Jesus never explicitly commented on Hinduism in the Bible, but He did convey several messages and ideas that can be interpreted as applicable to many Hindu beliefs. In the context of the Gospels and New Testament, Jesus spoke out against the beliefs and practices of the Jewish people. He preached messages of love and peace, dispelling the idea of an angry, unfeeling God. He rejected many of the established religious traditions and laws in favor of a simpler faith based on belief in a loving God, showing the power of unconditional love and compassion over man-made traditions.
The central message of Jesus’ teachings is that love is the way to salvation, providing a strong connection to Hinduism as the primary concept in this religion is also love. While Hindus worship many gods through prayer and worship, they also believe in an ultimate power of love and that a person can reach divine knowledge or enlightenment only through love. The central message of Jesus, that love is the path to salvation and understanding of the divine, is a core principle of Hinduism.
Further, both religions emphasize treating others with kindness, compassion and forgiveness, all of which Jesus preached when He walked the earth. In the Bhagavad Gita, an important Hindu text, it is written, “He who is without enemies and without hatred among men, who is friendly and compassionate, this one is dear to me.” Jesus similarly said, “Blessed are the peacemakers”, “love your enemies”, and “love your neighbor as yourself”. It appears, then, despite its monotheistic Christian roots, there are underlying ties between Christianity and Hinduism that go beyond faith.
Jesus also spoke of the importance of humility and simplicity, concepts that characterize the traditional Hindu way of life. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke plainly against the pursuit of wealth and encouraged his disciples to not worry about the material things of life but instead to focus on the kingdom of God. Similarly, the Hindu concept of dharma advocates renouncing worldly treasures in order to pursue spiritual goals and enlightenment.
Jesus’ idea of heaven also closely parallels the Hindu concept of Moksha. According to Hindu traditions, Moksha is the soul’s journey to ultimate union or oneness with Brahman, the ultimate spiritual power. Jesus, during the Sermon on the Mount, spoke of ‘heaven on earth’, a place where a person can live in harmony and peace through the power of love.
Both Jesus and Hinduism also share the idea that a person’s actions determine their physical, spiritual and eternal destiny. Jesus spoke of accepting responsibility for one’s actions, saying “From everyone according to their abilities, to everyone according to their needs”. This echoes the Hindu belief in the law of karma, which states that a person will ultimately be held accountable for the actions taken in this life.
Attitude Towards Suffering
Jesus and the Hindu religion both address the subject of suffering from a spiritual perspective. Rather than simply advocating avoidance of suffering, both Jesus and Hinduism emphasize the importance of accepting suffering as part of life and using it as an opportunity for spiritual growth. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation” and spoke heavily about suffering being part of the journey of faith. Similarly, Hinduism has a long history of emphasizing spiritual perseverance and resilience in the face of suffering, and the idea of a person’s courage and faithfulness being tested through tribulations.
Reincarnation
Despite the existence of differences between the two belief systems, there are also similarities in their teachings. Hinduism believes in reincarnation, which is the idea that a person’s soul is reborn into a new body after death. Jesus did not explicitly mention reincarnation in the Bible, however there are several interpretations which suggest that he may have alluded to this concept. One of the most prominent is found in the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man, where Jesus speaks of Lazarus being taken up to heaven and the Rich Man going to a place of suffering. This can be interpreted as Lazarus’ soul being reborn into a new life in heaven, and the Rich Man’s soul going to a place of suffering.
Virtues vs Temptations
Another connection between Hinduism and Jesus is the emphasis placed on the importance of virtue and avoiding temptation. Hinduism teaches that a person should strive to control their ‘tanha’, or worldly desires, by relying on strength of both body and mind. Similarly, Jesus taught that “whoever would gain his life must lose it” and spoke heavily against striving for material gain, instead teaching the importance of self-restraint and avoiding temptation.
Divine Love
Finally, both religions preach the power of divine love, illustrating the idea that all of us are connected to each other and to God. Hinduism preaches that love and respect for all living things is a path to knowledge and enlightenment and Jesus similarly said “love your neighbor as yourself”, stressing the importance of love and understanding between all people. Jesus and Hinduism both value the power of love and understanding, showing the strength of divine love in our lives.
Arrival at Enlightenment
In Hinduism, it is believed that moksha, or enlightenment, can only be achieved through the means of living a life of love and devotion. This is similar to how Jesus preached that devotion and love for God, as well as for neighbor, will lead one to the hereafter, or heaven. Both religions, therefore, advocate that love and devotion are essential to achieving ultimate knowledge and salvation.
Practices of Meditation
Both Jesus and Hinduism also promote the practice of meditation as a way to draw closer to the divine. Meditation has been practiced for centuries across many cultures and religions and is thought to enhance spiritual insight and awareness. Jesus said, “watch and pray” and encouraged his disciples to be still and seek knowledge of the divine through quiet prayer. Hinduism also promotes the practice of meditation, and it is believed to be an important pathway to spiritual understanding.
Fulfilling Dharmic Duties
The dharmic duties in Hinduism and the teachings of Jesus both emphasize the importance of living a moral life. Dharmic duties or duties based in righteousness, call for a person to fulfill their obligations to their family, community, and society without fail. Jesus also stressed the importance of doing what is right and good, with the Sermon on the Mount teaching his disciples the importance of fulfilling their duty to their fellow man.
Sacrifice for Others
Jesus and Hinduism also share a teaching of self-sacrifice for the benefit of others. Jesus encouraged his disciples to lay down their lives for their friends and take up their cross, thus sacrificing themselves for the sake of others. Similarly, many stories in Hinduism describe gods and figures giving up their own safety and happiness to benefit others. This includes the story of Krishna sacrificing himself as a willing victim to save humanity from a terrible fate, illustrating the importance of self-sacrifice for the benefit of others.
