Posted on 01/22/2006 6:26:02 PM PST by Coleus
Zen master tells curious to embrace a new faith
RIDGEWOOD - The two-hour lecture at the Old Paramus Church Education Center began with several minutes of silent meditation. And for many who attended, participating in meditation was a first step in understanding the basic teachings of Buddhism and Eastern philosophy. "All attempts at mutual education are important to help us grow," said Robert Kennedy, the noted Jesuit priest and Zen master. "It widens our vision."
Kennedy Roshi, as he is known to Buddhists, was the key speaker at Saturday's event, which was attended by more than 100 people of varied faiths. It examined immortality, salvation and schools of thought in Buddhism and Christianity. It is the third lecture in a series to promote the understanding of Buddhism and Eastern thought sponsored by the Dhamma-Chakra Society of New Jersey. Kennedy is a practicing psychotherapist and retired chairman of the theology department at St. Peter's College in Jersey City. After being ordained a priest in the Jesuit tradition, he also studied Buddhism for many years and in 1991 was installed as a sensei, or teacher, of Eastern thought.
Saturday's lecture focused on many aspects of Eastern philosophy as well as Christian theology.
"I think the Buddhist and Christian traditions are both magnificent and both give wonderfully poetic metaphorical examples of what is inexpressible," Kennedy said. "I don't think the metaphors can be reduced to each other but that makes it all the better. Everything is not reduced to one way of looking at things."
Kennedy praised the strong outreach among Catholics and Jews to Buddhism.
"I don't think Buddhism is interested so much in learning from us, but they are open to us," said Kennedy, who holds doctorates in theology and psychology and is the author of "Zen Gifts to Christians" and "Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit." "I think we're coming to appreciate each other on a practical level as in marriage."
Parviz Dehghani is a Muslim who has been married to his Buddhist wife for 25 years and attended the lecture as both religious scholar and admirer of Kennedy as a Zen master. The lecture allowed the public to understand the similarities between Buddhism and Christianity, Dehghani said. "This lecture gives people a different direction in their own faith," he said. "It gives them a sense of enrichment in their own beliefs and a different way of looking at what they have been believing all along and through their lives. If Buddhism can enhance them to be a better Christian or Muslim, that's what it's all about."
Kennedy studied with Yamada Roshi in Japan, Maezumi Roshi in California and Glassman Roshi in New York. Glassman installed Kennedy as sensei and conferred the Inka, or final approval, on the cleric in 1997 that elevated him to master, or roshi. John LoGiudice of Paramus is a practicing Catholic who came to the lecture with several family members and friends to gain more knowledge of Buddhism. "I gained an insight of how the Buddhists and other cultures think and from what I gather - with Buddhism being an older culture - perhaps they are a little bit more advanced spiritually," LoGiudice said. "It's a journey. We're trying to learn more about it."
I agree with you about the rosary in the sense that it is marking events in the life of Jesus Christ and Mary. However, a buddhist is saying a mantra with the beads. The mantra has as meaning to the buddhist and is also contemplation exercise.
If I understand Zen correctly, a mantra has no meaning. It is simply something to distract you from everything else.
True but in terms of instruments of prayer, they're very similar. Buddhism is also older than christianity. Some people believe that they once had contact with eachother. I'm very interested in this because my sister is a buddhist and I am a Roman Catholic as much as I can call myself one since I do not attend church services often.
The four spiritual laws, Buddhist style: "Buddha loves you and has a wonderful plan for the extinction of your ego." :-)
That's not how I heard it exlained but I'll accept your definition as well.
I see where you're coming from with the assertion that Bnelson isn't "talking crap." But, for the most part, I disagree. Saying a religion like Buddhism isn't "compatible" with Christianity is just flat out wrong when one takes a look at the trials of Buddha and Christ (although the results are quite different), especially when related to what each said to the world in terms of respecting the dignity of your fellow human.
Where Buddhism and Christianity don't seem compatible is in Modern practice, but that is hardly Jesus's or Buddha's fault.
Yep, very similar. But then, one could say in the same way that the Karma Sutra and the Bible are very similar because they both teach you how to be happy in your sexual life.
In reality, the Christian is using the rosary to focus his thoughts while addressing the throne room of the Universe, and the Bhuddist is using the beads to engage in a mental exercise.
Nirvana is not heaven. In heaven a soul is bound in total ecstasy with God for all eternity. Nirvana is the extinguishing or unbinding from all passion, desire, jealousy, and ignorance. It is really not a place, it is unbinding. They are polar opposites.
"Everything is everything."
Sounds similiar to I am what I am.
The rosary isn't in the bible but an instrument of prayer accepted by the RCC. That's not what I was told about buddhist prayer beads. Many buddhists have told me they are praying to God when they are using their prayer beads. I guess it's the same when some Catholics go on autopilot when saying the rosary. I don't pray the rosary unless I can focus otherwise it's just another 'mental exercise'.
Buddha was a teacher. Jesus was God Almighty. If Christ is all, the Alpha and the Omega, what does Buddhism have to offer?
How would you explain to someone that Jesus was Almighty God. I do not see this done very much in the RCC as much as I see it in evangelical churches.
Well, for all I want to say, you're pretty much right. I am no Buddhist scholar or Zen Master. My whole point is, that without a lot of heavy scholarship, it is not to hard to see the similarities, as well as differences, between the teachings of Christ and those of the Buddha.
Both teach that what is around us is temporary, and to look beyond this world's material needs. But they have different ideas about God and the path to Heaven/Nirvana (and no, Heaven doesn't properly align with Nirvana; I do not have the words to give a proper conception).
But, of course, they are not the "same."
When you or a Zen master knock over a company of troops by telling them "Everything is everything," you let me know.
As a Roman Catholic, it is part of our Creed. When we pray we usually end it with the Sign of the Cross, which says in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. To a Catholic, all three are almighty God.
I learned the same thing in school. Yet, I've never heard it backed up with scripture from the Bible. Tradition is one thing but I wish there was Sunday school to study the bible.
Most parishes offer bible study now.
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