There's even a "Good Shepherd" parallel between Buddha and Jesus, although I'm unsure of the source...
In the course of his travels, Shakyamuni came upon a lamb limping on the road and put it on his shoulders to carry it. Walking a bit further, he came across a herdsman driving a large number of animals designated for sacrifice by order of the king. The lamb still riding on his shoulders, Shakyamuni confronted the king and convinced him not to kill the animals. (One version of this story has it that the Buddha offered his own life for that of the herd.) |