9. Among the many similarities and connections between the teachings of Buddhism and Christianity, the temptation of Christ is highly comparable to the temptation of the Buddha five hundred years prior
Appearing in all of the Synoptic Gospels, after being baptized Jesus entered the Judaean Desert and fasted for forty days and nights. During this endeavor, Satan appeared before Jesus on several occasions and sought to tempt him to turn away from God. Denying Satan each time, Jesus returns triumphantly to Galilee to begin his ministry. Whilst not an original concept in any sense, with heroic struggles with evil a common motif of ancient mythology, the specifics of the biblical narrative bear striking similarities with the Buddhist tradition. Born in approximately 563 BCE, Siddhārtha Gautama eventually rejected his princely heritage and embarked into the wilderness to seek the purpose of life.
After much time and travel, Siddhārtha sat beneath a fig tree and vowed to not move until he discovered this truth. During this prolonged meditation without food or drink, alleged to have lasted for forty-nine days, the demon Mara repeatedly sought to prevent Siddhārtha from realizing his goal. Tempting the prince with beautiful women and appeals to his pride, none were successful, and Siddhārtha reached Enlightenment. Becoming the Buddha, Siddhārtha departed his refuge, and like Jesus, began imparting his doctrinal wisdom to the wider world and formed the Sangha: a company of Buddhist monks akin to the apostles.