buddhism

Thich Nhat Hanh's attempt to portray the commonality between Christianity and Buddhism is sometimes awkward and utilizes Gnostic Gospel text that may not be accepted by more conservative or fundamentalist Christians. (I would highly recommend Elaine Pagels' "The Gnostic Gospels" as a quick introduction to the Gnostic Christians) However, it does make a number of excellent observations of the parallels of the teachings of Jesus and Buddha and begs the question of what the meeting of these to men would be like if they were able to meet in person. Thây's plea to release ourselves from our notions and concepts and to look open mindedly at all faiths is much needed in our fragmented world. This book helps one to see through much of the dogma and doctrine that perpetuates the mythology of terminal uniqueness and guides us gently to a better understanding of both Buddhist and Christian traditions. I would also recommend highly Thich Nhat Hanh's "Going Home, Jesus and Buddha as Brothers".

This is an excellent book for anyone whose mind is open and not mired in dogma. No book can convince anyone who insists on being stubbornly dogmatic. I am a Christian. I practice meditation. The objective of meditation, Christian or Buddhist, is not to empty your mind of everything. The objective is to learn to see.

Hahn does view Christ as a living person and a historical figure. In fact, he very pointedly remarks that most Christians seem to be more interested in Christian dogma than in what Christ actually did-the example he lived for all of us. By the way, "Living Christ" is part of the title.

"Traditional" Christianity has much in common with the Pharisees of Jesus' day. Now that Hanh is living and speaking in a Christ-like way, it's not surprising that he's encountering resistance, misunderstanding, and intolerance.

"Traditional" Christianity is what it is, not because of being true to itself, but because of being true to Western Civilization's ethos of valuing material things, exploiting nature, and controlling the masses for political gain. Christianity and Science (the modern religion) both struggle with the problems that arise from the presumed existence of an objective world. "Traditional" Christianity diverged from the teachings of Christ within the very first century of the Church. Hanh exposes this quite convincingly, as long as you're not afraid to see it. Some reviewers have suggested that a Buddhist such as Hanh has no authority in defining what Christianity is or what it means to be a Christian. Who does? The very labels "Buddhist" vs. "Christian" cause a divisiveness that is as unfortunate as it is unnecessary. Each one of us is a human being on a spiritual journey. Ultimate Truth is self-evident and cannot be expressed in any system of thought, language, or symbols. Does the Universe conform to a Buddhist view or a Christian view? Is a photon a wave or a particle? Authority ultimately resides with the observer.

IN TIMES PAST AS IS NOW, I BELIEVE GOD HAS HIS OWN TIMETABLE... REVELATION (THE CONCEPT, NOT THE BOOK) IS A LINEAR THING...AND IT IS ABOUT TIME WE CHRISTIANS OPENED OUR UNDERSTANDING TO THE EASTERN THOUGHTS THAT ARE SO IN TUNE WITH THE WORDS OF CHRIST!
THICH HAS FINALLY OPENED THE DOOR FOR BELIEVERS IN CHRIST TO READ THE TRUTH OF THE BUDDHA AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEY FIT TOGETHER LIKE A PUZZLE.
CHRISTIANS UNDER THE GUISE OF SUPERIORITY HAVE GONE INTO FOREIGN LANDS AND CONVERTED THE "HEATHEN" AND TRIED TO AMERICANIZE CULTURES THAT ARE A THOUSAND YEARS OR MORE OLDER THAN OUR OWN 21ST CENTURY GARBAGE.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT EVERY BORN AGAIN CHILD OF GOD READ THIS BOOK! THIS NOT A CULT BOOK, IT IS GOD'S TRUTH FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN THAT WILL OPEN YOUR EYES AND STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH. THE PAST IS GONE..WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT... THE FUTURE IS AHEAD..THAT TOO IS UNKNOWN TO US...WE LIVE IN THE NOW..THIS MOMENT...GOD IS THE GREAT "I AM"..IN THE NOW..ALWAYS IN THE NOW!! FAITH IN JESUS THE CHRIST REMOVES THE PAST...ASSURES US OF THE FUTURE...AND LIVES WITH AND IN US NOW!
TO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS CONCEPT....YOU WILL BE SCARED OF THE TEACHINGS OF BUDDHISM....HE ISN'T A SAVIOR..HE IS A TEACHER... HEED THE WORDS OF THIS HUMBLE MONK....AND BE CHANGED FOREVER!
DON'T BE LIKE THE CHILD STANDING WITH HIS EYES CLOSED WISHING HE COULD SEE THE FOREST AND GRASS AND FLOWERS AND ANIMALS AND BIRDS... SIMPLY OPEN YOUR EYES TO THE TRUTH THAT WAS THERE FOR YOU TO SEE ALL THE TIME.... IF ONLY WE WOULD SET ASIDE TIME FROM OUR HURRY HURRY RUSH RUSH SCHEDULE AND SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH THE MAKER AND SUSTAINER OF THE UNIVERSE...THICH TELLS YOU HOW....
IF ONLY YOU WILL HEED THE WORDS ... OF BOTH THE CHRIST AND THE BUDDHA....AND SEEK WHAT IS WITH YOU NOW..THIS MOMENT..IT MAY BE ALL YOU HAVE! USE IT WISELY!!!