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Gautama is believed to have lived between 563 - 483 B.C. Gautama was born into the warrior class under the
caste system of India and later achieved enlightenment to become the Buddha (or enlightened one) and founder
of Buddhism. Like Zoroaster (below), very little was written about him during his lifetime, with the accounts
becoming more incredible over time.
VIRGIN BIRTH Gautama was born to Suddhodana and his wife of twenty years, Maya. Though critics claim
Maya was a virgin, we must assume she was not as she was the king's favorite wife. Also, The Acts of the
Buddha acknowledges Maya and Suddhodana as having sexual relations (the two tasted of love's delight...),
though I feel it is fair to point out most English translations do not contain this statement. A detailed account of
Gautama's birth may be found here. Though Maya is portrayed as being virtuous and pure-minded, a virgin
conception is never mentioned regarding the birth of the Buddha. At the very most, it was a womb
transference as in the story of Krishna:
The most Excellent of all Bodhisattvas fell directly from his place among the residents of Tushita heaven, and
streaking through the three worlds, suddenly took the form of a huge six-tusked elephant as white as Himalaya,
and entered Maya's womb. Buddha Karita 1:18
Skeptic Interjection: Does the resemblance between the names Maya and Mary hold any significance?
Answer: Though similar in their English translations, their original forms and translations are completely
different. Maya, from Sanskrit, means Illusion whereas Mary (Maryam) translates from Hebrew as Bitter.
WISEMEN I could find no mention of wisemen in any Buddhist text but I did find the following in Post-Chrisitan
writings:
Version 1: An ascetic (not wisemen) visits the king to relay the information he received from the gods that his
child will become a great religious leader. After hearing this, Brahmans (not wisemen) decide to dedicate their
sons depending on the outcome of the prophecy.
"A son has been born in the family of Suddhodana the king. Thirty-five years from now he will become a
Buddha...Whether the young prince become a Buddha or a king, we will each one give a son: so that if he
become a Buddha, he shall be followed and surrounded by monks of the warrior caste; and if he become a king,
by nobles of the warrior caste." Jataka I:55,57
Version 2: At Gautama's birth, a seer (not wisemen) tells Suddhodana that Gautama will become a great
religious leader:
"The great seer came to the palace of the king. 'Thy son has been born for the sake of supreme knowledge.
Having forsaken his kingdom, indifferent to all worldly objects, he will shine forth as a sun of knowledge to
destroy the darkness in the world.'" Buddha-Karita 1:54,62,74
PRESENTED WITH GOLD, FRANKINCENSE, AND MYRRH Again, I find no mention of such an occurrence
except for a far-fetched correlation in a Post-Christian writing. We are told the gods (not wisemen) presented
Gautama with sandalwood, rain, water lilies, and lotus flowers (Buddhist symbols). This should come as no
surprise as royal births are often celebrated with festivals and gifts!
"As soon as he was born the thousand-eyed one took him gently, bright like a golden pillar. Two pure streams of
water fell from heaven upon his head with piles of Mandara flowers. The yaksha-lords stood round guarding him
with golden lotuses in their hands. The great dragons gazed with eyes of intent devotion, and fanned him and
strewed Mandara flowers over him. And from a cloudless sky there fell a shower full of lotuses and water-lilies,
and perfumed with sandalwood." Buddha Karita 1:27,36,38,40
GUIDED BY A STAR There is no mention of a celestial sign but I did find far-fetched similarities in Post-
Christian texts:
Version 1: The Brahmans look for signs of the Buddha on Gautama to determine if he will be a king or religious
leader. The signs do not imply celestial omens but physical markings a Buddha would have:
"They asked [the Brahmans] to observe the marks and characteristics of the Future Buddha's person, and to
prophesy his fortune. If a man possessing such marks and characteristics continue in the household life, he
becomes a Universal Monarch. If he retire from the world, he becomes a Buddha." Jataka 1:56
Version 2: Though the gods sent miraculous signs through nature, the appearance of a star is never said to
have guided the prophet. However, we are told precisely what the signs are:
"Two streams of water bursting from heaven, bright as the moon's rays, having the power of heat and cold, fell
down upon that peerless one's benign head to give refreshment to his body... The gods held up a white umbrella
in the sky and muttered the highest blessings on his supreme wisdom... Then having learned by signs and
through the power of his penances this birth of him who was to destroy all birth, the great seer Asita came to the
palace of the king. Thus the great seer beheld the king's son with wonder, his foot marked with a wheel, his
fingers and toes webbed, with a circle of hair between his eyebrows, and signs of vigour like an elephant."
