A List of Books for Buddhist-Christian Dialogue

by Carl McColman

Are you interested in exploring the richness of dialogue and interspiritual practice between Christianity and Buddhism? If so, then here’s enough literature to keep you going for a while. Each of the books on the following list has some sort of connection with both Christianity and Buddhism.

Some of these titles are academic studies, some the writings of monastics, others geared toward the laity. Some are books by Christians about Buddhism, or by Buddhists about interfaith dialogue; by Christians who find meditation a helpful adjunct to their primarily Christ-centered faith, or by persons who identify as “dual practitioners,” seeking an authentic path that is simultaneously faithful to both the Gospel and the Dharma. One or two are by Christians, about Christian spirituality, but informed by the author’s Buddhist practice.

Thomas Merton and the Dalai Lama, 1968. Copyright of the Merton Legacy Trust and the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University. Used with permission.

 

This list is rather weighted toward the Christian side of the conversation. I would love to include more Buddhist authors and more Buddhist perspectives on Christianity, but I’m not as familiar with the Buddhist side of this conversation. While the most popular topic of these books is meditation, some are more narrowly focused on matters such as theodicy or psychology.

I have only read a fraction of these books myself, so I offer them here with no endorsement other than my own interest in the subject. I have tried to avoid listing books that promote one religion at the expense of the other; but since I have not read all the following titles, it’s possible that books like that have been listed. Please keep in mind that interreligious dialogue is a messy business and it is inevitable that the books on this list will represent a variety of perspectives on both Christianity and Buddhism. The bottom line: you are advised to read with a discerning mind. 

 

