THE
HERITAGE OF SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA
BUDDHA
(SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA) 563-483 B.C.
By William Singleton
BUDDHA'S RECOGNITION OF HIS NEED FOR CHRIST
Near his death (483 B.C.) Buddha (The
Enlightened One) told his followers, "Regardless of how many laws you have
kept, or even if you pray 5 times a day, you cannot be free from your sin. Even
though you burn yourself, even though I become a hermit, or am reborn another
10 times, I also shall not be saved." (Manuscript, Praising Temple,
Chiengmai Thailand).
Buddha taught that he was not a "god", but only a man, a truth
seeker. But on his death bed Buddha taught that there would be a future
Messiah, "Lord of Mercies", who would be able to free men of their
sins. Buddha said, "...He is the Lord of Mercies, His name shall be called
the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. He is all knowing, all wise. He knows all
that is in the human heart. He is Lord of all the angels and of all humans. No
one is greater than He." (Sutrapridot 3:107).
Buddha continued to teach of the Lord of Mercies, that "...His side has a
wound where he was pierced, and his forehead has many scars. He will carry you
to heaven where you will find the triune God. Thus give up following the old
way. A spirit from heaven will come and dwell in your heart." (Manuscript,
Praising Temple, Chiengmai, Thailand).
Jesus, later, fulfilled all of these prophesies. The awesomeness of the
revealed Christ should call all peoples to submit to his rule. He is the only
one under heaven through whom we can be saved.
In view of Buddha's familiarity with the coming King of Kings, one must wonder
if the Magi of Matthew 2 were Buddhist priests. There is a different, late,
seemingly foundless, tradition that the Magi were of mixed races and
nationalities. The mixture is hardly supported by the scripture's description
of "Magi from the east," who avoid Herod and secretly return to
"their country."
In ancient writings, Magi actually refers to a tribe of the Medes that were
known for being warriors and priests at the same time. Bardiya, a Magi, raised
a rebellion against Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, during the life time of Buddha
(521 B.C.). Zoroaster also belonged to this tribe.
PROPHESIES OF BUDDHA'S ANCESTORS AND DISTANT RELATIVES
In 2513 B.C. Noah exited
the Ark. He told his sons that the descendants of Japheth (Europeans and
Mongolians) would extend their territory and live in the house of Shem. He said
that the descendants of Shem (Southern Asians, Jews, and Arabs) would have a
special relationship with God. In contrast, Ham was warned that the descendants
of one of his sons (Canaan) would be the lowest of slaves.
Siddharta descended from Shem. Some of the other descendants of shem were used
by God to write the Bible.
Moses wrote the first five books of the Old Testament(1500-1461 B.C.). He told
of the coming of a great Jewish prophet. Anyone who did not listen to him would
be called to account before God.
King David wrote the book of Psalms(1064-1024 B.C.) and prophesied that the
great king, prophet, messiah that was to come from his lineage would, in his
death, have his hands and feet pierced. The guards would divide his garments
and cast lots for his raiment. This messiah's soul was not to be left in the
grave, and his body was not to see decay. The Messiah was to be seated at the
right hand of God and given rule and authority.
Isaiah, another descendant of Shem, prophesied (740-712 B.C.) that the coming great
one would be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, prince of peace. His power
was to be in his mouth and the words he spoke. He would be despised, forsaken
and a man of sorrow. He was to be born of a virgin, do miracles, healing the
sick. Lead like a lamb to the slaughter, he would be slain for our iniquities.
A book was to be given to lead people out of darkness and gloom. People from
all nations were to flow into His kingdom.
THE RELATION OF DANIEL AND BUDDHA
It was with this great prophetic background that Daniel
(Belteshazzar) was carried into captivity by the Babylonians (606 B.C.). When
Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream, revealing that the Medes and
Persians were to conquer Babylon, he was elevated to chief administrator of the
empire. He had also revealed that the Medes and Persians were to be conquered
by the Greeks, and the Greeks by the Romans. During the Roman rule God was to
set up his own kingdom (the church) that was to grow and fill the earth.
God used Daniel as a great prophet. Measuring from Ezra's return to Jerusalem,
Daniel revealed the great Messiah was to come in 26 A.D. and leave 3 1/2 years
later. After that a prince (Titus) was to destroy Jerusalem.
The Medes and Persians then conquered Babylon in 538 B.C. and shortly
thereafter elevated Belteshazzar to be the chief administrator of their empire.
Siddhartha Gautama was born on the edge of the Persian Empire, in
northeast India in 563 B.C. In 534 B.C., at the age of 29, Siddhartha left the
protection of his father's castle to explore the world and seek truth. This was
shortly after Daniel began to administer the regions near his home. Soon
Darius, the Persian emperor, issued a decree that in every part of his kingdom
people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
In 531 B.C. Siddhartha Gautama, Buddha, began his own special ministry. Buddha
always claimed to be a mere man and recognized that sin offered a significant
problem for himself and other mortal men.
FORMERLY
PRA-AKRATO, Buddhist Priest, now SAM SIAM, who preaches about Jesus :
"Right now Jesus calls us to come to Him. Buddha told us when we find
Jesus to give up the old way and follow the Lord. If you are truly Buddhist,
you will listen to Buddha's last words on his death bed."
FORMERLY
BENG HENG, BUDDHIST MONK-NOW VIOL LAY, CHRISTIAN:
"If you understand the
truth about Buddha, you will know you must
become a Christian."
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