Merle, There is a *big* difference between these stories of Buddha and Christ. With Buddha's story it makes no difference whether you believe Buddha was a real man or not. It's the teachings that are important because they gel with our real existence in this life. Personally, I believe the story is a metaphor that mirrors the early life of Buddha as a prince. i.e. we are attached to sensuous desire: sex, food, objects, people etc. Then the prince see's a sick person and an old person = suffering This is exactly what happens to our bodies. Then he see's a monk and realises there is a spiritual path, something that transcends our usual way at looking at life. Then he sets out on his journey.
It's a very archetypal story that mirrors what we all go thru in life no matter whether we're born into privilege or not. I would argue with you on a very fundamental point tho. If Jesus was the Son of God, or even God Himself, then being crucified and knowing you're going to heaven afterward isn't really much of a sacrifice at all. Buddha's story is much more a story of salvation than Christs' because Buddha's message frees us from suffering inthis life, and not in some imagined after-life. Mike ________________________________ From: Merle Lester <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, 7 September 2012, 8:44 Subject: [Zen] Re: THE BASIC TEACHING OF BUDDHA so buddha is some dude who is born into the upper crust of society. .decides it's not the way to go..sets out to "find the way"..then makes "the way" known to others who have "lost the way". .same old story repeated by christ...though with buddha he could always go back to the rich life if looking for "the way" did not pan out...and he lived to a ripe old age! ..however where was christ going to go?...nailed to a cross. .i actually prefer the teachings of christ as he did suffer. .not preach about "oh all life is suffering"..get over it... and search for "the way"... christ/ buddha... both teach... "i am the way" and edgar......... i thought you were hard and fast atheist..? what attracted you to zen buddhism? merle http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/Buddhism/footsteps.htm
