"Just now my mother, the Holy Spirit, took me by one of my hairs and bore me up on to the great mountain of Tabor."
This is curious. Buddha and Jesus reach the Mount of Transfiguration, each through the influence of his mother. But perhaps the Jewish writer did not like the universalism inculcated in the Buddhist narrative.
"HE BEGAN TO WASH THE DISCIPLES' FEET." (John xiii. 5.)
In a vihâra at Gandhâra was a monk so loathsome and stinking, on account of his maladies, that none of his brother disciples dare go near him. The great Teacher came and tended him lovingly and washed his feet. ("Chinese Dhammapada," p. 94.)
THE GREAT BANQUET OF BUDDHA.
In the "Lalita Vistara" (p. 51) it is stated that those who have faith will become "sons of Buddha," and partake of the "food of the kingdom." Four things draw disciples to his banquet,—gifts, soft words, production of benefits, conformity of benefits.
BAPTISM.
In a Chinese life of Buddha by Wung Puh (see Beal, "Journ. As. Soc.," vol. xx. p. 172), it is announced that Buddha at Vaisalî delivered a Sûtra, entitled, "The baptism that rescues from life and death and confers salvation."
"AND NONE OF THEM IS LOST BUT THE SON OF PERDITION."
Buddha had also a treacherous disciple, Devadatta. He schemed with a wicked prince, who sent men armed with bows and swords to slaughter Buddha. Devadatta tried other infamous stratagems. His end was appalling. Coming in a palanquin to arrest Buddha, he got out to stretch himself. Suddenly fierce flames burst out and he was carried down to the hell Avichi (the Rayless Place). There, in a red-hot cauldron, impaled by one red bar and pierced by two others, he will stay for a whole Kalpa. Then he will be forgiven. (Bigandet, p. 244.)