Buddha and Jesus: Could Solomon Be the Missing Link? (45 page)
Read Buddha and Jesus: Could Solomon Be the Missing Link? Online
Authors: R. E. Sherman
Buddha’s words here carry the same essence as Solomon’s two verses, as do the words of Jesus. Again, there is no reason to posit a direct relationship between Buddha and Jesus, because Jesus clearly was echoing Solomon, and Buddha may well have been echoing Solomon as well.
Further, the following excerpt from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is reminiscent of Solomon’s teachings on generosity:
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more important than
food,
and the body more important than
clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father
feeds
them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about
clothes
? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was
dressed
like one of these. If that is how God
clothes
the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more
clothe
you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying,
“What shall we
eat?”
or “What shall we drink?” or
“What shall we wear?”
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But
seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
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In this passage Jesus even mentions Solomon by name, providing further evidence that he had Solomon in mind as he was speaking. Solomon, too, taught the great importance of pursuing, or “treasuring,” righteousness and love.
Practice Charity
Solomon (950
B.C.
)
“There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.”
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“Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, for you do not know what evil will be on the earth.”
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“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
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Buddha (525 | Christ ( |
Buddha (525 | Christ ( |
“The greatest reward in the world is to provide for others.” “Because he gives a gift at the right time, wherever the result of that gift ripens he becomes rich, affluent, and wealthy, and benefits come to him at the right time, in abundant measure.” | “. . . you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” |
Buddha’s quote draws an analogy from farming—the planting of trees that will “ripen” to provide shade, flowers, and fruit. His imagery is similar to Solomon’s third quotation, which refers to fruits, crops, and vats of wine. As usual, Buddha leaves out any reference to God, implying that the universe (via karma) will naturally bring blessings to those who are generous toward the needy. In contrast, Solomon and Jesus saw a personal God as the one who provided blessings to those who were charitable toward others in need.
False Sacrifices and Generosity
Solomon (950
B.C.
)
“The sacrifice of the wicked is exceedingly disgusting and abhorrent [to the Lord]—how much more when he brings it with evil intention?”
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Buddha (525 | Christ ( |
“The world gives according to their faith or according to their pleasure: if a man frets about the food and the drink given to others, he will find no rest either by day or by night.” | “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” |
Buddha’s saying is secular, whereas Solomon and Jesus make specific reference to God. Underlying the words of both Solomon and Jesus is the idea that a charitable giver should be attempting to please God, not man. Ultimately, God is the one who will reward good deeds. Jesus’ quotation therefore has a clear precedent in Solomon rather than in Buddha.
Lay Up Treasures
Solomon (950
B.C.
)
“He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, righteousness and honor.”
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Buddha (525 | Christ ( |
“Let the wise man do righteousness: A treasure that others cannot share, which no thief can steal; a treasure which does not pass away.” | “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” “. . . lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. . . .” |
Solomon’s teaching about the rewards of pursuing righteousness is echoed by both Buddha and Jesus. Jesus further warned against trying to amass worldly riches:
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. . . . No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
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Both Buddha and Jesus therefore discussed storing up treasure that was permanent rather than temporary. But Jesus also emphasized having a pure heart that could only come from serving God. For Jesus, the treasure would be in heaven, where God would give rewards to those who did good deeds on earth. For Buddha, the treasure would be in the form of positive karma and progress toward enlightenment. Jesus, we can conclude, was drawing from Solomon directly, as Buddha may have been.
There is further precedent in Solomon for comparing wisdom and righteousness with precious treasure. For example:
How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her.
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Failure to See Your Own Faults
Solomon (950
B.C.
)
“Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.”
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“He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife. . .”
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