Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 160 pages
- Published by: Wisdom Publications March 25, 2004
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 0861713834
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-0861713837
-
Book Dimensions:
8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
- Weighs: 9.1 ounces
From Publishers Weekly
Perhaps one of the most radically healing acts available to humanity today is to bridge the distance between the world's major religions-helping devotees discover their common spiritual ground instead of fuel for their political conflicts. Habito may not see himself as a revolutionary, but his humble life calling-to illuminate the commonalities between Zen Buddhism and Christianity-seems a profound gift. As a native of the Philippines, he began his spiritual training as a contemplative Jesuit priest in Japan. Later he became a pupil of Buddhism under renowned teacher Koun Yamada Roshi. This offering is specifically aimed at the Christian community, helping readers expand their experience of Christ through the teachings of Buddha. For instance, he compares the Zen teachings of dying to ego-attachments in order to reach enlightenment as being similar to the Christian experience of "dying to one's old self" and being reborn into an entirely new life of Christ. Habito excels in illuminating the connective spiritual tissue between the two religions, while also explaining the principles of Buddhism. When speaking to suffering, he notes that both religions ask followers to embrace the realities of suffering in order to offer wisdom and relief. This is an great book for readers who want to deepen their understanding of Christianity as well as Buddhism. It includes an Appendix, excerpting conversations with his teachers-Koun Yamada Roshi and Father Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, S.J.
as well as suggestions for further reading. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Product Description
Explores the state of Christ-consciouness and the experience of divine presence that can be awakened by Zen practice.
Reader ReviewsRuben Habito is certainly not a household name for many of us, and yet he is a prominent figure in the Zen tradition. He is a native of the Philippines, and the current Zen master of the Maria Kannon Zen Center in Dallas since 1990. Obviously the first thing which hits one when glancing at the title of this book is Thich Nhat Hanh's similar title "Living Buddha, Living Christ." In a sense the goal is quite similar. Habito has always been vigorous in supporting inter-religious discussion between members of various faiths. As a teen, he explains how he was drawn to the Jesuit order and later was sent to Japan on missionary work. He marks this as a major turning point in his life. He was assigned to Kamakura, where he came to understand the language and culture. The priest who looked after him in Japan, Fr. Hand, was ironically studying at a Zen center there under Yamada Koun Roshi. Habito joined the sitting group, and found himself very much at home in Zen practice. He has since retained both of these traditions as his spiritual roots. In 1978, Ruben received Dharma transmission from Yamada Roshi. During the years between meeting Roshi and first coming to Japan, Habito had been there for almost 17 years. He'd experienced a lot of struggling being a member of two seemingly irreconcilable religious traditions. Christianity and Zen Buddhism. But through diligence and hard practice, he has been able to show people the path of a reconciliation between these two faiths. He remarks that it is his Zen practice that allowed him to come to clear and powerful understanding of Christian scripture. Led him to an EXPERIENCING of the gospels, not just mere intellectual understanding. This book is a must have for members of either faith looking for a way to open the table for dialogue, or to accentuate their faith with the best food of another tradition. This book was wonderful, enjoy it.
Search for books at
