Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hahn
Living Buddha, Living Christ
by Thich Nhat Hahn
“People kill and are killed because they cling too tightly to their beliefs and ideologies. When we believe that ours is the only faith that contains the truth, violence and suffering will surely be the result.” (Hahn, 2)
Thich Nhat Hahn grew up in a Vietnam that was being colonized by French Christian missionaries. He also lived through the Vietnam war, actively campaigning for peace. In this book, Living Buddha, Living Christ, Thich Nhat Hahn compares the views and practices of Christianity and Buddhism. While he does not ignore serious differences in the religions, he finds common ground in the teachings of the founders, the Buddha and Jesus. He also distinguishes between the historical figures of the Buddha and Christ and the internal qualities they have come to represent to us today. “As an historical person, the Buddha was born… near the border between India and Nepal…but there is also the Buddha within us who transcends space and time…The historical Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but the living Jesus is the Son of God who was resurrected and who continues to live.” (Hahn, 35) With clarity and sensitivity, Thich Nhat Hahn shares his view of the importance of religion being an active, alive force in our lives today. He also takes concepts key to each religion and compares them. For example, he looks at the role that mindfulness and The Holy Spirit play in each religion, illuminating difference and common ground.
Thich Nhat Hahn, while celebrating the differences in Christianity and Buddhism, is able to go deeper to a place where the two meet, a place inside the heart of the practitioners of all religions, the place that seeks peace. Considering that so many of our wars are fought today in the name of religious difference, I think this book is a beautiful compliment to Beyond War’s second guiding principle: We Are One on this Planet.
Authors Note: I think this book might be offensive to those who believe that Christianity is the only path to peace. Thich Nhat Hahn is not shy about stating his opinion that that kind of thinking can only lead to violence.
Question #1: On page 9, Thich Nhat Hahn writes “In true dialogue, both sides are willing to change…If we think we monopolize the truth and we still organize a dialogue, it is not authentic.” Talk about examples in your personal life where you have come together in a dispute willing to change and also explore examples where you have come to the table without that openness. Did you notice a difference in obtaining a peaceful outcome?
Question #2: On page 14, Thich Nhat Hahn compares The Holy Spirit with mindfulness. Do you think this is accurate comparison? Why or why not?
Question #3: What similarities do you see between the message of Christ and the message of the Buddha?
Question #4: How can we bring people together to find common ground when belief is so strong? What are some ways that religious difference can be bridged? From Thich Nhat Hahn’s perspective? From your own point of view?
Question #5: Do you think a similar book could be written to help with the Palestinian/Israeli conflict? Is
by Thich Nhat Hahn
“People kill and are killed because they cling too tightly to their beliefs and ideologies. When we believe that ours is the only faith that contains the truth, violence and suffering will surely be the result.” (Hahn, 2)
Thich Nhat Hahn grew up in a Vietnam that was being colonized by French Christian missionaries. He also lived through the Vietnam war, actively campaigning for peace. In this book, Living Buddha, Living Christ, Thich Nhat Hahn compares the views and practices of Christianity and Buddhism. While he does not ignore serious differences in the religions, he finds common ground in the teachings of the founders, the Buddha and Jesus. He also distinguishes between the historical figures of the Buddha and Christ and the internal qualities they have come to represent to us today. “As an historical person, the Buddha was born… near the border between India and Nepal…but there is also the Buddha within us who transcends space and time…The historical Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but the living Jesus is the Son of God who was resurrected and who continues to live.” (Hahn, 35) With clarity and sensitivity, Thich Nhat Hahn shares his view of the importance of religion being an active, alive force in our lives today. He also takes concepts key to each religion and compares them. For example, he looks at the role that mindfulness and The Holy Spirit play in each religion, illuminating difference and common ground.
Thich Nhat Hahn, while celebrating the differences in Christianity and Buddhism, is able to go deeper to a place where the two meet, a place inside the heart of the practitioners of all religions, the place that seeks peace. Considering that so many of our wars are fought today in the name of religious difference, I think this book is a beautiful compliment to Beyond War’s second guiding principle: We Are One on this Planet.
Authors Note: I think this book might be offensive to those who believe that Christianity is the only path to peace. Thich Nhat Hahn is not shy about stating his opinion that that kind of thinking can only lead to violence.
Question #1: On page 9, Thich Nhat Hahn writes “In true dialogue, both sides are willing to change…If we think we monopolize the truth and we still organize a dialogue, it is not authentic.” Talk about examples in your personal life where you have come together in a dispute willing to change and also explore examples where you have come to the table without that openness. Did you notice a difference in obtaining a peaceful outcome?
Question #2: On page 14, Thich Nhat Hahn compares The Holy Spirit with mindfulness. Do you think this is accurate comparison? Why or why not?
Question #3: What similarities do you see between the message of Christ and the message of the Buddha?
Question #4: How can we bring people together to find common ground when belief is so strong? What are some ways that religious difference can be bridged? From Thich Nhat Hahn’s perspective? From your own point of view?
Question #5: Do you think a similar book could be written to help with the Palestinian/Israeli conflict? Is
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