FORMATIVE ELEMENTS OF JAPANESE BUDDHISM.

...although it is quite likely that the seed of this doctrine existed in Sakyamuni’s mind before he died.

Legend says that Amida the Buddha of Infinite Light, central to Pure Land Buddhism was originally a prince of divine descent, though there is no historical record of his life. He eventually attained Buddhahood after making a vow that he would not enter Nirvana the ultimate state of liberation from suffering and the cycle of rebirth until he had created a way to save all of humanity. Through the immense power he gained over ages of patient effort, he created a Paradise for those who have the faith to call upon his name. Those who enter this Paradise face no more obstacles in their spiritual journey toward perfection; instead, they move forward into the total salvation of complete and boundless Enlightenment.

(6). Just as the history of Christ is found in the four Gospels, the history of Sakyamuni the historical Buddha, also known as Shaka or Siddhartha Gautama is preserved in many Sutras sacred scriptures recording the teachings of the Buddha belonging to both the Lesser and Greater Vehicles of Buddhism. Many Buddhist legends have developed around Sakyamuni that are remarkably similar to the stories about Jesus, particularly regarding his miraculous conception, birth, and temptation.

Some have claimed that the Christian Gospels borrowed many details from Buddhist hagiographies biographies of saints or religious figures. Others have suggested that Buddhist writers compiled their books using extracts from Christian writings.*

It is possible that neither of these theories is correct. The Buddhist "gospels" may simply reflect the human soul's longing for salvation and the realization that such salvation can only be achieved if a Divine Being becomes incarnate and lives on earth for the sole purpose of saving humanity. On the other hand, the Christian Gospel may represent those longings becoming reality through a Savior who, being God, took human form as the son of a Virgin, lived among people to teach them, and died on—

* In fact, there are more similarities with the so-called Apocryphal Gospels early Christian writings that were not included in the official New Testament canon. One notable parallel is that in both the Apocryphal Gospels and the Mahâyâna the "Great Vehicle" tradition of Buddhism, which emphasizes the salvation of all beings traditions, there is no mention of a crucifixion or Christ’s vicarial death original: "vicarial death"; the theological concept of dying as a substitute for others' sins.