BUDDHISM AND EVANGELISM

If you want to talk to Buddhists about Jesus, I would suggest that you familiarize yourself with this:

• 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). (Chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com)

Remarkable? I think so but not unusual. Our Lord has similarly revealed Himself within many cultures to validate His reality.

Admittedly, many suspect the authenticity of this prophecy. However, everything that has allegedly come from Gautama Buddha is suspect, since the earliest existent copies of his teachings were written approximately 600 years after his death, 600 years for possible changes to be made.

However, monks have told me that they are awaiting the coming of a greater Buddha. I ask if he could be Jesus. With some hesitation, they answer, “Maybe.”