About the Book
Overview
Will of The Tathagata
Will of The Tathagata argues that the earliest Christian writings were composed by Greek‑educated authors who concealed their identities and drew on a broad range of sources, predominantly including Buddhist scriptures. Through a series of “anomalies” (language, manuscripts, forgeries, names, ethics, monastery and ontogeny), the author demonstrates that many canonical and apocryphal texts are heavily influenced by Mahayana philosophy and Prakrit literature.
The study questions the traditional first‑century dating of the Gospels, noting that the earliest surviving fragments are from the second century or later and often show extensive scribal alterations. It highlights the prevalence of pseudonymous writings in Greek and Christian traditions and suggests that many verses of The New Testament are are plagiarize Indian stories and wisdom sayings. The book further explores how Buddhist monastic law (the Vinaya) inspired Christian monasticism and, through Benedictine monks, influenced Western legal and parliamentary systems. Finally, it traces these ideas back to the republican traditions of ancient India, supporting an “Out of India” theory for cultural and political exchange. Will of the Tathagata invites readers to reconsider the origins of Christianity and the hidden Buddhist heritage within Western traditions.
Overview
Key Themes & Chapter List
Anomaly of Language
The early Christian literature was written in Greek rather than the Aramaic spoken by Jesus and his disciples. Greek authors incorporated elements from Latin literature and, most significantly, from Buddhist sources. Mahayana philosophy—especially the idea that words are illusory and meaning is fluid—appears to have guided the Evangelists. Missionaries adopted the principle of upaya (skillful means), allowing them to use parables and fiction to convey higher truths.
Anomaly of Manuscripts
Traditional dates for the New Testament books place them in the first century, but critical scholarship dates the Gospel of Mark to the early 2nd century. Surviving fragments (such as the Rylands fragment of John) are dated purely by handwriting analysis and lack carbon dating. These manuscripts contain thousands of variants—additions, deletions and theological alterations—indicating that early scribes treated the texts fluidly. By contrast, Buddhist manuscripts are reliably carbon‑dated, confirming the temporal priority of the sources the Christian writers used.
Anomaly of Forgeries
Forgery is defined as a work whose true author pretends to be someone else. Greek literature abounds with such texts, and early Christian writings continue the tradition. Many canonical and heretical books—including Pauline letters—are argued to be pseudonymous or plagiarised from Buddhist sources. Rival Christian sects (e.g., the Marcionites) engaged in a “war of books,” altering opponents’ texts and recirculating them under their own names. This explains the contradictions found among books selected for the New Testament canon.
Anomaly of Names
Names of people and places in the New Testament often appear to be puns or adaptations of Buddhist names. This on its own points to a deep intertextual relationship between Christian and Buddhist sources.
Anomaly of Ethics
The compassionate and forgiving ethics of the New Testament contrast sharply with the vengeful morality of the Old Testament. Scholars have noted that many New Testament sayings and parables mirror Buddhist wisdom teachings, often retaining similar phrases and styles.
Anomaly of Monastery
Christian monasticism emerged in third‑ and fourth‑century Egypt. Its laws and practices, shaped by figures such as Antony the Great and Saint Pachomius, are deeply indebted to Buddhist monastic codes, particularly the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya. Western monastic lawmakers (Basil, Augustine, Benedict) used these foundations to build their own rules for monastic life.
Anomaly of Ontogeny
The adoption of Buddhist Vinaya principles by Christian monks influenced Western legal systems and parliamentary philosophy. Benedictine monks played a key role in shaping British parliamentary traditions, which in turn influenced constitutions worldwide. These monastic and republican principles can be traced back to ancient Indian republics like the Vedic‑era Vaiśālī, supporting an “Out of India” cultural diffusion.
About the Author
Joseph T Noony is a medical doctor by profession.
A independent scholar,his spassion for Indian philosophy and Indo-European history led him to explore the surprising links between ancient Asian and Mediterranean cultures.
Raised in Kerala and educated in medicine,.
He has spent years studying Sanskrit, Prakrit and Greek sources and sharing his insights on cross-cultural influences through articles and talks.
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