The story of Christian saints Barlaam and Josaphat originates from the life of the Buddha. A king named Abenner persecutes Christians but hears a prophecy that his son, Prince Josaphat, will become a holy man. To prevent this, Abenner isolates Josaphat in luxury.

However, Josaphat ventures out, encounters suffering, and meets the hermit Barlaam. He converts to Christianity, eventually converting his father as well. The two rule together before Josaphat retreats to the desert.

This narrative mirrors the Buddha's journey from prince to enlightened one. The tale first appears in 10th-century Georgia as the Balavariani, derived from an Arabic version of the Buddhist story. The name Budhasaf traces back to the Sanskrit Bodhisattva.

Western scholars noted the similarity as early as 1446, but it was not until the mid-19th century that the Buddhist origin was widely acknowledged. Throughout history, religions have borrowed traditions; Christianity absorbed Indigenous festivals like the Day of the Dead, while Christian teachings were restated in Buddhist and Taoist texts, known as the Jesus Sutras. This exchange highlights a shared human relationship with the divine that transcends specific eras and geographies.

Whether interpreted through one lens or another, these stories endure because they touch upon common senses of awe and morality.