101 Books for Buddhist-Christian

Dialogue
December 21, 2012 by Carl McColman 13 Comments

The Buddha and Christ (image credit: beachlane/shutterstock)

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.

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. Antony Fernando & Leonard Swidler, Buddhism Made Plain: An Introduction

for Christians and Jews

6. B. Alan Wallace, Mind in the Balance: Meditation in Science, Buddhism and

Christianity

7. Bieke Vandekerckhove, The Taste of Silence

8. Bonnie Bowman Thurston, ed., Merton & Buddhism: Wisdom, Emptiness &
Everyday Mind

9. Brian J. Pearce, OP, We Walk the Path Together: Learning from Thich Nhat
Hanh & Meister Eckhart

10. Buddhadasa Bhikku, Christianity and Buddhism

11. Carrin Dunne, Buddha and Jesus: Conversations

12. D. T. Suzuki, Mysticism: Buddhist and Christian: The Eastern and Western Way

13. David G. Hackett, The Silent Dialogue: Zen Letters to a Trappist Monk

14. Denise Lardner Carmody and John Tully Carmody, Serene Compassion: A
Christian Appreciation of Buddhist Holiness

15. Donald W. Mitchell, Spirituality and Emptiness: The Dynamics of Spiritual Life
in Buddhism and Christianity

16. Donald W. Mitchell & James A. Wiseman, eds., Finding Peace in Troubled
Times: Buddhist and Christian Monastics on Transforming Suffering

17. Donald W. Mitchell & James A. Wiseman, eds., The Spiritual Life: Gethsemani
Encounters

18. Donald W. Mitchell & William Skudlarek, OSB, eds., Green Monasticism: A
Buddhist-Catholic Response to an Environmental Calamity

19. Donovan Roebert, The Gospel for Buddhists and the Dharma for Christians

20. Elaine MacInnes, Zen Contemplation for Christians: A Bridge of Living Water
21. Elizabeth West, Happiness Here & Now: The Eightfold Path of Jesus Revisited
with Buddhist Insights

22. Gordon Peerman, Blessed Relief: What Christians Can Learn from Buddhists
about Suffering

23. Gustav Ericsson, My Christian Journey With Zen

24. Heinrich Dumoulin, SJ, Christianity Meets Buddhism

25. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the
Teachings of Jesus

26. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Spiritual Advice for Buddhists and Christians

27. Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, Living in the New Consciousness

28. Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, The Practice of Zen Meditation

29. Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, Zen Meditation for Christians

30. Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, Zen: Way to Enlightenment

31. J. K. Kadowaki, Zen and the Bible

32. James Arraj, Christianity in the Crucible of East-West Dialogue / God, Zen and
the Intuition of Being (2 Volumes in 1)

33. James William Jones, The Mirror of God: Christian Faith as Spiritual Practice,
Lessons from Buddhism and Psychotherapy

34. James Wiseman and Donald Mitchell, eds., The Gethsemani Encounter: A
Dialogue on the Spiritual Life by Buddhist and Christian Monastics

35. Janet Conner, The Lotus and the Lilly: Access the Wisdom of Buddha and Jesus
to Nourish Your Beautiful, Abundant Life

