A few weeks ago, on our annual retreat, Fr. Scott+, in his talk on Buddhist monasticism, mentioned Paul Knitter's book, Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian. What an intriguing title! With the wonders of technology I had the book on its way before Scott+ reached his next point.
Without Buddha became my beach reading last week when we camped at the ocean (along with The Book of Chuang Tzu, and an oral history of the Dambuster's Raid in 1942.)
Knitter's books is very heartening. For me it is one of those books that has such resonance that page after page I was mentally saying, "Yes! I feel that too. Yes! I understand it that way!"
Now a professor at Union Seminary, NY—he came out of retirement to take the job—Paul was a Roman Catholic priest from 1966 to 1975. He left the priesthood, became a theology teacher and peace activist, married and had a family. In the early 80s he began to study Buddhism. Through a gradual process, it became his practice. In 2008 he became a card-carrying Buddhist by taking his Bodhisattva Vows. In his words, "In 1939 I was baptized. In 2008 I took refuge." He identifies himself now a "Buddhist Christian," something he realizes he has been for some decades. (Of course, Fr. Scott+ in the Lindisfarne Community also embodies this.)
In his journey Paul Knitter exemplifies an understanding dear to my heart, and which we try to practice in the Lindisfarne Community, that all truth is God's truth. What is helpful about this book is the way Paul examines his Christian understanding (and his worries about some of it), makes a journey into Buddhism, learns from it, and passes back to his Christian understanding. There is much in common between the two religions. There are disagreements—at times substantial ones—which he doesn't merely brush under the carpet, but lives with the tension. A living synthesis of Buddhism and Christianity is not neat and tidy. But, it is profoundly creative.
In this book there is much about mysticism, much about practice, much about silence, much about mindfulness, much about symbol and myth, much about being peace, much about what God might be and who Jesus is.
It is a very honest book and Paul Knitter wears his doubts about traditional Christian teachings on his sleeve. He voices worries that I suspect many people have, but can't quite bring themselves to admit it. That in itself is quite helpful. I learned a great deal.
Here's a couple of gems.
On love:
+Ab. Andy
Without Buddha became my beach reading last week when we camped at the ocean (along with The Book of Chuang Tzu, and an oral history of the Dambuster's Raid in 1942.)
Knitter's books is very heartening. For me it is one of those books that has such resonance that page after page I was mentally saying, "Yes! I feel that too. Yes! I understand it that way!"
Now a professor at Union Seminary, NY—he came out of retirement to take the job—Paul was a Roman Catholic priest from 1966 to 1975. He left the priesthood, became a theology teacher and peace activist, married and had a family. In the early 80s he began to study Buddhism. Through a gradual process, it became his practice. In 2008 he became a card-carrying Buddhist by taking his Bodhisattva Vows. In his words, "In 1939 I was baptized. In 2008 I took refuge." He identifies himself now a "Buddhist Christian," something he realizes he has been for some decades. (Of course, Fr. Scott+ in the Lindisfarne Community also embodies this.)
In his journey Paul Knitter exemplifies an understanding dear to my heart, and which we try to practice in the Lindisfarne Community, that all truth is God's truth. What is helpful about this book is the way Paul examines his Christian understanding (and his worries about some of it), makes a journey into Buddhism, learns from it, and passes back to his Christian understanding. There is much in common between the two religions. There are disagreements—at times substantial ones—which he doesn't merely brush under the carpet, but lives with the tension. A living synthesis of Buddhism and Christianity is not neat and tidy. But, it is profoundly creative.
In this book there is much about mysticism, much about practice, much about silence, much about mindfulness, much about symbol and myth, much about being peace, much about what God might be and who Jesus is.
It is a very honest book and Paul Knitter wears his doubts about traditional Christian teachings on his sleeve. He voices worries that I suspect many people have, but can't quite bring themselves to admit it. That in itself is quite helpful. I learned a great deal.
Here's a couple of gems.
On love:
To love is to move out of self, to empty self, and connect with others. Love is this emptying, connecting energy that in its power originates new connections and new life.On the Holy Trinity:
God's very being, or existing, or identity consists of relating, or inter-existing, or InterBeing ... It's the most basic, and the simplest, thing we can say about ourselves and about God: we exist through relationships of knowing and loving and giving because that's how God exists.What I am not saying is that we all becomes Buddhist Christians, as Paul Knitter has. I am saying that we continue to seek truth, be fearlessly honest with what we find, practice courageously, and follow the Wild Goose wherever she leads.
+Ab. Andy