I would like to share some thoughts on what could be looked at as a Buddhist view of Easter. 
 
You are all aware that Easter is the Christian religious observance that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is thought in Christianity that Jesus rose from the dead, or was “resurrected.” This event proved that Jesus was the son of God, the Christ. Christians throughout the world celebrate this event as Easter. 
 
My feeling is that the real “resurrection” of Jesus, does not rely on whether he rose from the dead or not. I would think that the real “resurrection” occurs when Christians receive the teachings of Jesus within their hearts and minds. When a Christian really and truly receives the teachings of Jesus in one’s heart and mind, then Jesus truly “comes alive.” From a Buddhist perspective, isn’t that the real meaning of the “resurrection”? 
 
In the same manner, for Buddhists, when we receive the Buddha’s teachings in our hearts and minds, then the Buddha comes “alive” for us. Shakyamuni is not just a great teacher that lived over 2,500 years ago. His teachings are just as fresh and alive today as they were two and one-half centuries ago. 
 
Buddhism is not as concerned with historical fact as it is concerned with religious truth. If Christianity focuses on the historical event of Jesus rising from the dead, then it stands on one event in time. Christianity is the only religion that is based upon a single doctrinal story – the resurrection of Jesus. No other religion, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism, is based upon such a singular doctrinal story. Recently in the news some archeologists think they may have found the funeral urn contains the bones of Jesus. If this is true then all of Christianity crumbles. I’ve often thought how unfortunate it is that Christianity is based upon this one doctrinal story as opposed to being based upon the teachings of Jesus that were no different than the teachings of Buddha. Jesus’ teachings were about the importance of loving-kindness and compassion for others and ourselves. By contrast in Buddhism, the Buddha is not viewed as divine but there are many mythological stories about the Buddha’s life. For example, when he was born it is said he was born clean and immediately took seven steps and in each of his footprints blossomed a lotus flower. This is beautiful mythology, but whether the story is actually true or not is irrelevant to the truth of the Buddhist teachings. Likewise, we have unfortunately had a few great Buddhist teachers who have acted badly. In fact some have acted so badly that as a result many of their students left Buddhism. It is really a shame that these students weren’t able to realize that their teacher is a human being with foibles and that despite his/her behavior that the Buddhist teachings are still true. There is a saying in Zen that illustrates this beautifully. It is said one should not confuse the finger pointing at the moon for the moon itself. Likewise, if Christians received the teachings of Jesus in their hearts and minds, then it becomes a religion that stands beyond time and beyond this one doctrinal story. 
 
Thich Nhat Hanh has even written a book titled, “Living Buddha, Living Christ” in which he discusses his appreciation of both Jesus and Shakyamuni Buddha, and how they must become living teachers for us today. Thich Nhat Hanh in his book “Living Buddha, Living Christ,” says, “When we understand and practice deeply the life and teachings of Buddha or the life and teachings of Jesus, we penetrate the door and enter the abode of the living Buddha and the living Christ, and life eternal presents itself to us.” Both the Buddha and Jesus had the same message. That we should not harm others, that we should be kind, and compassionate to all beings. 
 
So, on this Easter – and every Easter, rather than thinking about the differences between Buddhism & Christianity, instead think about the fact the Christian message is the same. Use Easter as a time of mindful reflection about how we want to cultivate loving-kindness for all beings. After all that was what both Jesus and the Buddha taught.