The Lord's Prayer as a Mantra?

[Egyptian Phoenix]

And his disciples said to him: "Lord, teach us to pray."

Jesus answered: "When you pray. Pray like this..."

That was the only prayer he ever gave them far as the gospels say. I think the Lord's Prayer could serve as a mantra. Because it says "your kingdom come", but Jesus also said "the kingdom is within you." So if God's will be done on earth as in heaven (within you), and God is within you, the Lord's Prayer could very well be a mantra. Christians have certainly repeated it like one.

[Odion]

It is commonly song in the Syriac-Aramaic version (quick find on Wiki).

I find the fact Jesus' disciples asked him how to pray (supposing they did) to be strange, considering that Jewish people pray, too.

There are probably mystical ways of rendering the Lord's Prayer, to be honest. I agree that many Christians have repeated it like one, as well as various Psalms (The Lord is my Shepherd, for example) and the creeds (in Anglican and Catholic etc churches). Just my $0.02.

[Antifascist_Action]

That's interesting, Senedjem.

Also there is a theory that Jesus spent some time in Tibet and learned about Buddhism during his so-called Lost Years (can't post links otherwise I'd post an article).

But according to one source:

Nicolas Notovitch published a book called The Unknown Life of Christ. He was a Russian doctor who journeyed extensively throughout Afghanistan, India, and Tibet. Notovitch journeyed through the lovely passes of Bolan, over the Punjab, down into the arid rocky land of Ladak, and into the majestic Vale of Kashmir of the Himalayas. During one of his jouneys he was visiting Leh, the capital of Ladak, near where the buddhist convent Himis is. He had an accident that resulted in his leg being broken. This gave him the unscheduled opportunity to stay awhile at the Himis convent.

Moreover,
-Ancient scrolls reveal that Jesus spent seventeen years in India and Tibet
-From age thirteen to age twenty-nine, he was both a student and teacher of Buddhist and Hindu holy men
-The story of his journey from Jerusalem to Benares was recorded by Brahman historians
Today they still know him and love him as St. Issa. Their 'buddha'

If you look at Christianity you can see some similarities between Buddhism and Hinduism, so it is possible Jesus learned Mantras from the Tibetans and Hindus and then brought them back to the Middle East. Also even Biblical evidence shows that if Jesus did actually exist, then his philosophy based in compassion, equality, inclusion, forgiveness and tolerance, is 100% Liberal and closer to the tolerant religions of Buddhism and Hinduism.

[Odion]

I actually believe Jesus was inspired by Hindu and Buddhist philosophy, and that he may have intermingled it with Jewish theology--perhaps a form of syncretism, or perhaps he did it to further illustrate his purposes.

It is possible that Jesus went with traders through to India on a spiritual quest, since the Romans traded through Israel, he could have hitched a ride or something. Perhaps he just got to chatting with someone who knew a guy who knew a guy who went there, or he spoke to some Greeks who were Buddhists (since Greeks had Buddhists at the time of Jesus), and he lapped up any information he was given and intermingled it with his native beliefs?

None of it is truly impossible, however unlikely, after all. However in my opinion, the similarities are very interesting.

[Egyptian Phoenix]

I think it likely that Jesus developed his own dharma, like the Buddha developed the Buddha-dharma. Yes, I think he may have been influenced by Buddhism, and even Zoroastrianism from my perspective. Jesus' dharma would seem very "Jewish" because he would have used stories and examples his culture was familiar with, but upon closer examination you can see something there besides Jewishness. Jesus also said: Many non-Jews will inherit the kingdom, while the children of the kingdom are cast into outer darknness- speaking of the Jews. Again I don't think he meant literal kingdom or literal darkness. He may have been speaking of enlightened and unenlightened states of mind.

[Egyptian Phoenix]

The many times Jesus condemned the Jews he condemned them for being what he called "spiritually blind", or "blind in their hearts". It's likely he was speaking of their state of mind. I don't think he taught hell literally either, so examine his words more closely: "Woe to you Pharisees. Hypocrites who cross sea and land to make a convert, and when you have make him two-fold "the child of hell" "you yourselves ARE".

[DeitySlayer]

Interesting ideas...

[kejos]

Originally Posted by Senedjem

And his disciples said to him: "Lord, teach us to pray."

Jesus answered: "When you pray. Pray like this..."

That was the only prayer he ever gave them far as the gospels say. I think the Lord's Prayer could serve as a mantra. Because it says "your kingdom come", but Jesus also said "the kingdom is within you." So if God's will be done on earth as in heaven (within you), and God is within you, the Lord's Prayer could very well be a mantra. Christians have certainly repeated it like one.

Pagans have. Familiarity breeds contempt- or at least mindless inurement.

[Egyptian Phoenix]

Oh Kejos, so you're admitting Christians are Pagans eh? I knew it! You guys are one of us!