From Buddha to Jesus: An Insider’s View of Buddhism and Christianity

90 Pages·2019·0.61 MB·English

by  Steve Cioccolanti

129

W L A S …
HAT EADERS RE AYING

“In his well-written and researched book ‘From Buddha to Jesus’ Steve has
placed a valuable witnessing tool in the hands of the local church. I strongly
recommend his book and suggest that anyone who comes in contact with Eastern
religions should read it and have the information readily available.”
C S
OL TRINGER
Best-Selling Author & President of ICFM Australia “This book has many great insights in
it… I would use it for our Bible College students.”
D . W C
R AYNE ORDEIRO
Pastor of 10,000+ member church in Hawaii “Upon reading ‘From Buddha to Jesus,’ we
were challenged, felt better equipped with the right information, and in many
ways….corrected. We didn’t realize that we had so many misconceptions
concerning Buddhism. Nor did we know that there are so many teachings of
Buddhism that could actually assist us in presenting to Buddhists their need of
Jesus as Savior.”
T & P C
ONY ATSY AMENETI
Directors of RHEMA Australia, missionaries to Singapore & Italy “Buddhism is a mystery to
most Australians, yet increasing numbers of Australians are investigating it as an
option for faith. Steve Cioccolanti has done us all a service by making the
essence of Buddhism accessible to all of us. This book will be an increasingly
important resource for those desiring to lift up Jesus, The Light, in the
understanding of those who find themselves impressed by Buddha, the
‘enlightened one’.”
A M
LLAN EYER
Senior Minister of Careforce Church, Mt. Evelyn “‘From Buddha to Jesus’ is definitely a
book worth reading and passing on to other Christians. It has been written with
the view of helping Christians to more effectively reach Buddhists with the
Gospel by understanding our common ground with them. It gives invaluable
insights into why Buddhists believe and practice the way they do. Thus
equipped, the Christian is better positioned to share the Gospel with Buddhists
wisely and strategically, even as Paul did with the Athenians in Acts 17.
The book has also helped clear misconceptions of Buddhism that are prevalent in
the Western society including my own misperceptions of reincarnation. It has
given me invaluable insight into Buddhism in ways I had not hitherto attained
from other books on world religions. The book is written in a very easy-to-read
style with interesting anecdotes to illustrate teaching points. I highly recommend
to every Christian both the book and its author.”
PEGGY ONG Church Elder of Full Gospel Assembly Melbourne “A truly enlightening and
informative book on Buddhism with many references and comparisons to
Christianity. This book is a useful tool to reach not only Buddhists with the truth
but many others confused in the plethora of religions.”
T I
OM NGLIS
Founder of Psalmody, former Music Director of RHEMA South Africa “The author not only
reveals the true teachings of Buddha, but superbly teaches many Biblical truths
which are so vital for victorious Christian living.”
D P
AVID EARCE
Missionary to Tibet “As well as learning so much, I believe Steve has a beautiful gift
of expressing language... his writing is so clear and easy to comprehend it may
well become a teaching, training, educational manual in libraries, schools and
colleges throughout the world. I am praying for God’s favor on this important
piece of literature.”
D B
AVID OX
Property & Project Manager of Destiny Church, Melbourne
F B
ROM UDDHA
T
O
J
ESUS

A I ’ V
N NSIDER S IEW OF
B & C S C F
UDDHISM HRISTIANITY TEVE IOCCOLANTI OREWORD
D . W C
BY R AYNE ORDEIRO F B J : A I ’ V
ROM UDDHA TO ESUS N NSIDER S IEW OF
BUDDHISM & CHRISTIANITY by Steve Cioccolanti Published by Sweet Life International Pty.
Ltd.
Cover design by Kiko Arakawa [email protected] This book or parts thereof may not be
reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means –
electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise – without prior written permission of the
publisher.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures quoted are from the New King James Version of the Bible.
Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc., publishers. Used by permission.
Scripture quotation marked RSV is from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1952
by The Division of Christian Education, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United
States of America.
Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Copyright © 2007 by Steve Cioccolanti All rights reserved
International Standard Book Number: 9780980483901

Printed in the U.S.A.
CONTENTS FOREWORDS THANKS PREFACE ABOUT LANGUAGE
Introduction

