Reflecting the richness of spiritual traditions, the figures of Moses, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, and Buddha continue to exert a powerful influence on the outlook of millions of people.

Sacred Figures and Their Impact on Personal Values

Reflecting the richness of spiritual traditions, the figures of Moses, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, and Buddha continue to exert a powerful influence on the outlook of millions of people. Entering into a profound dialogue with the divine, Moses symbolizes revelation and justice, where personal experience becomes a bridge to higher laws and ideals, urging believers toward honesty and reverence for the mysteries of existence. Jesus embodies love, healing, and forgiveness, presenting the image of a teacher who, through compassion and care, transforms lives and unveils the possibilities of inner healing and harmony. Muhammad, with his decisive rhetoric and organizational skill, commands respect for the strictness and unity of norms, emphasizing the importance of order and collective solidarity in achieving common goals. In turn, Buddha teaches the renunciation of attachments and mastery over passions, demonstrating the path to inner freedom through mindfulness and self-discipline. As a result, each of these figures offers a unique model of moral orientation and life principles, enabling individuals to choose their own path of development based on deep spiritual aspirations and practical life attitudes. This vivid kaleidoscope of ideas inspires the search for truth, love, and justice, affirming that the spiritual heritage of great teachers can serve as a powerful guide in the modern world.

What values and concepts do the figures of Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, and Buddha reflect, and how do they influence personal preferences?

The figures of Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, and Buddha reflect quite different yet profound systems of values and concepts, each significantly influencing the formation of personal preferences.

Let us start with Moses. The image of Moses in the presented materials is inextricably linked with divine revelation and justice. One excerpt states that Moses, after receiving revelation on Mount Sinai, was perceived as the mediator of God's will who recorded what he saw "in a language he understood," conveying the account of the creation of the world ("And what was there before Moses, as he received it? It is also said: ... He recorded it as he could understand it..." – source: link txt). This image connects personal preference with the idea of submission to higher spiritual laws and the pursuit of justice, reinforced by the personal experience of revelation.

The portrayal of Jesus in the quoted material emphasizes his role as a teacher, healer, and embodiment of love. It is described that "Jesus teaches and heals," as he journeyed throughout Galilee, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God and healing people from various ailments ("Jesus teaches and heals. Throughout Galilee, Jesus walked, ... " – source: link txt). Such an approach demonstrates values of compassion, forgiveness, and mercy, influencing personal preferences by setting forth a model of love, acceptance, and humanity.

Muhammad’s portrayal is found in several excerpts that highlight both his political and military activities as well as his role as an inspirer who united his followers under a new faith. One source notes that Muhammad did not hesitate to employ strict measures against opponents ("Did Muhammad allow lies? Blessing murder..." – source: link txt), while another emphasizes his rhetorical strength, his ability to instill boundless trust among the people, and his preservation of several moral traditions such as fasting, almsgiving, and setting rules of conduct ("He regarded Jesus Christ as a great prophet. ... He preserved many Jewish customs and prescribed some rules of Christian morality: almsgiving, fasts, frequent prayer; ..." – source: link txt). This dual image forms a picture of a strict set of norms and strong organizational power, which for many becomes an important guide in choosing personal life paths and value systems.

Buddha’s image stresses the idea of attaining complete freedom through the renunciation of attachments and the mastery of passions. One text recounts that Buddha compares Nirvana to "peace and wisdom" and offers a system aimed at achieving liberation from everything, including oneself ("Buddha compares Nirvana with 'peace and wisdom,' and his disciples considered his mastery over passions and attainment of 'wonderful immortality' his greatest merit. Thus, the only goal worthy of a human being is liberation... For this purpose, Buddha offers the 'Eightfold Path'." – source: link txt). This approach shapes values of self-restraint, the pursuit of inner freedom, and wisdom, which for many becomes a decisive factor in choosing one’s personal life direction.

Thus, each of these figures offers a model of ideals and behavior: Moses through revelation and justice; Jesus through forgiveness and healing; Muhammad through decisive, even harsh, pragmatism in unifying and safeguarding communal norms; and Buddha through the search for inner freedom and the overcoming of passions. For each individual, these images can serve as a reference or criterion when choosing personal preferences, reflecting both spiritual aspirations and practical life principles.

Supporting citation(s):
"… And what was there before Moses, as he received it? It is also said: Moses was taken to Mount Sinai, and there, in the cloud, he received a revelation. … He recorded it as he could understand it." (source: link txt)

"Jesus teaches and heals. Throughout Galilee, Jesus walked, … healing people from every disease and ailment." (source: link txt)

"Buddha compares Nirvana with 'peace and wisdom,' and his disciples considered the teacher’s mastery over passions and attainment of 'wonderful immortality' his greatest merit. … For this purpose, Buddha offers the 'Eightfold Path'." (source: link txt)

"Did Muhammad allow lies? … Muhammad did allow and carried out mass murder of defenseless people, … Nothing like what Muhammad did to all who disagreed with or displeased him…" (source: link txt)

"He regarded Jesus Christ as a great prophet. … He preserved many Jewish customs and prescribed some rules of Christian morality: almsgiving, fasts, frequent prayer; …" (source: link txt)