Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, and Lao Tzu: The Parallel Sayings

8 years I was in the seminary. part of our history of philosophy was dedicated to Eastern Thought (1956). The professor was very bland, but in reality he had the intellectual part of these paths down clearly. But, we still did not understand what he was saying nor were we fully enlightened as to the depth and meaning of these paths of spirituality. We were studying them mostly as finding errors in them which would be more apologetic for Christianity and less interested in the depth of this thinking and living.In the final year of theology, I was able to be in a class on the "Gospel of Thomas". The professor was a well respected Catholic Biblical Scholar.but once again we read this document only as a gnostic text and not trying to get to the depth of meaning and the real history of the various texts which Gnosticism produced. We only saw these texts as "errors" against "Orthodox" Christian thought.Richard Hooper does a fantastic job of bringing together the thoughts of all four of the PATHS of Spiritual and Life reflection which this book presents. I really wish we had this text years ago. The author clearly describes not just the meaning and role of Gnosticism and its influence on Christian Theology, but then the similarity of thought of the eastern paths of life and that of the early Christian community.This is truly a book of meditation. Each chapter begins with an explanation of the Christian experience as it is also reflected in the long history of the in depth experience of the Way (Tau) as experienced by Hindu, Buddhist and Lao Tzu monks.If one wishes to really experience the depth of meaning of what life and humanity mean, this will be a powerful introduction to a life of depth spirituality. This book will help clarify ones own understanding of the religious experience his or her faith has presented. It will also help one to remove from the thinking process the errors which often obfuscate our Journey in the spiritual life.

Read this book is my advice. It really connects what each of these four masters have said. It all comes together so well. You really CAN have it all. Eastern and western thoughts can be together and merge. Thank you for this wonderful book.

This is a marvelously interesting and useful collection of great quotations by these masters. I have found it valuable both for inspiration and for research in my interspiritual writing. Hooper has done a fine job of categorizing the quotations into topical areas. The book is rich and beautiful. It has found a permanent place on my bookshelf.It is worth noting that almost all of the quotations from Jesus come from the non-canonical gospels rather than from the more widely accepted Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. That isn't a problem for me because those alternative accounts and collections of sayings reveal the more mystical side of the Great Rabbi and Divine Spiritual Teacher but if you are a more traditionalist reader you might be either disappointed or even offended by the editor's selections.Definitely a worthy acquisition if your taste in spiritual literature runs to the interfaith/interspiritual side of things.

For the Christian parts, this book relies quite a bit on the Gnostic gospels. Thats fine and quite interesting, but not what I expected. I wish the title would have conveyed this. Parallels between the standard bible and the other religions would be more compelling, in my opinion. This seems like reaching, when one really shouldn't have to.

God happens to be living in China as well as Montana ... and in the Amazon area as well as the Euphrates. He has spoken to ALL -- without preference to any latitude or longitude. So nice to see the SAME MESSAGES coming through all of his voices. Memories of a sign I saw in Nairobi, Kenya some many years ago .. on someone's push cart ... "There is but One God Allah. Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed were His prophets." God has no special children -- we are ALL his grandchildren. This book bridges us to the fact that the God of the Galaxy -- is the same God of the Andromeda Galaxy -- and the many thousands of others. The EGO loses THE WONDER of it all. We are to be walking side by side.

Amazing insight. Well balanced and it takes information that is not usually available to the rest of us and uses it in a way a lot of us were not taught as kids. A great book for the religous of us as well as the mere spiritual of us. No matter what you believe in these wise figures in this book have lessons for us all and this book really shines light on how related the world religions are in their views, goals and lessons...eye opening since we have been plagued through history with these religions at the core of conlficts with each other. We can learn to recognize each other as different versions of ourselves instead of enemies of each other.

I take no sides here. After all, religion is a matter of "faith," not a specific hardcore science of measurement. The presenter makes a good effort to compare aspects of the different philosophers concepts. While there is plenty of room for debate, that is religion. Taking a position and often if not, objecting to the opinion and position of others. Wars have been fought over this philosophy (religion). I am one that takes no position. I am happy with "your beliefs." They are yours! The supporting cast took time to see that no one idea was used to trump that of another.

If only this type of book was made available to every school to counteract the exclusiveness and narrow dogma that seems to dominate most religions. Why isn't it obvious that all religions are expressions of a spiritual consciousness that is part of every human experience? Just read the sayings from this book and you can see that enlightened minds are inspired from the same divine source. The Great Light shines everywhere equally. It is only culture that translates concepts differently. The great sages who transcend their culture see this Light directly - not the reflections or shadows. A truly beautiful book.