From Buddha To Christ

Buddhism is not a way of harmony and cosmic unity, as Westerners tend to think. Although Buddhism is a rapidly rising religion in the West, few Westerners know what Buddhism is like from the inside. Steve, who made the journey from Buddhism to Christ, explains the Buddhist mind-set and worldview, and makes useful points of comparison.

Draws parallels between different religious faiths by presenting side-by-side comparisons of four leaders' teachings on topics such as knowledge, suffering, death, and liberation, along with commentaries for each topic.

An honest, unflinching tale of re-finding one's faith, from one of the world's most famous theologians Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian narrates how esteemed theologian, Paul F. Knitter overcame a crisis of faith by looking to Buddhism for inspiration. From prayer to how Christianity views life after death, Knitter argues that a Buddhist standpoint can encourage a more person-centred conception of Christianity, where individual religious experience comes first, and liturgy and tradition second. Moving and revolutionary, this book will inspire Christians everywhere.

'Thich Nhat Hanh is a holy man, for he is humble and devout. He is a scholar of immense intellectual capacity. His ideas for peace if applied, would build a monument of ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity.' Martin Luther King, Jr. Budda and Jesus Christ, perhaps the two most pivotal figures in the history of humankind, each left behind a legacy of teachings and practices that have shaped the lives of billions of people over the course of two millennia. If they were to meet on the road today, what would each think of the other's spiritual views and practices? Thich Nhat Hanh has been part of a decades-long dialogue between the two greatest living contemplative traditions, and brings to Christianity an appreciation of its beauty that could be conveyed only by an outsider. In a lucid, meditative prose, he explores the crossroads of compassion and holiness at which Buddhism and Christianity meet, and reawakens our understanding of both.

This book is intended as an exercise in comparative religion for both Buddhists and Christians. The author assesses how the teachings of the Buddha and the Christ relate to each other, what they have in common and what is different, and how the teachings of each would work in the context of the teachings of the other. Could we see the Buddha and the Christ as complementary religious teachers of our world, or as fulfilling a similar spiritual need in different parts of the world? Could one have a kind of "double spiritual citizenship" by acknowledging both as his or her spiritual teacher? Or would such a claim mean having a religious citizenship that is in fact neither Buddhist nor Christian?

Side-by-side examples that let you discover the teachings of Jesus and Buddha—and the striking similarities between them. This stunning collection is perfect for those curious about the influential teachers Jesus and Buddha, and their lessons of peace, love, patience, and kindness. Witness as two of the most holy beings meet in a thought-provoking encounter of the spirit. Compare the Bible verse: “Jesus knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone” (John 2.24-25) to the Buddhist scripture: “He was expert in knowing the thoughts and actions of living beings” (Vimalakirtinirdesha Sutra 2). Written by a renowned New Testament scholar and national bestselling author, and with an introduction by Jack Kornfield, Jesus and Buddha is a timeless testament to what makes us similar rather than different. With over 100 examples presented side by side, this is a perfect book for anyone interested in Christianity, Buddhism, mindfulness, meditation, and all ways of seeking enlightenment.

Exploring the visual images produced by two of the world's great religions, this text considers the cultural and spiritual translations that inform and support them, focusing on three key principles. Firstly, it looks at how these images embody history, myth and doctrine, offering a comparative introduction to Buddhism and Christianity. Secondly, it invites readers to see similarities and differences between the images as local inflections of a universal archetype, and the basis for dialogue between two faiths. Finally it aims to make some of the world's most profound and moving art more accessible by illustrating and explaining its patterns and styles.