Living Buddha, Living Christ summary

Both Jesus Christ and the Buddha were real historical figures. The historical Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in ancient Judea. He was raised by a carpenter, spent his adult life traveling and teaching, and was eventually killed at the age of 33. Meanwhile, the historical Buddha was born as a prince in Kapilavastu, on the Indian subcontinent. As an adult, he forsook his family’s wealth, practiced meditation, and taught until his death at age 80.

But these are just historical details. In a more profound sense, both figures remain with us through their teachings and ideals. These notions transcend space and time and are accessible to humanity today.

Let’s be honest. Following the Living Buddha and the Living Christ isn’t always easy. Our lives are filled with stress, strife, and seemingly endless lists of work and chores.

So how can you stay mindful while doing the laundry or running errands in town? How can you remain loving when dealing with difficult coworkers or rude strangers? Wouldn’t it be easier simply to escape the daily grind and live out your days in a monastery as a Buddhist or Christian monk? Maybe. But it’s not a realistic solution for everyone. And don’t forget: even monasteries require cooking and cleaning. 

Imagine for a moment a world without weapons. In this scenario, all the bombs, guns, tanks, and daggers that populate our military bases and private armories are transported far away to the surface of the moon. In this outlandish fantasy, will we achieve world peace?

Unfortunately, probably not. Because even if we remove the tools of war, the roots of violence will remain. The fear, ignorance, distrust, and bigotry that reside in our hearts will persist. And as long as these corrupting forces endure, we’ll find a reason to fight and make new weapons to do so.

Family heirlooms. Most of us have them tucked away somewhere in our closets, wardrobes, or kitchens. Maybe you inherited a lovely necklace from your grandmother, or perhaps you’ve got some antique china from your grandfather.

No matter what they are, these objects hold special meaning because they connect us to our roots. But our ancestors give us more than just things. They also pass on values, traditions, and religious principles. And while all that silverware and jewelry is surely nice, these intangible goods are often more important to our spiritual well-being.

How can we describe God? Surely, if a deity is all-powerful, all-knowing, and omnipresent, even a whole dictionary of words would fail to capture its full scope.

To solve this quandary, the Greek Orthodox church employs “apophatic theology,” or “negative theology.” In this worldview, God isn’t described with language at all. Instead, theologians only talk of what God is not. Amazingly, Buddhists follow a comparable philosophy – practitioners are encouraged to abandon the concept of “the Buddha.” Instead of getting bogged down in definitions, they’re encouraged simply to experience the Buddha directly.

In many ways, faith is like a garden. It’s beautiful, natural, and can bring joy to all who come upon it. Yet, also like a garden, faith is best when it’s living and growing. And, as any gardener will tell you, fostering a flourishing bed of flowers takes work. It must be nurtured and tended to daily.

Now, imagine that you were charged with cultivating a garden, but given no tools. Sure, you could do your best to water, rake, hoe, and prune with your hands, but the toil would be arduous and the results discouraging.