Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, and Lao Tzu: The Parallel Sayings

May 16, 2012 by Richard Hooper

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This state of affairs is not altogether surprising considering the fact that scholars are born and raised in Western materialistic societies—societies that are still largely influenced by the dualistic, Judeo-Christian worldview. Most scholars are not versed in Eastern philosophy, and have never experienced altered states of consciousness themselves.

Perhaps it takes a mystic to see a mystic. Those readers of the Gospels who are versed in Eastern philosophy will not have such a hard time discovering the authentic teachings of the historical Jesus. They may recognize a Jesus there who often sounds very much like the historical Buddha. They may find in the Gnostic Gospels a Christ who sounds very much like Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita. And they may find a teacher who one day woke up in the Tao, and just happened to call it the "Kingdom of God."

Visit the Patheos Book Club for more on Hooper's new book, Jesus, Buddha, Krishna and Lao Tzu: The Parallel Sayings.

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