with friends and family. We all know somebody who can relate, in some way, through what Jonnathan shared about his testimony, including myself.

Jessica Hedges

Jonnathan is an amazing man of God with a powerful testimony. Please take the time out of your schedule and read this book, you will not be disappointed. I pray this book reaches millions throughout the world. It has been an honor to meet him, and to call him a friend. What truly sets him apart from many is he is humble and reachable. Jonnathan and Olivia I see Jesus in you. God Bless You

Brandom Lemke

President, Christians Warriors Retreat

This story is an inspiring message of Hope and overcoming great obstacles. The author gives his testimony of overcoming severe and traumatic physical and emotional abuse. The message of how God has used him and his ministry since finding the true God of the Bible is life saving. God saved his life from certain destruction and shows how even in the darkest moments of our life he is with us. And he will use anything we go through for his glory. This is a must-read for anyone who is seeking God’s will for their life. Truly an incredible story.

This is a story about a person I just got to know. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to put it down. A heartbreaking childhood that will touch every mother’s heart. And how God used every bit of Jonnathan’s life to touch His other children and show His LOVE, power and glory. Jonnathan’s stern upbringing in obedience configured him to be fiercely obedient to God no matter what. I declare God’s blessings over you always.

Loved this book. Hard to put down. A real and amazing testimony of the saving power of Jesus. Easy to read and relate to. Inspires you to seek God and know Him more. It will inspire you to be an overcomer as well. Some parts of this story are so incredible, it’s amazing all that God brought him through! I would encourage everyone to read this book!

Susan Mills

Author The Leaf Key

Someone gifted me this book Yesterday and i haven’t put it down yet!!! Oh i wanted to fight with his momma for a lot of reasons!!! I’m so glad Jesus saved him!!! I give this book 100%. Please purchase this book ASAP!!!

What an amazing testimony! My faith to be an overcomer and do exploits for Jesus is greatly increased. I could not put the book down. Thank you, Jesus, for this young man’s life.

Sherrye Nail

Jonnathan’s book is powerful. A great read of testimonies and stories of miracles in his life! Highly recommend!

Wanda Ulrey

A powerful and thought-provoking story that takes you to the unimaginable world of trauma and brings you back by the grace of God to safety. It shook me to the core.

Dr. Marlin Lance

This is a beautiful account of Gods amazing grace in this young mans life. A very easy read and a great gift to buy for anyone needing to know Gods redemptive love!

Olive Breazeale

I dare any reader to complete this book and then to say, “There is no hope for me”.

This book is both brutal and brilliant.

The description of abuse and suffering is always a bit shocking and something the church often hides in the corner. Not this author. Your can hear the redemption in his voice as he recounts the brutality of his abuse with both love and compassion for those who caused him so much pain.

The brilliant part is the life changing love that shines through in every chapter. Jonnathan takes us on a journey of hope and redemption, weaving into the entire book his story of coming to life and life more abundantly.

The radical difference between who Jonnathan is now and who he should have become is shocking, so much so that it will bring hope to all who are ministering to and praying for, those they think are hopeless in their lives.

Truly, there is nothing impossible for God and no one, not even the one you have written off, is out of our Father’s reach.

I highly recommend this book!

Leslie Herron

I’ve known Jonnathan since July 2019 and he is one of the most authentic people I know. Every interaction with him, through text or Facebook or at his home fellowship, God Manifest, I always feel encouraged and challenged to pursue God in a very unique way. I highly recommend this book, you will experience Jesus on every page.

Benjamin Chacko

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