In many ways, Jesus and Buddha were talking about a very similar process of human transformation.

Pain is the foundational teacher of transformation for both of them, which led to compassion in Buddhist language and love in Christian language (I accept the common definition that our suffering is the degree of resistance we have toward our pain). Buddha taught us how to change our mind about what causes our suffering; Jesus taught us to change our very attitude toward necessary suffering, and that we could make it into a redemptive experience for all concerned.

They both recognized that pain is the only thing strong enough to grab our attention and defeat the ego’s dominance. Our suffering, in my definition, is whenever we are not in control. It is our opposition to the moment, our inner resistance that says, “I don’t want it to be this way.” Since the ego is always trying to control reality, it is invariably suffering, irritated, or unhappy, because reality is never exactly what we want. Isn’t that true? So Buddha teaches us how to undercut the ego in a most radical way through mental attitude and discipline. Jesus teaches us how to undercut the imperial ego by always choosing love, dedication, and service. The final result is often the same, although Jesus’ teaching had more social implications, which most Christians roundly ignored.

Jesus’ suffering on the cross was a correct diagnosis and revelation of the human dilemma. It was an invitation to enter into solidarity with the pain of the world, and our own pain, instead of always resisting it, avoiding it, or denying it. Lady Julian of Norwich, my favorite Christian mystic, understood it so well, and she taught, in effect, that “There is only one suffering and we all share in it.” That is the way a higher consciousness eventually sees the so-called problem of evil. That is the way the Buddha saw it too. There is only one suffering, and for Christians Jesus personified a radical surrender to the cosmic mystery of human suffering—a non-resistance to reality until we learn its deepest lessons.

Adapted from Jesus and Buddha: Paths to Awakening

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve – I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for help that I might do greater things – I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy – I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life – I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for – but everything I had hoped for.
Despite myself, my prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed!

NPR blog writes an interesting article about sleep cycles:

Read more — here.

Image via Google Commons