Catholicism & Buddhism?

  • Thread starter Thread starter RosaryGirl_777
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I have been reading an author named Shusaku Endo. He is a Japanese Catholic, and writes from the perspective of a person from a Buddhist/Taoist culture, reconciling his own Catholicism within it. He wrote “Life of Jesus” and “Deep River” and others books with Catholic themes. Basically he sees Jesus as pure love and a tragic man who took all the sins of the world, and was deserted by his followers. I think reading his books is a good way to understand the way Buddhism and Catholicism are compatible in many ways.
 
Ahem! I defer to our esteemed colleagues who have studied several forms of Buddhism better than I. Nevertheless, I have studied Buddhism in years past and can confidently say that they have much in common. In particular:
  1. The annihilation of the ego. In Catholicism, we understand this as moving from selfishness to selflessness.
  2. Rejection of sensuality. In Catholicism, we understand this as eschewing things of the flesh and embracing things of the Spirit.
I’m in no way advocating that one should consider becoming a Buddhist, particularly if one misinterprets the basic teachings of Buddhism from an uneducated perspective. (Much as many of us misinterpret Judaism and Islam - much as Jews and Muslims misinterpret Christianity.) However, certain practices of Buddhism, such as meditation and mindfulness (not harming other sentient beings) are entirely compatible with the Christian faith.

The former allows us to quiet our busy minds and hear the still, quiet voice of God; the latter is simply love and stewardship as recommended in Scripture. It is also a good cure for the worldliness and materialism from which all too many Christians suffer. In this sense, I’ve often said that (generic) Buddhism is what Christianity would look like if Christians lived as they should…

I recommend approaching a Catholic priest from a highly Buddhist country such as India for guidance on this subject.

Peace be with you!
 
vee8 said:
Amen!
  1. I often refer people who have questions like the OP`s to go to the ewtn audio library and listen to Paul Williams on the Journey Home.
  2. To do practices of another religion reminds me of the Israelites who started worshiping Baal while waiting for Moses to come back down the mountain. We are waiting for the return of Jesus to judge the living and the dead. Do we want him to find us doing practices from other religions?
Click to expand...
Almighty God is like a very high mountain. Depending on which side you stand, you get a different perspective. On the south side, lucious exotic green. On the North side, frost cold and pine trees. I think human experience of the infinite Creator is rather like that. Who am I to tell my fellow human that their view is not-valid?

I think that there are truths we can learn from all religions. All have something to say about our God. Perhaps we should spend more time humbly exploring what they are saying rather than condemning them for their apostacy.

God alone judges. That is not our and especially not my perogative. Mine is to submit humbly to pray and thank Him for all the diveristy both biological and cultural.

Through all cultures: To Him be the glory for ever and ever

Blessings and peace
 
and let’s not forget the compassionate nature of Buddha and the compassion of Christ.

This is a good thread!
 
SedesDomi said:
Actually, to have one’s eyes closed could mean one is focusing outward as well. One important Buddhist meditation is the radiation of love to all beings, in all realms. So closed eyes could mean focusing “without”.
Click to expand...
What G.K. Chesterton was describing was the idea in Buddhism and other eastern religions is the idea that people are God. A Buddhist monk once said, "“You do not use God nature (pointing at himself) to worship God nature.” In other words, humans do not need to worship God because we are God.

This is completely incompatible with Christian teaching about the nature of God and man.
 
valient_Lucy said:
What G.K. Chesterton was describing was the idea in Buddhism and other eastern religions is the idea that people are God. A Buddhist monk once said, "“You do not use God nature (pointing at himself) to worship God nature.” In other words, humans do not need to worship God because we are God.
Click to expand...
I strongly suspect that a Buddhist monk would have said “Buddha nature” rather than “God nature”. There may well be a problem with the translation here. All humans and all animals have the potential to become Buddhas so we all have “Buddha nature”.
This is completely incompatible with Christian teaching about the nature of God and man.
Click to expand...
I am not aware of anything in Christian teaching that says we cannot become Buddhas.

rossum
 
narrowpath said:
This is the Harrowing of Hell. Those who worshiped the true and living God but died before the atonement on the cross were saved from their limbo and brought to God.

On another thought, I like some Buddhist ideas, such as not harming living creatures (to some extent), but reincarnation (Buddhist) is incompatible with Catholicism, just as one example.

The different religions can’t all lead to God. There cannot be one God, Many Gods, no God, a personal God, and an impersonal 'supreme reality, all at the same time.
Click to expand...
Dear brother or sister in Christ. I thnk we need stop and listen. I know we have the truth, but the mark of humility is to stop and lsiten to what our brothers and sisters are saying. Each has their tale to tell. They also have buried depths we had not considered.

In the pursuit of Christ, please listen to what others are telling you

God bless to you all.

Blessings and peace
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top