  1. A. William McVey, Existentialism and Christian Zen: An East/West Way to Christ
  2. Addison Hodges Hart, The Ox-Herder and the Good Shepherd: Finding Christ on the Buddha’s Path
  3. Aelred Graham, Zen Catholicism: A Suggestion
  4. Aelred Graham, Conversations: Christian and Buddhist
  5. Ama Samy, SJ, Zen: Awakening to Your Original Face
  6. Ama Samy, SJ, Zen Heart, Zen Mind: The Teachings of Zen Master Ama Samy
  7. Ama Samy, SJ, Zen: the Wayless Way
  8. Antony Fernando & Leonard Swidler, Buddhism Made Plain: An Introduction for Christians and Jews
  9. B. Alan Wallace, Mind in the Balance: Meditation in Science, Buddhism and Christianity
  10. Bieke Vandekerckhove, The Taste of Silence
  11. Bonnie Bowman Thurston, ed., Merton & Buddhism: Wisdom, Emptiness & Everyday Mind
  12. Brian J. Pearce, OP, We Walk the Path Together: Learning from Thich Nhat Hanh & Meister Eckhart
  13. Buddhadasa Bhikku, Christianity and Buddhism
  14. Carrin Dunne, Buddha and Jesus: Conversations
  15. China Galland, Longing for Darkness: Tara and the Black Madonna
  16. Christopher Collingwood, Zen Wisdom for Christians
  17. D. T. Suzuki, Mysticism: Buddhist and Christian: The Eastern and Western Way
  18. David G. Hackett, The Silent Dialogue: Zen Letters to a Trappist Monk
  19. Denise Lardner Carmody and John Tully Carmody, Serene Compassion: A Christian Appreciation of Buddhist Holiness
  20. Donald W. Mitchell, Spirituality and Emptiness: The Dynamics of Spiritual Life in Buddhism and Christianity
  21. Donald W. Mitchell & James A. Wiseman, eds., Finding Peace in Troubled Times: Buddhist and Christian Monastics on Transforming Suffering
  22. Donald W. Mitchell & James A. Wiseman, eds., The Spiritual Life: Gethsemani Encounters
  23. Donald W. Mitchell & William Skudlarek, OSB, eds., Green Monasticism: A Buddhist-Catholic Response to an Environmental Calamity
  24. Donovan Roebert, The Gospel for Buddhists and the Dharma for Christians
  25. Edward L. Shirley, Zen Mind, Franciscan Joy
  26. Elaine MacInnes, The Flowing Bridge: Guidance on Beginning Zen Koans
  27. Elaine MacInnes, Light Sitting in Light: A Christian’s Experience of Zen
  28. Elaine MacInnes, Teaching Zen to Christians: Orientation Talks for Beginners
  29. Elaine MacInnes, Zen Contemplation for Christians: A Bridge of Living Water
  30. Elizabeth Harris and John O’Grady, eds., Meditation in Buddhist-Christian Encounter: A Critical Analysis
  31. Elizabeth West, Happiness Here & Now: The Eightfold Path of Jesus Revisited with Buddhist Insights
  32. Ellen Birx, Embracing the Inconceivable: Interspiritual Practice of Zen and Christianity
  33. Gordon Peerman, Blessed Relief: What Christians Can Learn from Buddhists about Suffering
  34. Gustav Ericsson, My Christian Journey With Zen
  35. Heinrich Dumoulin, SJ, Christianity Meets Buddhism
  36. Hikaru Nakamura, Saint Young Men (Multiple Volumes)
  37. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus
  38. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Spiritual Advice for Buddhists and Christians
  39. Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, Living in the New Consciousness
  40. Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, The Practice of Zen Meditation
  41. Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, Zen Meditation for Christians
  42. Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, Zen: Way to Enlightenment
  43. J. K. Kadowaki, Zen and the Bible
  44. James Arraj, Christianity in the Crucible of East-West Dialogue / God, Zen and the Intuition of Being (2 Volumes in 1) 
  45. James William Jones, The Mirror of God: Christian Faith as Spiritual Practice, Lessons from Buddhism and Psychotherapy
  46. James Wiseman and Donald Mitchell, eds., The Gethsemani Encounter: A Dialogue on the Spiritual Life by Buddhist and Christian Monastics
  47. Jan Willis, Dreaming Me: Black, Baptist and Buddhist
  48. Janet Conner, The Lotus and the Lilly: Access the Wisdom of Buddha and Jesus to Nourish Your Beautiful, Abundant Life
  49. Jean-Yves Leloup, Compassion and Meditation: The Spiritual Dynamic Between Buddhism and Christianity
  50. Jeroan Witkam, The Eye Aware: Zen Lessons for Christians
  51. John Cowan, Taking Jesus Seriously: Buddhist Meditation for Christians
  52. John P. Cobb, Jr., Beyond Dialogue: Toward a Mutual Transformation of Christianity and Buddhism
  53. John P. Keenan, The Emptied Christ of Philippians: Mahāyāna Meditations
  54. John P. Keenan, The Gospel of Mark: A Mahayana Reading
  55. John P. Keenan, The Meaning of Christ: A Mahayana Theology
  56. Kenneth S. Leong, The Zen Teachings of Jesus
  57. Kim Boykin, Zen for Christians: A Beginner’s Guide
  58. Kristin Johnson Largen, What Christians Can Learn from Buddhism: Rethinking Salvation
  59. Leo D. Lefebure, The Buddha and the Christ: Explorations in Buddhist and Christian Dialogue
  60. Marco Pallis, A Buddhist Spectrum: Contributions to the Christian-Buddhist Dialogue
  61. Marcus Borg, Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings
  62. Mark Heim, Crucified Wisdom: Theological Reflection on Christ and the Bodhisattva
  63. Mary Jo Meadow, Christian Insight Meditation: Following in the Footsteps of John of the Cross
  64. Mary Jo Meadow, Gentling the Heart: Buddhist Loving-Kindness Practice for Christians
  65. Maurice O’C Walshe, Buddhism and Christianity: A Positive Approach
  66. Nadra Nittle, bell hooks’ Spiritual Vision: Buddhist, Christian, and Feminist
  67. Patricia Hart Clifford, Sitting Still: An Encounter with Christian Zen
