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Religion & Spirituality |
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Living Buddha, Living Christ
written by Thich Nhat Hanh
Studio : Riverhead Hardcover
by Riverhead Hardcover
Publisher : Riverhead Hardcover
Released : 1995-09-12
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9781573220187
UPC : 710261020005
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 70 reviews)
List Price : $20.00
Our Price : $6.84
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Product Description |
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A widely followed Vietnamese monk and Buddhist teacher explores the common ground of Christianity and Buddhism on such subjects compassion and holiness and offers inspiration to believers in both religions to renew their spiritual calling. |
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Americancivilwar.com Review |
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If you have always assumed that Christianity and Buddhism are as far apart philosophically as their respective founders were geographically, you may be in for a bit of a surprise. In this national bestseller, Zen monk and social activist Thich Nhat Hanh draws parallels between these two traditions that have them walking, hand in hand, down the same path to salvation. In Christianity, he finds mindfulness in the Holy Spirit as an agent of healing. In Buddhism, he finds unqualified love in the form of compassion for all living things. And in both he finds an emphasis on living practice and community spirit. The thread that binds the book is the same theme that draws many Christians toward Buddhism: mindfulness. Through anecdotes, scripture references, and teachings from both traditions, Nhat Hanh points out that mindfulness is an integral part of all religious practice and teaches us how to cultivate it in our own lives. Nhat Hanh has no desire to downplay the venerable theological and ritual teachings that distinguish Buddhism and Christianity, but he does cause one to consider that beyond the letter of doctrine lies a unity of truth. |
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Misunderstands Christianity |
I must disagree with the majority of the reviewers here. Thich Nhat Hanh, as great a man as he may be, does not seem to have a sufficient grasp of Christianity to justify this book. One immediate problem is that, although the author always refers to Christianity, he always describes Catholicism and not Protestantism (e.g., his religious vocabulary is thoroughly Catholic). Another problem is that, although he tries to be tolerant and open towards Christianity, he inevitably comes across as condescending in dismissing those parts of Christianity that don't fit with his open, inter-faith attitude (for instance, the Christian belief that Christ is the savior of the entire world, not just of Christians). The type of Christianity that he finds amiable is, in fact, liberal Catholicism, which represents only a minority of Christians worldwide. Lastly, I think that mostly he tries to appropriate Christianity into a Buddhist framework, in effect Buddhizing it, which as a Christian I find offensive (and I imagine many Buddhists would be offended if I tried to appropriate and Christianize Buddhism). Reading his book, I did not recognize my own religion in it, which seems like a very serious problem.
True inter-religious unity comes from people honestly and openly disclosing themselves and sharing their agreements and disagreements, not by trying to appropriate each other's religions or reshaping the other's religion into a more pleasing form. |
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Nothing Can Be By Itself Alone |
This refers to the 1995 Hardcover version.
When I first saw the title of this book, I knew it was one I wanted to read. If you are open-minded, it really does not matter what your beliefs are in order to get something out of this book. There are places where the book is weak but I like it enough that I give copies as gifts. The basic idea being presented here is that one needs to walk the walk, not talk the talk. The teachings of Buddha and Christ are the vehicle used for the delivery of the message but, even if you believe in neither, when you get right down to it, he is simply talking about goodness and tolerance. He does not dwell on the existence of God but prefers to concentrate on the [Holy] Spirit. Through your actions, the Spirit of Christ or Buddha is manifest. I find the repeated crutch of mindfulness problematic. If you are only mindful of this, that, or the other, all will be well. That is a nice platitude but, frankly, not very realistic. It seems to be nothing more than a, perhaps, transcendent meditation. But, overall, the message is one of love. Understanding and love are values that transcend all dogma. |
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A Vietnamese Buddhist calls westerners back to Christ |
While this book may serve as an introduction to Buddhism for Christians, its strongest message is directed at western Buddhists. Nobel Peace Prize nominee Thich Nhat Hanh urges them to go back to their spiritual roots - to their Christian or Jewish traditions - and find there the message of the Buddha. "Buddhism," the Vietnamese Zen monk reminds us "is made of non-Buddhist elements. Buddhism has no separate self. When you are a happy Christian, you are also a Buddhist. And vice versa."
This pithy volume on Christ and the Buddha is not an exhaustive, academic comparison of these great spiritual teachers or their respective religions. It is instead a collection of mediations on their commonalities in spirit, practice and tradition. Topics include prayer and meditation, the spiritual community, ethical living, cultivating love and compassion, and perhaps most centrally practicing tolerance, without which communication across traditions remains problematic
Such interfaith dialog is possible, Thich Nhat Hanh believes, because fundamentally there is not much difference between Buddhism and Christianity. If we accept that God and nirvana are words beyond concept, "then even [this] one notion (God/nirvana) is enough to block access to the ultimate..." Truth, he notes, has no boundaries. "Our differences may be mostly differences in emphasis."
Lest anyone take his words as license to proselytize, Thich Nhat Hanh observes that many of the problems in the world today are caused from a lack of rootedness, from people having been cut off from their traditions and their cultures. To relieve their suffering, he argues that rather than encouraging such people to adopt our own theology, we must help them return to their own tradition.
And as he advises, so he teaches, asking western Buddhists to reexamine their Christian and Jewish traditions, to find there the values they went in search of among the cultures of Asia. "...many people," Thich Nhat Hanh knows, "need to go away before they realize they do not need to go anywhere."
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Very compelling! |
Thich Nhat Hanh writes an interesting and compelling comparitive analysis between Christ and the Buddah. While interjecting his own opinions regarding both faiths (which naturally skews toward his own professed beliefs), Hanh draws upon many the Sutras of the Buddah and the parables of Christ. He shows many similarities between Christ's teachings and those of the Buddah, focusing primarily on those things peaceful.
Hanh, a Vietnamese born and ordained Buddhist monk, allows for followers of these two world-wide religions the ability to live in harmony with all sentient beings, as well as with the mother Earth herself.
The author also takes time to explore the Holy Trinity, offering his own understanding into a very complex Christian belief, then draws upon that understanding to show similarities between the religions.
It is very important for Christians to know that Hanh goes to great lengths to tell the reader to stick with his/her own religion; he does not attempt to sway anyone to his personal belief system. He simply seeks harmony and peace in an ever more violent world.
Well worth the money, and the read is very short. |
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Living Buddha, Living Christ |
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As a person of both traditions, this is the book I usually recommend to friends who would like to have a quick comparison between the two world religions. Although "orthodox" Christians may find problems theologically with some of Thay's (what the author is called in Vietnamese-meaning "teacher")sayings. Overrall though, I think it contributes greatly to mutual understandings and thus foster peace. |
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