UNDERSTANDING BUDDHISM
1 A S B B C 2
TORY FROM EHIND THE AMBOO URTAIN
T S E 3 E M W 4
HE TORY OF THE EL AST EETS EST
T T B , F B & L B
HE HIN UDDHA AT UDDHA AUGHING UDDHA
5 W W B ?
HO AS UDDHA
6 T L P 7 T T B
HE OTUS ARABLE HE EACHINGS OF UDDHA
8 T F N T 9 T P
HE OUR OBLE RUTHS HE OLIO
V 10 H J U L L
ICTIM OW ESUS SED THE AW AWFULLY
11 T F C B 12
HE IVE OMMANDMENTS OF UDDHA
W W J S B ?
HAT OULD ESUS AY TO UDDHISTS
13 T K B 14 T T K
HE OREAN UDDHIST HE EN ARMAS
15 I T H ?
S HERE A ELL
16 R 17 W B 18
EINCARNATION OMEN IN UDDHISM
K A & P 19 J
ING SOKA THE YTHON ESUS ON
R 20 T K & U
EINCARNATION HE ING THE NGRATEFUL
D 21 T B T 22 T L
EBTOR HE LIND URTLE HE AST
W B 23 W D ?
ORDS OF UDDHA HICH ENOMINATION
24 T T B (T ) 25 T S
HE HREE ASKETS RIPITAKA HE IX
B C 26 K N 27
UDDHIST OUNCILS ING ARESUAN
S 28 E T P B &
UMMARY ND IME REDICTIONS OF UDDHA
J CHRISTIAN QUESTIONS
ESUS
29 T A B 30 T V
HE UTHORITY OF THE IBLE HE ALIDITY OF
B S 31 T R S 32
UDDHIST TORIES HE ISK OF YNCRETISM
I B H ?
S UDDHA IN EAVEN
33 T L W J 34 W W
HE AST ORDS OF ESUS HAT OULD
B S ?
UDDHA AY

A
PPENDIX
F
OREWORDS You have in your hands a groundbreaking book, one that will
challenge you to rethink our faith and how it can reach those whom others have
overlooked.

I was raised in Hawaii, a blending of the East and West. My mother was for
many years of her life a Buddhist. My father was Catholic, so I grew up
confused! I was in caught between the two cultures and the two beliefs of those I
loved.

As I came to know Christ in my late teenage years, I developed a heart to reach
those of other faiths. I quickly learned that the first step to that goal was not
necessarily sharing the Four Spiritual Laws or by giving them a copy of the New
Testament. Rather, it was to understand their perspective and loving each one as
a person for whom Christ died.

Having read Steve Cioccolanti’s courageous work, I was challenged afresh and
stirred in my heart to now confidently take the next step in reaching Buddhists
with the Gospel. It teaches the reader how with understanding and context, we
can build Goodwill, which one day will open a doorway for the Good News!

Steve Cioccolanti is a sincere follower of Christ with an unusual insight into the
Buddhist mind. His background and context lends to a broad understanding that
no causal college can bring to any avid student of life. You will hear his
compassion as well as his comprehension for those who have been raised within
generations of Buddhist traditions and beliefs. He will even challenge you to see
the good in it rather than just the bad. You will view the elements that have
drawn millions in Asia and beyond to a philosophy of life that has withstood
millennia of criticism and wars.

I have recommended this book to our Bible College students as they attempt to
reach the Pacific Rim. I recommend it to you as you go forward to reach your
world for Christ.
D . W C
R AYNE ORDEIRO
President of Pacific Rim Bible College
“In Australia, the 2006 Census tells us that the number of Buddhists has grown
by 107% since 1996. However it seems there has been little growth in
understanding Buddhism within the Church or by Christians generally.
Some parts of the Church have adopted Buddhist meditation practices. Some see
it as a religion of peace, promoting tolerance and self-understanding, not much
different from Christianity. The Buddhist concepts of karma and reincarnation
are accepted by a
surprising number of young people, including many in the Church.
In his excellent book, Steve Cioccolanti provides a very welcome window into
Buddhism as someone who has been on the inside. Through Buddhist stories
and legends, he opens up the teachings of Buddha that are often more about a
search for life than pathways to hope and fulfillment. He includes a description
of the different variations of Buddhism from different countries, and issues such
as women in
Buddhism and "Is Buddha in Heaven?"
The surprising features of this book are not only the candid information about
Buddhism, but also the way Steve intertwines this with the Christian message of
hope - comparing Buddhist teachings with the Bible, presenting some of the key
Buddhist symbols as doorways to eternal life in Christ, and asking personal
questions of the reader about their own beliefs, with prayers they can pray for
enlightenment.
This is a book that would be of great value to any Christian seeking information
about Eastern religions, especially if wanting to share their faith with a Buddhist.
It would also be valuable and readable for a Buddhist person to understand their
own faith, and to gain an understanding of Jesus.”
R . R I
EV OB SAACHSEN
Founder of Transforming Melbourne