Religious Parables

Biblical vs. Buddhist Parables

Tenets of Christianity

• There is only one God.
• Jesus is God
• Man was created in God's image
• Sin separates us from God
• The Bible is the Word of God

Christianity's God

• Embodied by the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
• Created everything in existence
• Knows all, exists everywhere
• Loves everyone unconditionally

Four Noble Truths of Zen Buddhism

• Life means suffering.
• The origin of suffering is attachment.
• The cessation of suffering is attainable
• The Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path

• Right view
• Right intention
• Right speech
• Right action
• Right livelihood
• Right effort
• Right mindfulness
• Right concentration

"Parable of the Prodigal Son"

• A Christian text
• Portrays a boy who sins
• Offers repentance to his father
• Father graciously forgives him

Interpretations of Text

• Conveys a message of forgiveness and compassion
• Emphasizes the importance of repentance of sin
• Expresses a deeper meaning of God's unconditional love and mercy

Literary Structure and Style

• Philosophical story
• Repetitive lines and lengthy sentences
• Has two messages (literal moral lesson and hidden religious meaning)

Literary Devices

• Allegory - Story with hidden meaning
• Theme - "Forgive and repent; God loves all."
• Mood - Celebratory towards the end
• Tone - Devout
• Symbol - Father represents God, son represents His follower
• Bibliomancy - God's unconditional love

Archetypes

• The Garden - the father's home
• The Wasteland - famine of the land
• Evil Figure with a Good Heart - the son
• Mother - the father (who provides love and care for his son)
• The Fall - when the son loses all his money and begins working on a farm

"Muddy Road"

• Zen parable
• About two monks (Tanzan and Ekido)
• Tanzan assists a girl in crossing an intersection
• Ekido disapproves of Tanzan's deed since it violates Buddhist code
• Tanzan explains his simple intention in helping someone

Interpretations of Text

• Not much religious meaning; mostly life-associated
• Regards the truths of reality
• "Do not attach yourself to a specific idea; see the world for what it really is."

Literary Structure and Style

• Philosophical story
• Simple structure with concise sentences
• Is open to a broad perspective of interpretation

Literary Devices

• Allegory - Story with hidden meaning
• Theme - "See the reality of things."
• Imagery - "...a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash..."

The End