Buddhism - Christianity Compatibility

Originally posted by Nemesio
Read Living Buddha, Living Christ, by Thich Nhat Hanh

Nemesio

I'll put this on my list. I know next to nothing about Buddhism.

Originally posted by DoctorScribbles
Is there anything about either of these that precludes one from practicing and believing the tenets of both? Can a good Chrisitan also practice Buddhism? Can a Buddhist believe in the triune God of the Bible?

A good Christian could easily practice Buddhism. Buddhist routines should form a useful complement to Christian spirituality, which seems somewhat short on practical meditation techniques. (Please correct me if I'm wrong on this).

A Buddhist can put anything to good use, even the triune God. In Tibetan Buddhism you can meditate on a god-form in the hope of losing yourself in it; surely the 3-in-1 could be substituted to that purpose.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
A good Christian could easily practice Buddhism. Buddhist routines should form a useful complement to Christian spirituality, which seems somewhat short on practical meditation techniques. (Please correct me if I'm wrong on this).

A Buddhist can put anything to good use, even the triune God. In Tibetan Buddhism you can meditate on a god-form in the hope of losing yourself in it; surely the 3-in-1 could be substituted to that purpose.

Depends where you are coming from.
A strict Catholic might have some issues with Buddhism, being that there is an ultimate authority and so forth. (According to them, and the new Pope doesn't like it)
Make up your own mind, IMHO, most religions have some value, insight and so forth, being a study of Man.
*meh*

Originally posted by KneverKnight
A strict Catholic might have some issues with Buddhism, being that there is an ultimate authority and so forth. (According to them, and the new Pope doesn't like it)

What doesn't the new Pope like?

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
What doesn't the new Pope like?

That ridiculous hat of his. What's that about anyway?

"My mind to the heavens... almost there... getting there... nnngggh"

Originally posted by DoctorScribbles
Is there anything about either of these that precludes one from practicing and believing the tenets of both? Can a good Chrisitan also practice Buddhism? Can a Buddhist believe in the triune God of the Bible?

I'd say all religions are slightly overlapping each other. The basic messages are the same. It's just a matter of how it's presented, and what is expected of you as a follower.

At the core of any religion is wishful thinking. The idea that somehow this world would be a better place if everyone followed one set of rules; doctrine. The problem with most doctrines is that they don't consider everything (well, buddhism and the likes being a little different from most).

So you should ask yourself: "Is the doctrine of buddhism compatible with the doctrine of christianity?", and of course the answer is: "How deep are you willing to go?", because in the end, if the two are completely compatible they're the same, thus, logic dictates they cannot be followed to letter at the same time.

Pick and choose for yourself, I always say.

Originally posted by DoctorScribbles
Is there anything about either of these that precludes one from practicing and believing the tenets of both? Can a good Chrisitan also practice Buddhism? Can a Buddhist believe in the triune God of the Bible?

1. Yes. A Christian cannot accept karma and rebirth, for instance, in the way they are understood in Buddhism. The Buddhist cannot accept that escape from suffering is to be found in contemplating God alone.

2. Not really. A Christian can find elements in Buddhism that conform to his existing faith, but that's not the same as practising Buddhism.

3. It's possible - but the Buddhist would have to deny the personal nature of the Biblical God.

Originally posted by The Chess Express
Buddhism and Christianity share much in common.

As I understand it, The Four Nobel Truths of Buddhism are roughly as follows.

1. This world and all life is suffering.

2. The cause of our suffering is desire, in particular attachment to material things, attachment to this world.

3. We all will eventually end our suffering by real ...[text shortened]... d on my interpretation of the scripture Christians are supposed to find Jesus within themselves.

The Christian response to the Four Noble Truths:

1 and 2. For the Christian, this world and life is not just about suffering. It is essentially a perfect world made imperfect through human action and Original Sin. Nevertheless, both the world and life are to be treasured. While there is a better life to come, it is not a life separated from this world - Christians believe in the literal resurrection of the body.

3. The Christian does not seek to escape his own suffering. He seeks to embrace it with Christ on the cross and sanctify it. Of course, he doesn't try to suffer unnecessarily!

4. The Christian view of the Eightfold Path is focused on God, rather than on himself.

Christians tend to focus more on Jesus and the external. Buddhists look to themselves for the truth. This doesn’t have to be a difference though. Based on my interpretation of the scripture Christians are supposed to find Jesus within themselves.

They will find Jesus in themselves - but by focusing on Jesus, not themselves. In finding Jesus they find who they really are. This was a favourite theme of JPII's. Jesus, as true man, represents what humanity is really about, what it really should be, what it really can and will be.

Originally posted by KneverKnight
More of a philosophy than a religion, but it's hard to nail down.

What's the difference between philosophy and religion, according to you?

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
A good Christian could easily practice Buddhism. Buddhist routines should form a useful complement to Christian spirituality, which seems somewhat short on practical meditation techniques. (Please correct me if I'm wrong on this).

A Buddhist can put anything to good use, even the triune God. In Tibetan Buddhism you can meditate on a god-form in the hope of losing yourself in it; surely the 3-in-1 could be substituted to that purpose.

A good Christian could easily practice Buddhism. Buddhist routines should form a useful complement to Christian spirituality, which seems somewhat short on practical meditation techniques. (Please correct me if I'm wrong on this).

Gladly. 🙂

Christianity has a long tradition of contemplative prayer. Some great works I'd recommend reading are St. John of the Cross's 'Dark Night of the Soul' and St. Teresa of Avila's 'The Interior Castle' - the Discalced Carmelites specialise in Christian contemplative prayer. Also recommended is anything by St. Francis de Sales.

EDIT: The rosary, when prayed properly, is one of the best forms of contemplative/meditative prayer.

Of course, there are many other spiritual traditions in Christianity as well. Ignatian spirituality, for instance, focuses on finding God in the daily events of our life. Charismatic spirituality is usually popular with the youth.

EDIT2: I should probably also mention Thomas Merton before vistesd chips in. 😀 I'm not familiar with Merton's work myself.

In Tibetan Buddhism you can meditate on a god-form in the hope of losing yourself in it; surely the 3-in-1 could be substituted to that purpose.

In that sense, perhaps it can work. But then the god-form in Christianity is a real, other presence - not just a figure to focus one's attention on.

The basic difference between the two is that Christianity looks outward, Buddhism looks inward. Kind of like the difference between the Jedi and the Sith (if you've read the Star Wars novels).

Originally posted by ivanhoe
Do you find anything attractive in Buddhism ? (Besides the fact it has no creator-god)

As Buddhism in a non-evangelical religion, I find it to be infinitely preferable to christianity. If christianity were to be similarly non-evangelical, I would have absolutely no problem with it either.

Originally posted by lucifershammer
What's the difference between philosophy and religion, according to you?

I think a philosophy is more of a way to live your life, but a religion is this with reasons (that may or not be true) for example a god. Thats the way i see it.

Originally posted by rwingett
As Buddhism in a non-evangelical religion, I find it to be infinitely preferable to christianity. If christianity were to be similarly non-evangelical, I would have absolutely no problem with it either.

Are you saying that Buddhism does not market itself?

Originally posted by Will Everitt
I think a philosophy is more of a way to live your life, but a religion is this with reasons (that may or not be true) for example a god. Thats the way i see it.

Any philosophy will begin with certain premises. Buddhism offers premises of its own (karma, rebirth) that, IMO, are no less fantastic than the ones Christianity offers.

Originally posted by lucifershammer
Are you saying that Buddhism does not market itself?

There's a difference between marketing oneself and thinking it is your duty to make converts.