One sunny day, the Buddha and Jesus were walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and they decided to row to the other side. When they reached the middle of the sea, a huge storm suddenly came up. Great waves tossed the boat, and the wind and rain bore down upon them mightily. Jesus stood up and said to the wind and waves “Peace, be still” and the wind and waves ceased.
The Buddha turned to Jesus and asked calmly “Why did you do that? The weather pattern you have disturbed here, must of necessity by the law of cause-and-effect, work itself out elsewhere. Many lives will now be lost”.
Another day the Buddha and Jesus were walking through the streets of Jerusalem, when a woman came running up to them, her five children with her. Bursting into tears, she begged Jesus to come with her and raise her father from the dead. Remaining silent, the Buddha followed the woman and Jesus to the place where her father’s corpse was laid out. “I command you, arise!” Jesus declared, and the man rose from the dead. The woman and her children thanked Jesus profusely, as did the formerly dead man, and then they went away.
The Buddha turned to Jesus and said calmly “Now that man must go through the agony of death yet again, and his family must suffer his loss yet again”.
On another day the Buddha and Jesus were walking through the streets of Jerusalem, when Jesus was confronted by a group of Pharisees. They argued with Jesus, and a crowd gathered. With a final flourish, Jesus won the debate and the Pharisees went away beaten, embarrassed, and angry.
The Buddha remained silent.
They walked together until they came upon the Temple, whereupon Jesus drove out the money-changers with great anger and violence. “Well, I have certainly shown them all today!” exclaimed Jesus. “Yes, you have” replied the Buddha “but your negative words and actions will come back upon you”.
One dark day the Buddha came upon Jesus hanging on a cross. “What are you doing up there?” asked the Buddha.
“I am suffering and dying for the sins of the world” Jesus replied. The Buddha sighed, and calmly told Jesus “All beings must suffer the consequences of their own actions, be they negative or positive. This is the Law of Karma. Furthermore, all things must die, Jesus. This is the Law of the Universe”.
Jesus struggled for breath and said “I shall come again!”.
“Yes, you shall return, many many times.” replied the Buddha.
Jesus gasped again, and said “When I return, it shall be in wrath. I shall bring great suffering with me and multitudes will die”.
Again the Buddha agreed “Yes, each time you return, it shall be in wrath. You shall bring great suffering each time, and multitudes will die”.
Then the Buddha turned and walked sadly away…
