Jesus Was a Buddha Jesus was a Buddha 2004 acrylic, board 36 in x 18 in SOLD photos by J R Compton

Jesus was a Buddha is my stab at Tibetan tangka painting (pronounced ìthanka), an image painted on a rectangular cloth, framed by a narrow cloth border. I show Jesus as an enlightened human, the embodiment of divine wisdom and virtue, an awakened being, a buddha.

Here, I play God with Jesus. I chose to ally with some historic accounts that Jesus had hair "the color of ìnew wine" and blue eyes. I make those eyes distinctively Tibetan, however.

I depict his robe as semi-Tibetan in style, but traditionally Middle Eastern white in color. He is classically seated in lotus position in the center of the painting.

Surrounding Jesus are the typical and most popular Christian icons — the miracles — turning water into wine, raising Lazarus from the dead, and so on.

Scattered among the Biblical references are scenes from the native Texas landscape — pines, peaches, beaches, birds, wildflowers, and assorted wild and domesticated life.

It was on purpose that I chose to portray the life of Jesus, not just for personal preference, but because his life was not unlike that of the historical Buddha's — both devoted to teaching love and compassion.

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