Albert Ellis and Buddha

Albert Ellis was born 2500 years after Gautama the Buddha. The aims of both thinkers were nothing less than finding the causes and cures of human suffering.
It is amazing to note that there are many parallels between the lives of Buddha and our beloved Albert Ellis.

Please note that, in this section, the similarities between the teachings of Albert Ellis and Buddha are not mainly emphasized.

1. Buddha tried to understand the cause of human suffering by first becoming an ascetic, a popular school of thought in his time. He was disappointed with it, just as Ellis first tried and was disappointed with Freudian psychology.

2. Both of them established new explanations of human suffering and its cure and were opposed by the other thinkers of their times.

3. Teachings of both gradually became more popular than other teachings of their times.

4. When Buddha became old, some people including some of his students tried to overtake his Sangha (community) and openly said that he should retire just because he is old. Albert Ellis is facing similar adversities.

5. Throughout his life Buddha, like Ellis, faced opposition from people who did not agree to his teachings.

6. Buddha greatly emphasized hard work; in fact his last words to his disciples were "Be diligent!" Ellis also has asked his followers to work hard. He recently sent his message from the hospital bed, which was "Work harder!"

7. Buddha lived very simple life, personally possessing little, just as Ellis does.

8. Buddha, like Ellis, believed that it is by your own efforts only that you can get happiness; and depending on outside or supernatural forces to help you will be useless.

9. Buddha did not answer questions about the existence of god; he most probably did not believe that god exists. Ellis is also an atheist.

10. Ellis and Buddha have both taught that we better accept the reality.

11. Both Ellis and Buddha understood and explained the causes and cures of human suffering within a decade of their lives. Buddha attained enlightenment at the age of 35; Ellis created his form of psychology at 42.

12. Buddha's aim, just as Ellis', has been nothing shorter than thoroughly understanding and explaining the causes and cures of entire human suffering.

13. Like Ellis' Enlightened Self-interest (ESI), Buddha also said that we better care for the people we live with and interact with.

14. Both of them have dealt with adversities in honest, open, and direct manner.

15. Buddha's disciple who led a revolt against him was Devadatta. Buddha clearly pronounced that he did not consider him worthy to carry forward his teachings in future. Ellis has done the same thing regarding people presently controlling AEI.

16. Buddha clearly declared who were his disciples whom he trusted to carry
forward his teachings in future. Ellis has done the same thing by
announcing the board-in-waiting.