The Buddha

*******

"The Buddha" is not a name; it is, like "Christ," a title. It refers historically to a man named Siddhartha Gautama, who found enlightenment by sitting still and going inward, into his own mind. God always works through the mind and heart, and this is the Buddha's great discovery. He also founded a system of spiritual psychology; since his time, it has been called "Buddhism." Many say that Buddhism is a philosophy of life; it is not a "religion." For it has little to say about God, angels, other spiritual beings, or any other "religious" issues. So, it does not meet the criteria of a religion; instead, it is a Way of life. It does include Love (in Sanskrit, it is maitri) and compassion (Sanskrit, karuna). So, it is a reliable pattern of living that can be used by any good Christian. In fact, it is probable that Jesus studied Buddhism. (It was four hundred years old when Jesus was born.)
*******