Buddha and Jesus: Could Solomon Be the Missing Link? (24 page)
Read Buddha and Jesus: Could Solomon Be the Missing Link? Online
Authors: R. E. Sherman
What precisely is the man of integrity guarding against? The word “guard” implies deliberate attacks. Solomon’s proverb may assume
that this protection will be provided by God. Solomon may also be referring to the kind of protection the righteous one has because there are no weak areas that would be chinks in his or her armor. Buddha’s proverb claims very strong protection, wherein the Evil One cannot even come close to the virtuous, vigilant person. Mara’s schemes will be seen for what they are by those who are wise.
An important difference between Solomon and Buddha is that, for Solomon, the source of protection is assumed to be God, whereas in Buddha the source is clearly the self.
Solomon | Buddha |
| |
The [uncompromisingly] righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked gets into it instead. | Self is the lord of self, who else could be the lord? With self well subdued, a man finds a lord such as few can find. |
The question in the second sentence of Buddha’s proverb implies that God is not a candidate for being the master of one’s self. Solomon’s proverb presumes God’s role as the rescuer, as well as the one who diverts disaster away from the righteous and onto the wicked. The righteous person “is delivered”; in other words, rescued by someone other than the self. Although Solomon does not specifically say so, what we know about Jewish culture and beliefs strongly suggests that he meant that God was the one who would do the delivering. Buddha’s proverb implies that each person is his or her own worst enemy as well as his or her own deliverer. The phrase “the fully subdued self” implies that there is a self that must be subdued to begin with; somehow, self must overcome self by a sheer act of will. It’s no wonder that, for Buddha, this kind of mastery is “very difficult to achieve.”
And yet, because of the consequences described by these verses, the righteous have no reason to fear or envy the wicked. Ultimately, in both Buddha and Solomon, righteousness brings a reward, while evil brings a downfall. So fear and envy can be put to rest.
Solomon | Buddha |
| |
Do not | If a man’s thoughts are not dissipated, if his mind is not perplexed, if he has ceased to think of good or evil, then there is no |
Solomon exhorted us to not be concerned with or jealous of evil people because in the end they will encounter their undoing. Buddha’s focus was on each person thoroughly insulating himself or herself from the debilitating effects of any kind of fear.
Furthermore, the righteous need not fear because the positive consequences of wisdom are permanent.
Solomon | Buddha |
| |
The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand. | As a solid rock is not shaken by the wind, wise people falter not amidst blame and praise. |
Buddha’s goal was to attain impenetrable insulation from the manipulative efforts of others, whether by praise or criticism. His imagery of a solid rock that the wind cannot shake is quite analogous to Solomon’s symbol of a house that stands firm against severe weather. In both cases, the righteous are seen as invincible.