Living Buddha, Living Christ

When you are a truly happy Christian, you are also a Buddhist. And vice versa."
-- Thich Nhat Hanh Buddha and 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 millenia. If they were to meet on the road today, what would each think of the other's spiritual views and practices?

The bestselling author of "Peace is Every Step, " and one of the most beloved Buddhist teachers in the West, Vietnamese monk 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 show more only by an outsider. In a lucid, meditative prose, he explores the crossroads of compassion and holiness at which the two traditions meet, and reawakens our understanding of both. "On the altar in my hermitage, " he says, "are images of Buddha and Jesus, and I touch both of them as my spiritual ancestors. show less

When you are a truly happy Christian, you are also a Buddhist. And vice versa."
-- Thich Nhat Hanh Buddha and 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 millenia. If they were to meet on the road today, what would each think of the other's spiritual views and practices?

The bestselling author of "Peace is Every Step, " and one of the most beloved Buddhist teachers in the West, Vietnamese monk 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 show more only by an outsider. In a lucid, meditative prose, he explores the crossroads of compassion and holiness at which the two traditions meet, and reawakens our understanding of both. "On the altar in my hermitage, " he says, "are images of Buddha and Jesus, and I touch both of them as my spiritual ancestors. show less

If Thich Nhat Hanh does anything for the Christian reader, he will at least make him look at his own practice of Christianity (or lacking practice) with new eyes. The book is an excellent springboard for discussion among Orthodox faithful and also for informed, interreligious dialogue between Orthodox Christians and Buddhists. It provides a conceptual context for the deepening of one's own spiritual involvement and practice, whether Buddhist or Christian. Nhat Hanh provides key terms and concepts from both communities to facilitate understanding, dialogue, and greater awareness. Though he may at times miss an important value of Orthodox Christianity, he, nevertheless, provides a fair assessment and critique for the purpose of increasing show more a deeper, more conscious practice of the Orthodox Christian Faith. This book is an excellent text for group study for Buddhist enquirers and Christians who wish to find encouragement toward more practical ways of embodying Christian Faith in their daily lives. show less

The book explores compassion and holiness where contemplative Christianity and Buddhism. Buddha and Christ left a legacy of teachings and practices that have shaped the lives of billions of people. If they were to meet today, what would each think of the other's spiritual views and practices?

Epiphany-OviedoELCA library section 7 A: The Church in the World, World Religions. The world-reknowned scholar, thinker and Zen master explores the spiritual crossroads of Buddhism and Christianity with their differences and similarities.
The basic ideas of Buddhism such as mindfulness (dwelling deeply in the present moment), and proper breathing to eliminate stress are explained and amplified. The Five Wonderful Precepts of Buddhism are presented. They make an excellent addition to the Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments.
Nhat Hanh shows great insight into Christianity. For example, when Jesus says, "I am the way," Jesus does not mean "I" as being the ONLY way to find God; he means that Jesus' LIFE ITSELF is the way. Therefore if we do show more not look at Christ's life and practice of living deeply in the moment and loving and acting with charity, then we are not honoring or understanding God.
He calls for ecumentical dialogue where we share our faiths and traditions, but not where we force others to abandon their own spiritual roots to embrace our own. Ancestral heritage, says Nhat Hanh, is important to all people, and we cannot be happy if we are rootless. Our efforts should be to help people return to their ancestral spiritual heritage.
This book is a humble call for peace and tolerance. Not only did I learn about Buddhism, but through the eyes of a thoughtful author, I developed greater insight into Christianity too. Nhat Hanh has written 30 books on Zen Buddhism and was Martin Luther King's nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. Of Vietnamese heritage, Nhat Hanh lives in a Buddhist monastery in France. show less

Some reviewers seem to think Hanh doesn't understand Christianity. I think they're missing the point; this wasn't meant as an in depth dissection of that. So far, the book is just as I expected, a look at the similarities between faiths. And in that, I believe Hanh does an excellent job.

As the book title clearly states, it is not just about Christianity, so if you'd like to read primarily about that, go back and note the Buddha part of the title and take a clue from it. I suspect the Christians who didn't care for the depiction might be harboring an agenda in favor of their own faith. If you are truly okay with the concept that other faiths don't discount your own, you should be fine with this book. If you are unsteady in your beliefs, show more or rigid in your opinions, or simply not interested in Buddhism, you should pass it over. show less

In 2011 I read this book and gave it a rating of 4. In 2016 I am 26% into the book and know that I will change the rating to 5. I borrowed the e-book from the library. I know now that I will buy this book to continue reading it at this slow pace of a few pages a day. It is so in tune with the Christianity I want to practice and try to practice. I feel that in Thich Nhat Hanh I am touching the Living Buddha, the Living Christ who is in me. It is not a new experience, but I am drawn to believe that it can be a more usual experience than I have known. This is an amazing book. I got much from it the first time through and am getting much again on the second. It is very easy to understand with short sections that are very good to read and show more let sink in to my heart.

This book is not just for Christians and it is not dogmatic. I would say that it is about real religion, though it does focus on three amazing persons: Jesus the Christ, Siddhartha the Buddha, and you. show less