Eightfold Path Of The Buddha And Jesus
Recently I partook in discussions about whether or not the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount, (when Jesus said “blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy” for example), are the same as the eightfold way of Buddhism, which is one of the four noble truths of Buddhist belief. Afterwards I happened to be meditating with one of the same folks, and it came to mind that “Blessed are the Merciful for they shall be shown Mercy”, is Jesus words describing Mindfulness meditation. So I thought I could work from that point and map these two sets of descriptions of The Way (Tao?) together.
Buddhism’s teaching sequence goes:
Right View
Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.
Right Resolve/Intention
Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the Earth.
Right Speech
Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.
Right Conduct/Action
Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.
Right Livelihood
Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Right Effort
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of God.
Right Mindfulness
Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy.
Right Samadhi/Concentration
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
The sequence Jesus taught at the Sermon on the Mount goes:
Right Livelihood
Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Right Conduct/Action
Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.
Right Resolve/Intention
Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the Earth.
Right Samadhi/Concentration
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Right Mindfulness
Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy.
Right View
Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.
Right Speech
Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.
Right Effort
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of God.
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