The lives of both the Buddha, and Jesus had a great impact on the people of their time and changed the perspectives of they and their descendants forever. Although the Buddha lived thousands of years before Jesus, their lives were very similar, and yet so different.
The Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama, a prince. Before his birth, Siddhartha's mother dreamt that a white elephant entered her side and also that her son was born from her side. The white elephant signified the purity and power of the child to be. His mother died shortly after his birth, and was raised by his father, and aunt. At the time of his birth, it was announced that he would be either a great ruler, or a world teacher, depending on if he were to view pain and suffering. Throughout his young life, Siddhartha was sheltered from all of the impurities of the world, including death, sickness and poverty. His father would never let him outside the different palace confines. He married his beautiful cousin, Princess Yasodhara, when they were Sixteen years of age, and several years later, they had a son, Rahula.
Jesus, on the other hand, was born out of wedlock, in a stable manger. The angel Gabriel told Jesus" mother, Mary, that she would give birth to a son, who will be referred to as the Son of God; the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. At the time of Jesus" purification, it was prophesized by Simeon, that Jesus was destined to "cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed- (Luke 2:34-35).
At a young age, and throughout his life, Siddhartha would spend time in the temples with Brahmins, or priests. He would bring amazement into all that heard his spoken words, for he was very knowledgeable, especially for his age. Siddhartha knew sixty-four different languages, along with their corresponding alphabets; he also excelled in mathematics.
