Christ and Buddha meet at the Coffee Shop

Part One of A Mini-Series

Christ is C and Buddha is B…

C: Hello Siddhartha - nice to meet you finally. God bless!

B: Yes - same to you Jesus of Nazareth.

C: I am a big fan of your work. It actually influenced mine.

B: Yes, from what I have learned we seem to be on the same wavelength.

C: Yes, Love and forgiveness was my revolution in the old Testament eye for an eye Middle East during the Roman Empire.

B: And Loving kindness and compassion was mine in the East in a 5th century BCE Northern India kingdom.

C: Seems humans have made some progress but still have a long way to go.

B: Yes - there are so many now! Maybe too much loving kindness - eh? (giggles)

C: Oh, so you have a sense of humor? - But what about right mind- right speech, 8 Fold Path teachings?

B: All True, but we must not get too serious because a sense of humour can actually be good for humans to learn things and get along - as long as there is no punching down-being mean at the expense of others - that is wrong thinking and speech.

C: My fellow Jewish people became some of the most famous comedians later in history in the West. Most likely based on all their suffering for remaining Jews after my own followers have made life miserable for them since a few hundred years after my death. It seems a sense of humor does help deal with suffering.

B: Many of my followers have suffered too since I died and even caused suffering as well. Sad.

C: Yes - sad indeed. Well, this coffee is very good! I am usually more of a wine drinker myself.

B: Yes - I once indulged in all types of mind altering drinks and things as a young prince, but now - not so much. I more of a tea person - thus the Chai - which is very good with this scone!

C: I really admire how you gave up all your material comforts to pursue truth and connection to higher spiritual realms. Not many rich folks I ever met would do such a thing. Even the cool ones! But you are unique and special - Gautama.

B: As you are Jesus - Son of God. That must be a lot of pressure - no?

C: Yes - very much so. But like Abraham tossed all the different pagan gods for just the one almighty God - you dismissed all the deities in your culture as well. But maybe you threw out the baby with the bath water - as in no God at all?

To Be Continued…