  68. Patrick Henry, ed., Benedict’s Dharma: Buddhists Reflect on the Rule of Saint Benedict
  69. Patrick Henry and Donald K. Swearer, For the Sake of the World: The Spirit of Buddhist and Christian Monasticism
  70. Paul F. Knitter, Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian
  71. Paul Knitter & Roger Haight, Jesus & Buddha: Friends in Conversation
  72. Paul Louis Metzger with Kyogen Carlson, Evangelical Zen: A Christian’s Spiritual Travels with a Buddhist Friend
  73. Paul O. Ingram, A Modern Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
  74. Paul O. Ingram, ed., Buddhist-Christian Dialogue: Mutual Renewal and Transformation
  75. Paul O. Ingram, Buddhist-Christian Dialogue in an Age of Science
  76. Paul O. Ingram, The Process of Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
  77. Paul O. Ingram, Theological Reflection at the Boundaries
  78. Paul Mommaers, Mysticism, Buddhist and Christian: Encounters with Jan van Ruusbroec
  79. Peter Baekelmans, The Hidden “God”: Towards a Christian Theology of Buddhism
  80. Peter Feldmeier, Christianity Looks East: Comparing the Spiritualities of John of the Cross and Buddhaghosa
  81. Peter Feldmeier, Experiments in Buddhist-Christian Encounter: From Buddha-Nature to the Divine Nature
  82. Perry Schmidt-Leukel, ed., Buddhism and Christianity in Dialogue: The Gerald-Weisfeld Lectures 2004
  83. Perry Schmidt-Leukel, The Celestial Web: Buddhism and Christianity, A Different Comparison
  84. Peter Feldmeier, Christianity Looks East: Comparing the Spiritualities of John of the Cross and Buddhaghosa
  85. Raimon Panikkar, The Silence of God: The Answer of the Buddha
  86. Richard Bryan McDaniel, Catholicism and Zen
  87. Rita M. Gross and Terry C. Muck, eds., Buddhists Talk about Jesus, Christians Talk About the Buddha
  88. Rita M. Gross and Terry C. Muck, eds., Christians Talk About Buddhist Meditation, Buddhists Talk about Christian Prayer
  89. Robert Aitken and David Steindl-Rast, The Ground We Share: Everyday Practice, Buddhist and Christian
  90. Robert Jingen Gunn, Journeys Into Emptiness: Dogen, Merton, Jung and the Quest for Transformation
  91. Robert Kennedy, Zen Gifts to Christians
  92. Robert Kennedy, Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit: The Place of Zen in Christian Life
  93. Robert Magliola, Facing Up to Real Doctrinal Difference: How Some Thought-Motifs from Derrida Can Nourish the Catholic-Buddhist Encounter
  94. Robert Powell, Christian Zen: The Essential Teachings of Jesus Christ
  95. Robert Sohl and Audrey Carr, eds., The Gospel According to Zen
  96. Roger Corless, The Vision of Buddhism
  97. Roger Corless and Paul F. Knitter, eds., Buddhist Emptiness and Christian Trinity: Essays & Explorations
  98. Rose Drew, Buddhist and Christian?: An Exploration of Dual Belonging
  99. Ross Thompson, Buddhist Christianity: A Passionate Openness
  100. Ross Thompson, Wounded Wisdom: A Buddhist and Christian Response to Evil, Hurt and Harm
  101. Ruben L. F. Habito, Be Still and Know: Zen and the Bible
  102. Ruben L. F. Habito, Experiencing Buddhism: Ways of Wisdom and Compassion
  103. Ruben L. F. Habito, Healing Breath: Zen for Christians and Buddhists in a Wounded World
  104. Ruben L. F. Habito, Living Zen, Loving God
  105. Ruben L. F. Habito, Total Liberation: Zen Spirituality and the Social Dimension
  106. Ruben L. F. Habito, Zen and the Spiritual Exercises
  107. Seiichi Yagi and Leonard Swidler, A Bridge to Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
  108. Steve Smith, Eastern Light: Awakening to Presence in Zen, Quakerism and Christianity
  109. Susan J. Stabile, Growing in Love and Wisdom: Tibetan Buddhist Sources for Christian Meditation
  110. Susan Walker, ed., Speaking of Silence: Christians and Buddhists on the Contemplative Way
  111. Thich Nhat Hanh, Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers
  112. Thich Nhat Hanh, Living Buddha, Living Christ
  113. Thich Nhat Hanh and Daniel Berrigan, The Raft is Not the Shore: Conversations Toward a Buddhist-Christian Awareness
  114. Thomas G. Hand, Always a Pilgrim: Walking the Zen Christian Path
  115. Thomas Merton, Mystics and Zen Masters
  116. Thomas Merton, The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton
  117. Thomas Merton, Thomas Merton on Zen
  118. Thomas Merton, Zen and the Birds of Appetite
  119. Thomas Ragland, The Noble Eightfold Path of Christ: Jesus Teaches the Dharma of Buddhism
  120. Tilden H. Edwards, Jr., “Criss-Crossing the Christian-Buddhist Bridge” in Tarthang Tulku, ed., Reflections of Mind: Western Psychology Meets Tibetan Buddhism
  121. Tom Chetwynd, Zen and the Kingdom of Heaven
  122. Tony Luke, Way of Zen, Way of Christ: Satori and the Kingdom of God
  123. Valerie Brown, Hope Leans Forward: Braving Your Way Toward Simplicity, Awakening, and Peace
  124. William Johnston, Christian Zen: A Way of Meditation
  125. William Johnston, The Mirror Mind: Zen-Christian Dialog
  126. William Johnston, The Still Point: Reflections on Zen and Christian Mysticism
  127. William McVey, Existentialism and Christian Zen: An East/West Way to Christ
  128. William Skudlarek OSB, Demythologizing Celibacy: Practical Wisdom from Buddhist and Christian Monasticism
  129. Willigis Jäger, Mysticism for Modern Times
  130. Winston L. King, Buddhism and Christianity: Some Bridges of Understanding
  131. Wolfgang Kopp, Free Yourself of Everything: Radical Guidance in the Spirit of Zen and Christian Mysticism

