Jesus In India — Page 113
CHAPTER FOUR 103 and of his noble teachings. It was, therefore, inevitable that a great part of his teachings and ceremonial rites should find way into Buddhist records and practice because Jesus, the Messiah, was held in great esteem by the Buddhists who had even pronounced him to be the Buddha. That is why they recorded his sayings in their books and ascribed them to Gautama Buddha. It is a most amazing event to see the Buddha make his disciples understand, in exactly the same way as Jesus, the Messiah, in par- ables, especially those parables that are contained in the Gospels. In one of these parables the Buddha says: As the peasant sows the seed but cannot say the grain shall swell today or germinate tomorrow, so also is it with the disciple. That is to say, he can not express any opinion as to whether he will grow and develop well or will be like the grain which is sown in rocky soil and dries up. Look, this is exactly that same parable which is still there, up till now, in the Gospels. Then again, the Buddha, gives another exam- ple that, 'When a herd of deer prospers in a forest, a man comes who deceptively opens for them that path which would lead to their death, that is to say he tries to lead them to a path which will ultimately ensnare them and bring them to their death. And another man comes who opens a safe path to them, that is to say he sows a field so they may eat therefrom, and he brings to them a canal so that they may drink therefrom and thrive; such is the case with men who live in prosperity, the devil comes and opens the eightfold path of evil, so that they may perish. Then comes the