Session 37, Vegan Theology: Jesus vs Buddha Part (I). Dr Chapman Chen
Youtube video: https://youtu.be/lGPInHpTOUg
If, for a moment, we set aside religious labels, set aside sectarian divisions, set aside the vast institutions and scriptural interpretations that developed later, and simply return to the original individuals themselves, Jesus and Buddha are, in fact, remarkably close. One might even say that, within different civilisations, they were pointing to the same truth:
Our real predicament does not lie outside us, but in our being trapped within the ego. Our real predicament does not lie outside us, but in our being trapped within the ego.
Jesus overcomes sin through unconditional Agape.
Buddha transcends suffering through universal compassion.
Jesus empties and renounces the ego by going to the Cross; Buddha relinquishes attachment to ego and realizes not-self in entering Nirvaṇa.
Both Jesus and Buddha teach us to bear insults. “…if a man strike you on the right cheek, turn to him the other as well,” Jesus tells us (Matthew 5:39)
“He who without resentment endures abuse, beating and punishment; whose power, real might, is patience—him do I call a holy man,” states Buddha (Dhammapada 399).
Both teach that all sentient beings are equal and to be valued.
“The fifth precept is this: sentient beings (眾生) must themselves refrain from taking life, nor should they counsel others to kill. For the lives of sentient beings are no different from human lives.” (Sutra of Hearing the Messiah, a scripture of the Nestorian Church in Tang China)
“Since all sentient beings are destined to attain unsurpassed perfect enlightenment, I therefore declare that all sentient beings possess Buddha-nature.” (Mahaparinirvaṇa Sutra, Fascicle 27, “Chapter on Bodhisattva Lion’s Roar”)
“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)
“All fear death; none is without fear of the pain of the rod. Taking oneself as the comparison, one should neither kill nor inflict violence.” (Dhammapada 129)
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