Buddha Karita 1:35,37,5465
DECEMBER 25TH Gautama's birth is actually celebrated in the spring month of Vesak by his followers (though
we have already shown this date to be insignificant for Jesus).
ATTEMPT ON HIS LIFE BY AN EVIL KING There is no mention of an attempt on Gautama's life. The only thing
we are told is his kingly father tries to persuade him away from a life of religious servitude by attempting to
entice him with royal privileges. When the prophet tells the king his son will see four signs leading to his religious
calling, the king orders guards to surround the child to prevent such an event. Source
"Then said the king, 'What shall my son see to make him retire from the world?' 'The four signs.' 'What four?' 'A
decrepit old man, a diseased man, a dead man, and a monk.' 'From this time forth,' said the king, 'let no such
persons be allowed to come near my son. It will never do for my son to become a Buddha. What I would wish to
see is my son exercising sovereign rule and authority...' And when he had so spoken he placed guards for a
distance of a quarter of a league in each of the four directions, in order that none of these four kinds of men
might come within sight of his son." Jataka 1:57
ROYAL LINEAGE Like Krishna, Gautama was an immediate royal descendant born into privilege. Jesus was
a distant descendant of King David born into poverty
MILESTONE AGES Contrary to Jesus who taught in the temple at the age of 12, began his ministry at 30, and
died at 33, Gautama's milestone ages differ from what the critics claim. He finished his education at 15, married
at 16, became a monk at 29, reached enlightenment at 35, and died at 80. Source
CRUCIFIXION Though critics claim some vague accounts mention Gautama being crucified, I can find no
mention of this in any Buddhist source. In fact, we are told Gautama dies of natural causes at the age of 80. His
followers accompany him to a river and provide him with a couch.
"'Be so good as to spread me a couch... I am weary and wish to lie down...' Then the [Buddha] fell into a deep
meditation, and having passed through the four jhanas, entered Nirvana." Source
RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION After his death, Gautama's body was cremated. Source
"And they burned the remains of the Blessed One as they would do to the body of a king of kings." Source
Gautama was said to transcend all meditation levels upon his deathbed before reaching Nirvana. But according to
Buddhism, Nirvana is not a physical place, but a mental state. Like we mention with Krishna, the concept of
Buddha transcending into Nirvana differs greatly from the Christian Heaven.
ERRONEOUS SIMILARITIES CLAIMED BY CRITICS:
- He fed a multitude with a basket of cakes. There is no mention of this in any Buddhist text.
- Transfiguration on a Mount. Though Gautama reached spiritual enlightenment, he did not experience a
physical transfiguration. Nor did this occur on a mount- Buddha obtained his enlightenment beneath the
Bodhi tree. - Crushing the Serpent's Head. Like Krishna, Buddha is never referred to by this title but a tale does
surface in a later text which mentions him literally slaying a serpent. But as stated, this was a
metaphorical title of Jesus. - Poverty Vows. Though some Christians may take vows of poverty, this was never taught by Jesus. He
only warned how the love of earthly possession could turn our focus away from eternal things. Matthew 6:
19-24 - Similar titles: Good Shepherd, Carpenter, Alpha and Omega, Sin Bearer, God of Gods, Master, Light of the
World, Redeemer, Everlasting to Everlasting, etc. But Gautama never claimed to be a deity, rendering
these titles obviously false. The only titles he shared with Jesus that I could find mentioned in Buddhist
texts were Lord, Teacher and Holy One.
IN CONCLUSION Because Buddhism shares many concepts with Hinduism (and originated in the approximate
vicinity), there are actually more similarities between the stories of Buddha and Krishna than Buddha and Jesus.
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