What Christianity & Buddhism Share

Matthew 25:35-40

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat... whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Dhammapada 220

“There is no fire like passion, no shark like hatred, no snare like delusion, no torrent like craving.”

Dana (giving) as spiritual practice

1 John 3:17

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”

Dhammapada 219

“The gift of truth surpasses all other gifts; the taste of truth surpasses all other tastes.”

1 Corinthians 12:12-13

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body.”

Dhammapada 25

“With spiritual friends, the journey to enlightenment becomes clear; the sangha supports the path of the Buddha's teaching.”

Colossians 3:12

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”

Dhammapada 5:1

“Hatred does not cease by hatred at any time. Hatred ceases by love. This is an eternal law.”

Genesis 1:1-3

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth... And God said, Let there be light.”

Kalachakra Tantra

“The cosmos arises and dissolves through the endless cycles of time and consciousness.”

Cyclical view of cosmic manifestation

2 Corinthians 5:1-2

“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven.”

Tibetan Book of the Dead

“At the moment of death, the consciousness experiences the clear light of reality; recognition of this nature leads to liberation.”

John 8:12

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Dhammapada 172

“Be a lamp unto yourself. Be your own refuge. Seek not external salvation.”

Inner enlightenment

Revelation 21:1-4

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away... He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.”

Digha Nikaya 26

“When the age of decline reaches its nadir and human lifespan shrinks to ten years, the future Buddha Maitreya will arise in the world, fully enlightened, endowed with wisdom and compassion, and will teach the Dharma again.”

Ephesians 6:12

“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world.”

Dhammapada 183-184

“Do not follow evil; do not live heedlessly. Do not follow false views. Be not heedless in the pursuit of truth.”

Matthew 6:16-18

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting.”

Fasting as private discipline

Dhammapada 185

“The restraint of speech is good; good is the restraint of mind. The restraint of body is good; good is restraint in all things.”

Matthew 6:16-17

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face.”

Dhammapada 185

“The ascetic practices mindfulness in eating, taking food for sustenance rather than gratification, cultivating equanimity.”

1 John 1:9

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Dhammapada 39

“One should not neglect one's own welfare for the sake of another, however great. Knowing one's own welfare well, one should be intent on one's goal.”

Path toward releasing resentment and attaining peace

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Dhammapada 235

“The disciple who honors the worthy, whether living or dead, gathers merit and awakens to the dharma.”

Matthew 5:5

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Dhammapada 259

“The bhikkhu who delights in mindfulness, who sees danger in heedlessness, advances like a fire that leaves nothing behind.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.”

Metta Sutta

“May I be free from fear. May I be free from pain. May I be free from sorrow. May all beings be filled with lovingkindness.”

Matthew 11:2-3

“When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, Are you the one who is to come?”

Maitreya Buddha Prophecy

“The Bodhisattva Maitreya will appear in the future age to teach the dharma anew when the teachings of Buddha have faded.”

John 11:40-44

“Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God? Then Jesus called in a loud voice, Lazarus, come out! The dead man came out.”

Dhammapada 252

“The Tathagata (Buddha) dwells in the world but transcends it, like a lotus flower untouched by water, demonstrating the miraculous nature of enlightenment.”

1 John 3:2

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him.”

Dzogchen Tantra

“The direct recognition of the empty, luminous nature of mind is the union of wisdom and compassion, leading to enlightenment.”

Romans 1:20

“For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.”

Dhammapada 308

“The contemplative mind, seeing nature as it truly is without grasping, finds the path to peace and enlightenment.”

James 1:2-4

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

Dhammapada 184

“Patient endurance is the highest austerity. Nibbana is supreme, say the Buddhas.”

Hebrews 11:14-16

“People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. But they are longing for a better country - a heavenly one.”

Mahavamsa 1.1

“The Buddha's bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya becomes the destination for pilgrims seeking enlightenment and connection to the Buddha's awakening.”

Matthew 6:9-13

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

The Lord's Prayer

Metta Sutta

“May all beings be happy. May all beings be safe. May all beings be peaceful.”

Loving-kindness meditation

1 Corinthians 15:42-44

“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory.”

Samyutta Nikaya 22:1

“The nature of conditioned things is to arise and pass away; through this arising and passing, the cycle of rebirth continues until nirvana is attained.”

Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.”

Dhammapada 387

“Let the sage kindle the light; the lamp is a symbol of enlightenment burning away the darkness of ignorance.”

Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

Dhammapada 388-389

“If one could find an intelligent companion... one should wander alone rather than with a fool.”

Silence in meditation

Colossians 2:16-17

“Let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.”

Uposatha Observance

“The four lunar observance days mark sacred time for intensified practice and reflection on the dharma.”

Genesis 2:15

“The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”

Dhammapada 169

“Follow the path of virtue. Those who live according to dharma live in harmony with the world and its creatures.”

Romans 5:3-4

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character.”

Four Noble Truths

“Life contains suffering (dukkha); suffering arises from craving (samudaya); there is cessation of suffering (nirvana); the path leads to cessation.”

Matthew 23:10

“Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.”

Dhammapada 289

“The Buddha teaches the way to enlightenment; the path must be walked by each individual through their own effort and understanding.”

John 14:2-3

“My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”

Dhammapada 21

“Vigilance is the path to the Deathless. Heedlessness is the path to death. The vigilant do not die; the heedless are as if dead already.”

Nirvana as ultimate aim

Genesis 6:11-9:17

“And the Lord said, 'I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created, for I am sorry that I have made them.'”

Pali Canon

“When the Buddha contemplated the rise and fall of the world through cycles of creation and destruction.”

Cyclical destruction and renewal

Matthew 7:12

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.”

Udanavarga 5:18

“A man should wander about treating all beings as he himself would like to be treated.”

Proverbs 18:21

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

Dhammapada 133

“Do not speak harshly to anyone; those who are spoken to will answer you in the same way. Harsh speech is painful; retaliation will touch you.”

1 John 4:7-8

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”

Dzogchen Teaching

“The fundamental nature of all phenomena is the primordial purity and non-dual awareness - everything is of one essence.”

James 3:17

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit.”

Dhammapada 15

“Wisdom is the path to the deathless; heedlessness is the path to death; the wise who choose the path reach Nirvana.”