“Despite the notable similarity of the direct teachings of Gautama and Jesus, we yet find their respective followers starting from two diametrically opposite points. The Buddhist divine, following literally the ethical doctrine of his master, remains thus true to the legacy of Gautama, while the Christian minister distorting the precepts recorded by the four Gospels beyond recognition teaches, not that which Jesus taught, but the absurd, too often pernicious, interpretations of fallible men, Popes, Luthers, and Calvins included. The following are two instances selected from both religions and brought into contrast. Let the reader judge for himself:
“Do not believe in anything because it is rumored and spoken of by many”, says Buddha; “do not think that is a proof of its truth. Do not believe merely because the written statement of some old sage is produced; do not be sure that the writing has ever been revised by the said sage or can be relied on. Do not believe in what you have fancied, thinking that, because an idea is extraordinary, it must have been implanted by a Deva, or some wonderful being. Do not believe in guesses, that is, assuming something at haphazard as a starting point, and then drawing conclusions from it, reckoning your two and your three and your four before you have fixed your number one. Do not believe merely on the authority of your teachers and masters, or believe and practice merely because they believe and practice. I [Buddha] tell you all, you must of yourselves know that this is evil, this is punishable, this is censured by wise men; belief in this will bring no advantage to anyone but will cause sorrow; and when you know this, then eschew it.”
It is impossible to avoid contrasting with these benevolent and human sentiments, the fulminations of the Ecumenical Council and the Pope, against the employment of reason, and the pursuit of science when it clashes with revelation. The atrocious Papal benediction of Moslem arms and cursing of the Russian and Bulgarian Christians have roused the indignation of some of the most devoted Catholic communities. The Catholic Czechs of Prague on the day of the recent semi-centennial jubilee of Pius IX., and again on the 6th of July, the day sacred to the memory of John Huss, the burned martyr, to mark their horror of the Ultramontane policy in this respect, gathered by thousands upon the neighboring Mount Zhishko, and with great ceremony and denunciations, burned the Pope’s portrait, his Syllabus, and last allocution against the Russian Czar, saying that they were good Catholics, but better Slavs. Evidently, the memory of John Huss is more sacred to them, than the Vatican Popes.”
H. P. Blavatsky
The Mark Of God: Understanding Your "I AM Presence" 