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Date Posted: 04:08:20 02/21/04 Sat
Author: ketch - 27 Nov 2003
Subject: St Barlaam and St Josaphat - Early links between Christianity and Buddhism

November 27th - Feast Day of St Barlaam and St Josaphat.

The story of the hermit St Baerlaam and his convert Josaphat is very clearly taken from the life of Lord Buddha. It appears to date from the 6th century when it may have been composed by John of Damascus. Even though neither of the two saints ever lived they have both been recognised by the Roman Catholic Church and have a feast day in their honour.

Prince Josaphat (the name probably derives from Bodhisattva) was the son of King Avennir who was persecuting the Christians. A royal astrologer predicted that the young prince would follow the Christian religion. This upset the King so much that he kept the prince indoors in splendour, and forbade any to speak to him of suffering, old age, misery or death. Needless to say he discovers the existence of suffering by excursions from the palace.

Detemined to find the solution to the problem of suffering Josaphat wanders from the palace and comes across the hermit Baerlaam who preaches in parables. Thereupon he converts to Christianity.

He is later put through many temptations which seem to have been borrowed directly from the story of Lord Buddha.




Josaphat sees a cripple while returning to the palace. King Avennir and his sorcerer Theodas watch from the battlements. Illustration from a 1477 edition of Barlaam und Josaphat.



Barlaam and Josaphat - Full story from the Online Medieval and Classical Library.

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