Are there any other books that belong on this list — especially by Buddhists who are engaged in some form of Buddhist-Christian dialog? Please let me know, and if you have any opinions about some of the titles on this list, I’d like to hear that as well.

Happy reading. And please note: If you follow the links of the books mentioned in this post and purchase them or other products from Amazon.com, I receive a small commission from Amazon. Thank you for doing so — it is the easiest way you can support this blog.

Source: A List of Books for Buddhist-Christian Dialogue – Carl McColman

U.S. bishops will cease refuge resettlement work with government after Trump funding freeze

Catholic Church

The U.S.C.C.B. said it would not renew its cooperative agreements with the federal government related to children’s services and refugee support after its longstanding partnerships with the government in those areas became “untenable.”

By Kate Scanlon

WASHINGTON (OSV News) — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said it would not renew its cooperative agreements with the federal government related to children’s services and refugee support after its longstanding partnerships with the federal government in those areas became “untenable.”

Earlier this year, the Trump administration suspended a federal refugee resettlement program as part of its broader effort to enforce its hardline immigration policies. The ensuing halt in federal funding for the USCCB’s refugee resettlement services is the subject of ongoing litigation, and it prompted the conference to lay off about a third of the staff in its Migration and Refugee Services Office in February.

A spokesperson for the USCCB told OSV News the bishops were seeking reimbursement of $24,336,858.26 for resettlement services (PRM and ORR programs) that was still pending payment as of April 7.

“This situation has been brought to us by the decisions of the government,” Anthony Granado, associate general secretary for policy and advocacy for the USCCB, told OSV News.

Despite decades of partnership with the USCCB’s Migration and Refugee Services, across administrations of both parties, including the first Trump administration, Granado said, “we’ve been placed in an untenable position now.”

“It is clear that the government has decided that it wishes to go about doing this in a different way that doesn’t include us, and so we were kind of forced into this position,” Granado said.

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the USCCB and head of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, said in an April 7 statement it was “heartbreaking” to announce the bishops’ conference would not renew its “existing cooperative agreements with the federal government related to children’s services and refugee support.”

“This difficult decision follows the suspension by the government of our cooperative agreements to resettle refugees,” he said. “The decision to reduce these programs drastically forces us to reconsider the best way to serve the needs of our brothers and sisters seeking safe harbor from violence and persecution. As a national effort, we simply cannot sustain the work on our own at current levels or in current form.”

Citing the government’s suspension of the cooperative agreements to resettle refugees, Archbishop Broglio said that the conference has “been concerned with helping families who are fleeing war, violence, and oppression find safe and secure homes.”

“Over the years, partnerships with the federal government helped expand lifesaving programs, benefiting our sisters and brothers from many parts of the world,” Archbishop Broglio said. “All participants in these programs were welcomed by the U.S. government to come to the United States and underwent rigorous screening before their arrival. These are displaced souls who see in America a place of dreams and hope. Some assisted American efforts abroad at their own risk and more seek a place to worship and pray safely as they know God calls them.”

He said, “Our efforts were acts of pastoral care and charity, generously supported by the people of God when funds received from the government did not cover the full cost.”

Federal law requires that unaccompanied refugee minors be cared for, and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement historically has turned to faith-based organizations, including the USCCB, to carry out this work.

A spokesperson for HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment from OSV News about its cooperative agreement with the USCCB.

Granado said the conference’s cooperative agreements with the federal government were “really about people.”

“From the church’s perspective, this is about responding to the Gospel command — Jesus says in the Gospel, ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me,’” he said, referencing Jesus Christ’s words in Matthew 25:35-40 regarding his final judgement. “This has been a blessing and a beautiful part of the USCCB and the Catholic Church in the United States.”

The children and refugees impacted “are real people, real families” as well as “the staff whose work will be impacted,” Granado said.

As the agreements end, Archbishop Broglio added, “we will work to identify alternative means of support for the people the federal government has already admitted to these programs. We ask your prayers for the many staff and refugees impacted.” The USCCB, Archbishop Broglio said, “will continue advocating for policy reforms that provide orderly, secure immigration processes, ensuring the safety of everyone in our communities.”

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating on behalf of men, women, and children suffering the scourge of human trafficking,” he said. “For half a century, we have been willing partners in implementing the government’s refugee resettlement program. The Gospel’s call to do what we can for the least among us remains our guide. We ask you to join us in praying for God’s grace in finding new ways to bring hope where it is most needed.”

Source: U.S. bishops will cease refuge resettlement work with government after Trump funding freeze | America Magazine