For what my opinion is worth, I think you haven't come close to capturing just how different Christianity and Buddhism are. But in saying so, I realize that I look at Buddhism as a non-theistic spiritual path, and maybe what I'm actually saying is how wide the gulf is between religion and mysticism, and the fact that Buddhists sit at the feet of their mystics, and Christians tend to burn them at the stake. Certainly that are flavors of Buddhism that have devolved into religion, just as there are (mostly individual) Christians (St. John of the Cross, Meister Eckhart, St. Teresa of Avila, HIldegard of Binger, Saint Francis) who absolutely belong in the list of those of great mystical realization.
The Buddhism (I relate to), completely lacks a "god" that is similar to the "white man with long beard sitting in the clouds" that most Christians seem to be unable to get beyond.
If you want to completely befuddle yourself, do some reading on what many consider the "heart" of Buddhism, the concept of Sunyata (horribly translated into English as "emptiness"). That might give you a taste of just how different Buddhism is from Christianity. Buddhism has a profoundly rich study of psychology and epistemology, something that seems completely absent in Christianity.
Many Christians of a contemplative bent develop an appreciation for Buddhism. My list was very small, and mostly much farther in the past.
My introduction to Zazen, in the 90s, was in a Benedictine Monastery in Wurzburg, Germany, where the head monk, Willigis Jäger, embraced both.
I don't know what to think about it, but Nicolas Notovitch's book, "The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ" argues that he spent the "lost years" in Tibet, studying under Lamas there.
This Buddhist religious movement rapidly developed in a number of different places in and around what is now India, the birthplace of Buddhism. Buddhism itself started sometime in the fifth century BCE. We now think that the Buddha, who founded the religion, died sometime toward the year 400 BCE.Aug 20, 2018
For what my opinion is worth, I think you haven't come close to capturing just how different Christianity and Buddhism are. But in saying so, I realize that I look at Buddhism as a non-theistic spiritual path, and maybe what I'm actually saying is how wide the gulf is between religion and mysticism, and the fact that Buddhists sit at the feet of their mystics, and Christians tend to burn them at the stake. Certainly that are flavors of Buddhism that have devolved into religion, just as there are (mostly individual) Christians (St. John of the Cross, Meister Eckhart, St. Teresa of Avila, HIldegard of Binger, Saint Francis) who absolutely belong in the list of those of great mystical realization.
The Buddhism (I relate to), completely lacks a "god" that is similar to the "white man with long beard sitting in the clouds" that most Christians seem to be unable to get beyond.
If you want to completely befuddle yourself, do some reading on what many consider the "heart" of Buddhism, the concept of Sunyata (horribly translated into English as "emptiness"). That might give you a taste of just how different Buddhism is from Christianity. Buddhism has a profoundly rich study of psychology and epistemology, something that seems completely absent in Christianity.
Yet, a more contemporary Christian, Thomas Merton, certainly was a mystic, and came to appreciate Buddhism, too!
Many Christians of a contemplative bent develop an appreciation for Buddhism. My list was very small, and mostly much farther in the past.
My introduction to Zazen, in the 90s, was in a Benedictine Monastery in Wurzburg, Germany, where the head monk, Willigis Jäger, embraced both.
I don't know what to think about it, but Nicolas Notovitch's book, "The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ" argues that he spent the "lost years" in Tibet, studying under Lamas there.
This Buddhist religious movement rapidly developed in a number of different places in and around what is now India, the birthplace of Buddhism. Buddhism itself started sometime in the fifth century BCE. We now think that the Buddha, who founded the religion, died sometime toward the year 400 BCE.Aug 20, 2018