Similarities between Buddhism and Christianity:

1. The word 'birth' has a psychological meaning (rather than a physical meaning), as Jesus explained to Nicodemus in John 3 and the Buddha explained in SN 12.2; SN 23.2 & SN 5.10. Therefore, 're-birth' happens when living rather than at the termination of life. MN 86 states:

> *Sister, since I was born in the noble birth, I do not recall intentionally killing a living being.*
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2. The word 'death' has a psychological/spiritual meaning (rather than a physical meaning). 

> *Dhammapada 21. Heedfulness is the path to the Deathless. Heedlessness is the path to death. The heedful die not. The heedless are as if dead
> already*
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3. Dependent origination is taught in both, namely, James 1:15: 

> *But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;
> and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.*

4. While the Gospels mostly teach about 'Eternal Life', which is alien to Buddhism, at times Christianity teaches about the 'Deathless', which is the same as Buddhism, such as in the Gospel of Thomas verse 1 and John 21:23.

> *And he said, "Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death."*

5. Craving ('*tanha*'; lit. '*thirst*') as the cause of suffering is taught in both; as is the end of craving being 'Nibbana' or 'Eternal Life'.  

> *What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? James 4:1*
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> *But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up
> to eternal life. John 4:14*

6. 'The world' ('loka') is equated to suffering & the 'lokuttara' state of 'beyond the world' is the state of freedom. 

> *John 16:33 - The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!"*
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> *John 18:36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world".*
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> *1 Corinthians 7:29-31 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they
> do not;  those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as
> if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to
> keep;  those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in
> them. For this world in its present form is passing away*
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> *Insofar as it disintegrates, monk, it is called the 'world.' SN 35.82*
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> *Dhammapada 167. Follow not the vulgar way; live not in heedlessness; hold not false views; linger not long in worldly existence.*
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> *Titus 2:12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this
> present age....*

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7. 'Satan' is the ruler of the world: 

> *The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.*
> 
> *John 12:31*
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> 
> *44. Who shall overcome this earth, this realm of Yama and this sphere of men and gods? Who shall bring to perfection the well-taught path of
> wisdom as an expert garland-maker would his floral design?*
> 
> *45. A striver-on-the path shall overcome this earth, this realm of Yama and this sphere of men and gods. The striver-on-the-path shall
> bring to perfection the well-taught path of wisdom, as an expert
> garland-maker would his floral design.*
> 
> *46. Realizing that this body is like froth, penetrating its mirage-like nature, and plucking out Mara's flower-tipped arrows of
> sensuality, go beyond sight of the King of Death!*
> 
> *Dhammapada*

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8. Both teach the destruction of kamma. 

> *And what is the cessation of kamma? From the cessation of contact is the cessation of kamma; and just this noble eightfold path — right
> view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood,
> right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration — is the path of
> practice leading to the cessation of kamma. AN 6.63*
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> *Galatians 2:16 - Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have
> believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ,
> and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall
> no flesh be justified.*
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9. Both have a Trinity or Triple Gem. Buddha reveals/makes known the Dhamma (Truth & Nibbana), the path to which is represented by the Sangha, who live the Holy Way of Life (Brahmacariyaṃ). Jesus reveals/makes known the Father, of which the Holy Spirit is the way. Both teach a disciple may attain the same realisation as the teacher. 

> *So this holy life, bhikkhus... it is this unshakeable deliverance of mind that
> is the goal of this holy life, its heartwood, and its end.”*
> 
> *MN 29*
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> *John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of
> everything I have said to you.*
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> *Hasten to be saved without being urged! Instead, be eager of your own accord, and, if possible, arrive even before me; for thus the Father
> will love you. The Apocryphon of James*
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10. Both teach the practise of mental purity & energetic watchfulness.
> 
> *Matthew 25 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five
> of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their
> lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took
> oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in
> coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.... Therefore keep
> watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.*
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11. Both teach 'god is love'. The Brahmans, like the Jews, believed they were Brahma's (God's) chosen people. But Buddha in the *Tevijja Sutta* taught the Brahmans god is love, i.e., the path to union with Brahma is to radiate boundless love towards all beings. Similarly, Christianity teaches god is love (1 John 4:8), which was contrary to Judaism, in which god was jealous, violent & tribal.

> *And he lets his mind pervade one quarter of the world with thoughts of Love, and so the second, and so the third, and so the fourth. And
> thus the whole wide world, above, below, around, and everywhere, does
> he continue to pervade with heart of Love, far-reaching, grown great,
> and beyond measure. Just, Vāseṭṭha, as a mighty trumpeter makes
> himself heard—and that without difficulty—in all the four directions;
> even so of all things that have shape or life, there is not one that
> he passes by or leaves aside, but regards them all with mind set free,
> and deep-felt love. Verily this, Vāseṭṭha, is the way to a state of
> union with Brahmā. Tevijja Sutta*
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> *Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does
> not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8*
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12. In summary, based on many similar core concepts, which use very similar terms, Christianity appeared to be an attempt to transpose Buddhism onto a theist framework; which was fatally flawed because it is impossible to transpose transcendent Nibbanic Buddhism onto worldly creationist Kabbalah Judaism.