The Tao of Christ

The Eightfold Path of Jesus

May 08, 2021 Marshall Davis
The Tao of Christ
The Eightfold Path of Jesus
Show Notes

I was reminded by a listener recently that Thich Nhat Hanh called Jesus the Buddha of the West. Buddha famously preached his first sermon in Deer Park which included his Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Jesus has an equally famous first teaching that is called the Sermon on the Mount. It begins with the Beatitudes, which are eight blessings, followed by what appears to be a ninth but is a really a continuation of the eighth. 

Jesus had an eight-fold path. Like the Buddha’s, the Christ’s eightfold path is an expression of what is often called nonduality today. Jesus called it the Kingdom of God. Like the Buddha’s the Christ’s eightfold path is about suffering, but Jesus comes at it a bit differently.  The Buddha’s approach is very logical. He sets forth a step-by-step analysis of the problem of suffering and presents a solution. Jesus just pronounces blessings -  eight blessings.