Dhammapada

The Dhammapada is the only Buddhist text which we are sure is based on the original sayings of the Buddha. It dates to the 5th century BCE or earlier. It was orally transmitted until King Asoka ordered it to be written down. Hence the mnemonic devices we see in it. Such adaptation for mnemonic purposes would have been viewed as legitimate because the objective was to transmit the Buddha's ideas not his exact words. Things in the Gospels like the beatitudes can be similarly construed. The word Dharma roughly corresponds to Gospel in the sense of Good News and Law. So an English translation might be Gospel Path.

I first read the Dhammapada when I was 13. These pairs were key to my understanding of what Jesus was saying.

"Here he grieves, hereafter he grieves. In both states the evildoer grieves. He grieves, he is afflicted, perceiving the impurity of his own deeds.

Here he rejoices, hereafter he rejoices. In both states the welldoer rejoices. He rejoices, exceedingly rejoices, perceiving the purity of his own deeds.

Here he suffers, hereafter he suffers. In both states the evildoer suffers. ``Evil have I done'' (thinking thus), he suffers. Furthermore, he suffers, having gone to a woeful state.

Here he is happy, hereafter he is happy. In both states the welldoer is happy. ``Good have I done'' (thinking thus), he is happy. Furthermore, is he happy, having gone to a blissful state."

To me this connects to the kingdom being within us. Some scholars disagree with this interpretation of what Jesus said. Partly this is based on the conviction that Jesus could not have been aware of Hindu and Buddhist ideas. The evidence for that is that there is no evidence that he was. Yet this passage itself can be construed as such evidence.

Jesus said he was the way, truth, and life? He identifies himself with the truth in other passages. Could it be that I am the Way could be another way of saying I am the Tao?

The Ramayana says that in his old age Rama forgot he was Vishnu and believed he was just a human being. How could any human being know to what extent he is an incarnation? We don't even know what it would mean to be an incarnation in a biological sense. Might not Jesus have been in a position similar to that of the Buddha, Nichiren, the Dalai Lama, and Thich Nhat Hanh, all of whom are believed by some to be saviors and the incarnations of great souls?

Dhammapada