Not sure anyone’s thoughts,but i see no problems with ‘breaking bread’ with Buddhists. They believe in non violence compassion, love thy enemy, meditation reflection, prayer etc. Thomas Merton saw this, he knew what connected the Buddhists and Catholics. There is a lot to be learned from Buddhists and I for one welcome as much compassion as possible.
“Solitude is a way to defend the spirit against the murderous din of our materialism.”
― Thomas Merton
Merton was alright. He was a benefit to the Church. Although, I think he went to far in some of his views embracing to many non-Christian ideas. The priest that ran Hindu Ashrams came across to me like that too - I think his name is Bede?
Anyways… Buddhism has a very sophisticated metaphysical philosophy. But one ought bear in mind their are different branches of Buddhism. Some branches clearly believe in pentionary prayer and as with the Tibetans can be pretty superstitious having assimilated some of the regions paganism into Buddhism.
The Boddhistavas - called Dali Lamas in the Tibetan system - are similar conceptions of the Christian conception of Jesus Christ being God incarnate. And I’ve noticed this seems to be a male dominated thing among Buddhists.
I was searching in Buddhism - some years ago - for the equivalents (not superficial) of the Catholic female community of saints, and particularly with the historical female of equivalent status of the Virgin Mary (like the Our Lady of Guadalupe that Mexicans emblazon on their T-Shirts and cars).
In Japan Zen Buddhism seems to have taken a strong hold. Merton communicated in letters with a Japanese Zen Buddhist with a doctoral degree. Not to suggest Japanese Zen Buddhism is bad (I don’t think it is), I do think it’s worth noting Japanese Buddhism (practiced with Shintoism) did not soften the hearts of Japanese imperialism or the Japanese soldiers of WWII that could be quite cruel. The way these Buddhist soldiers treated the Chinese and the little babies they tossed on their bayonets for game and sport was quite evil. Japan also crucified a number of Christians some centuries ago.
Japanese Buddhism also has a long history of monks mentoring young boys they take in as homosexual lovers. They wrote poetry on this stuff I think. To them there was nothing immoral with either male-on-male sex or older men having sex with young boys. Older monks with young boys at that.
The huge drug addiction problem in predominately Buddhist Thailand also evidences Buddhism has not been able to create a paradise on earth among its own adherents.
Personally, I don’t believe in karma or reincarnation.
