At the time of the writing of the 10 Commandments, about 1400 BC, the rest of the advancing civilizations were living under harsh criminal and legal codes. The Levitical Law may seem arbitrary and even brutal in comparison to our modern legal systems of freedoms and civil rights, but at the time it was a huge improvement.
Siddhartha Gautama, otherwise known as Buddha, taught a system of morals that were also radical for its time. The 8-fold path when summed up is: Right understanding, Right thought, Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood, Right effort, Right mindfulness and Right concentration.
These principles are all taught in both the Old and New Testament:
Right understanding - Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7)
Right thought - For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7)
Right speech - Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6)
Right action - Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31)
Right livelihood - Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (1Thessalonians 4:11-12)
Right effort - Yet not my will, but yours be done. (Luke 22:42)
Right mindfulness - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)
Right concentration - Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8)
The one major difference between the 10 Commandments and the 8-Fold path is that the 10 Commandments are mostly negative injunctions - "thou-shalt-nots" - the 8-fold path is positive. This is very similar to how Joshua ben Joseph taught. He gave positive directions - "thou-shall" - - seek and you shall find, do unto others, go into all the world, and many, many others like these.
The greatest commandments he taught were to love God with all your heart and soul and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. If Buddhism could only grasp these two simple laws and added them to what they already have, they would really have a powerful new faith. Enlightenment is wonderful and many sincere men and women seek to be enlightened and have a full understanding of human beings, the universe and life in general.
The ship of salvation is powered by the winds of faith in the Fatherhood of God and the accompanying love of brothers and sisters. We're all a family - there is no Buddhist or Christian in the Family of God. Peace and love always.
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