Member: HornOrSilk

Thank you for your response of March 14. I'm pretty well read, I suppose, in Christian history and theology, both Protestant and Catholic, this having been an interest of mine ever since my college days, but I don't know much of anything about Buddhism. I am a little surprised that there would be much contact between the conception of one who is lost in Christian terms and one who fails to reach Nirvana, but I put my surprise down to ignorance of what the latter would mean. A few months ago i happened to pick up a book called The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, by a modern Tibetan Buddhist. Of course it was clearly not a scholarly book, but I thought that for that very reason it might be a good introduction. I was again surprised to find that the author's teaching was in fact just what I would have thought it would be, just based on the sort of knowledge of a religion that you pick up from the general culture around you. Having found this to be true, and glancing through the many books in your library on aspects of Buddhism, I wonder if the book I read is a fair representation of what is believed by the various authors you have in your collection. It seems antithetical to Christianity in basic spirit. I note your point about Aquinas' use of Aristotle. I'm aware of the historical setting for this, including the fear of Islamic teaching and the real challenge that Aristotle, reaching Paris through Muslim translators, presented. Is it really possible, do you think, that the gap between Christianity and Buddhism can likewise be bridged to the benefit of the former? Isn't it a much larger gap, or would you say that is just the effect of our familiarity with the synthesis Aquinas and others were able to make?

posted by cstebbins at 10:36 pm (EST) on Mar 29, 2009

Thanks for your reply to my inquiry about your church affiliation. I have been looking through your library with great interest. I guess if you put it up on the computer, you can't really complain if people do that. It interests me because its breadth shows that you have a good acquaintance with a variety of outlooks, including even evangelical Protestantism. There are a great many books in your library I would like to know your opinion of. One general question maybe--from the number of books about Buddhism, I suppose you have found that way of looking at things to be coherent and meaningful, at least to some extent. Is that the case? I figure you would hardly have collected so much on it if you didn't find some substance.

posted by cstebbins at 9:13 pm (EST) on Mar 7, 2009

May I ask, a theologian in what church? Maybe you would have said if you had wanted to communicate this, but if not, I'd like to know in light of the books you have.

posted by cstebbins at 5:37 pm (EST) on Mar 1, 2009

Dear HornOrSilk,

Thanks so much for your reply. It's interesting that you are a Theologian, I've just started re-reading Eliade's, "A History of Religious Ideas." I'm fascinated with origins. What is your opinion of the origin of the religious impulse in Man? Eliade, of course, argues that it is a primary constituent of consciousness itself, while others consider it an acquired taste (and not a very well or completely acquired taste at that!) I would be very pleased to hear your thoughts on this.

Douglas Adams was a genius of the first rank. I truly believe that Civilzation as a whole lost a huge asset with his passing. I love all of his work, but if I had to choose...I think I would pick "Long Dark Teatime of the Soul," as my single favorite. How about you?

I look forward to your reply, but please don't feel obligated to respond quickly, I think all of us are very busy and I'm just a little suspicious of those who are not!

John Morian

posted by jmorian at 1:25 pm (EST) on Apr 14, 2008

I am very inteested that you and I seem to be the only ones to list this excellent book:

The Four Noble Truths, Volume 1: The Foundation of Buddhist Thought
by Geshe Tashi Tsering

I see that you have been an LT member for some time, but do not seem to interact much with other members. If that is the case, let me say simply that I admire your collection very much. On the other hand, we seem to share some titles in common, and if you would like to, I would be very pleased to hear from you.

posted by jmorian at 1:56 pm (EST) on Apr 7, 2008

I've been meaning to comment on your library for some time now but hadn't thought of anything interesting to write.

While I still haven't, let me say that it isn't every day of the week that someone encounters such a consonant library outside of one's circle of friends!

posted by CJHanson at 4:31 pm (EST) on Feb 21, 2008