In the Middle Ages, the tale of Barlaam and Josaphat was an extremely popular version of the Buddha story told through a Christian lens. The account has been traced from its European translations back to Arabic and eventually to Sanskrit originals, appearing for the first time in Europe in the 11th century. Even the protagonist’s name, Josaphat, derives from the Sanskrit Budhasaf or Bodhisattva, an enlightened being who helps others reach Nirvana.
The story begins as Josaphat, a prince living in India, is cloistered inside the palace because his father, King Avenir, is fearful that his son will be exposed to the troubles of the world—or, worse, will convert to Christianity. Buddha’s story begins similarly.
Numerous events in Josaphat’s story resemble those in the life of the Buddha. For example, when Josaphat leaves the palace for the first time, he encounters a blind man and a beggar, just as the Buddha met with an old person, a sick person, and a corpse on his first forays away from home. Josaphat eventually meets a hermit named Barlaam who converts him to Christianity through parables, a dramatic moment that parallels the Buddha’s attainment of Nirvana.