tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917481311996880590.post4059932263393259973..comments2024-01-22T03:04:05.265-05:00Comments on Art, Faith, and The Koko Lion: Jesus Was a Buddhist: Resurrecting the Bodhisattvarobert k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08504571789986383064noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917481311996880590.post-33790582812910544772019-04-28T20:17:27.898-04:002019-04-28T20:17:27.898-04:00Dear Reverend,
Sorry for the extremely long delay...Dear Reverend,<br /><br />Sorry for the extremely long delay in answering your smart and appreciated comment. What is accurate or not in these discussions can be fairly subjective, as you know. Philo's writings may have been reinterpreted; Josephus' most certainly were – none of it is entirely reliable. However, the mentions of 'Theraputa' in Philo's "Every Good Man is Free" describing Essene-like, pre-Christian groups of the "contemplative life"–I agree– are just too like the Theravadic (Theraputta) Buddhist monks on mission near Alexandria, but it's not always suggested that this was the whole of that group; and due to their wandering nature and apparent healthy, non-violent practices, I've heard them grouped in a generic fashion as Essene, along with other groups like Ebionites and Gnostics of various stripes. I tend to think almost all pre-Christians were influenced by Buddhism, and it's a sure thing that Tertullian, Origen, Irenaus, et al, would be even most insistant in expunging the true influence of godless "Easterners," considering the trouble they went to to get rid of everyone from their own neighborhood!<br /><br />Another major influence on my beliefs (and only spiritually supportable) is hundreds of hours meditating on the presence of this past, including a heart-based connection with the teacher Yeshua, who (like these particular sects in question) I don't believe to have been any more divinely born than we all are (and we all are), but I do believe him to have been heavily influenced by Buddhism – especially when you read GOT. I go into this all more in my book "How to Get to Heaven (Without Really Dying)" which has lots of stuff you may find fault with – but I bet you'd enjoy it nontheless (at least I hope so...)<br /><br />Many Blessings! and pleas feel free to comment on any of my crazy claims! <br /><br />Cheers,<br />Robertrobert k.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08504571789986383064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-917481311996880590.post-81222925400491938402018-09-15T10:33:07.638-04:002018-09-15T10:33:07.638-04:00This is very good, very important. However, I find...This is very good, very important. However, I find an inaccuracy: Only Philo of Alexandria, a Jewish merchant living in 10 BCE, mentions the "Theraputa" ("Therapeutae"). They sound like Buddhist monks. Philo calls them the best of men, truly good men, wandering ascetics who obeyed the Torah along with unidentified scriptures of their own.<br /><br />Aside from Philo's book, De Vitae Contemplativae, there is no mention of Theraputa priests anywhere. The Ossei'im (Essenes) are not connected to them, as far as we know.<br /><br />Kindest RegardsRev. Antonio Hernandezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393575938335733953noreply@blogger.com