36. Jean-Yves Leloup, Compassion and Meditation: The Spiritual Dynamic Between
Buddhism and Christianity

37. John Cowan, Taking Jesus Seriously: Buddhist Meditation for Christians

38. John P. Cobb, Jr., Beyond Dialogue: Toward a Mutual Transformation of

Christianity and Buddhism

39. John P. Keenan, The Gospel of Mark: A Mahayana Reading

40. John P. Keenan, The Meaning of Christ: A Mahayana Theology

41. Kenneth S. Leong, The Zen Teachings of Jesus

42. Kim Boykin, Zen for Christians: A Beginner’s Guide

43. Kristin Johnson Largen, What Christians Can Learn from Buddhism: Rethinking
Salvation

44. Leo D. Lefebure, The Buddha and the Christ: Explorations in Buddhist and
Christian Dialogue

45. Marco Pallis, A Buddhist Spectrum: Contributions to the Christian-Buddhist

Dialogue

46. Marcus Borg, Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings

47. Mary Jo Meadow, Christian Insight Meditation: Following in the Footsteps of

John of the Cross

48. Mary Jo Meadow, Gentling the Heart: Buddhist Loving-Kindness Practice for
Christians

49. Maurice O’C Walshe, Buddhism and Christianity: A Positive Approach

50. Patricia Hart Clifford, Sitting Still: An Encounter with Christian Zen

51. Patrick Henry, ed., Benedict’s Dharma: Buddhists Reflect on the Rule of Saint
Benedict

52. Patrick Henry and Donald K. Swearer, For the Sake of the World: The Spirit of
Buddhist and Christian Monasticism

53. Paul F. Knitter, Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian

54. Paul Knitter & Roger Haight, Jesus & Buddha: Friends in Conversation

55. Paul O. Ingram, A Modern Buddhist-Christian Dialogue

56. Paul O. Ingram, ed., Buddhist-Christian Dialogue: Mutual Renewal and

Transformation

57. Paul O. Ingram, Buddhist-Christian Dialogue in an Age of Science

58. Paul O. Ingram, The Process of Buddhist-Christian Dialogue

59. Paul O. Ingram, Theological Reflection at the Boundaries

60. Paul Mommaers, Mysticism, Buddhist and Christian: Encounters with Jan van
Ruusbroec

61. Perry Schmidt-Leukel, ed., Buddhism and Christianity in Dialogue: The Gerald-
Weisfeld Lectures 2004
62. Peter Feldmeier, Christianity Looks East: Comparing the Spiritualities of John of
the Cross and Buddhaghosa

63. Raimon Panikkar, The Silence of God: The Answer of the Buddha

64. Rita M. Gross and Terry C. Muck, eds., Buddhists Talk about Jesus, Christians
Talk About the Buddha

65. Rita M. Gross and Terry C. Muck, eds., Christians Talk About Buddhist
Meditation, Buddhists Talk about Christian Prayer

66. Robert Aitken and David Steindl-Rast, The Ground We Share: Everyday
Practice, Buddhist and Christian

67. Robert Jingen Gunn, Journeys Into Emptiness: Dogen, Merton, Jung and the
Quest for Transformation

68. Robert Kennedy, Zen Gifts to Christians

69. Robert Kennedy, Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit: The Place of Zen in Christian Life

70. Robert Magliola, Facing Up to Real Doctrinal Difference: How Some Thought-
Motifs from Derrida Can Nourish the Catholic-Buddhist Encounter

71. Robert Powell, Christian Zen: The Essential Teachings of Jesus Christ

72. Robert Sohl and Audrey Carr, eds., The Gospel According to Zen

73. Roger Corless, The Vision of Buddhism

74. Roger Corless and Paul F. Knitter, eds., Buddhist Emptiness and Christian
Trinity: Essays & Explorations

75. Rose Drew, Buddhist and Christian?: An Exploration of Dual Belonging

76. Ross Thompson, Buddhist Christianity: A Passionate Openness

77. Ross Thompson, Wounded Wisdom: A Buddhist and Christian Response to Evil,
Hurt and Harm

78. Ruben L. F. Habito, Experiencing Buddhism: Ways of Wisdom and Compassion

79. Ruben L. F. Habito, Healing Breath: Zen for Christians and Buddhists in a
Wounded World

80. Ruben L. F. Habito, Living Zen, Loving God

81. Ruben L. F. Habito, Zen and the Spiritual Exercises

82. Seiichi Yagi and Leonard Swidler, A Bridge to Buddhist-Christian Dialogue

 83. Susan J. Stabile, Growing in Love and Wisdom: Tibetan Buddhist Sources for
Christian Meditation

84. Susan Walker, ed., Speaking of Silence: Christians and Buddhists on the
Contemplative Way

85. Thich Nhat Hanh, Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers

86. Thich Nhat Hanh, Living Buddha, Living Christ

87. Thich Nhat Hanh and Daniel Berrigan, The Raft is Not the Shore: Conversations
Toward a Buddhist-Christian Awareness

88. Thomas Merton, Mystics and Zen Masters

89. Thomas Merton, The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton

90. Thomas Merton, Zen and the Birds of Appetite

91. Thomas Ragland, The Noble Eightfold Path of Christ: Jesus Teaches the Dharma
of Buddhism

92. Tilden H. Edwards, Jr., “Criss-Crossing the Christian-Buddhist Bridge” in

Tarthang Tulku, ed., Reflections of Mind: Western Psychology Meets Tibetan
Buddhism

93. Tom Chetwynd, Zen and the Kingdom of Heaven

94. Tony Luke, Way of Zen, Way of Christ: Satori and the Kingdom of God

95. William Johnston, Christian Zen: A Way of Meditation

96. William Johnston, The Mirror Mind: Zen-Christian Dialog

97. William Johnston, The Still Point: Reflections on Zen and Christian Mysticism

98. William Skudlarek OSB, Demythologizing Celibacy: Practical Wisdom from

Buddhist and Christian Monasticism

99. Willigis Jäger, Mysticism for Modern Times

100. Winston L. King, Buddhism and Christianity: Some Bridges of

Understanding

101. 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.

Christian Zen

How can you be Christian and practice Zen meditation? This question has been
explored in our time by prominent Christians such as Thomas Merton and Anthony de

Mello.

Christians are discovering that Zen meditation practices invigorate and deepen their
prayer life and spiritual growth. Zen training is especially helpful to those seeking to
integrate prayer with ministry or social action. The tensions which seem to exist
between religious ideals and life “as it is” are dissolved by the practice of awareness
both in sitting meditation and in daily life. Meister Eckhart described this process in two
simple ways: “Just do the next thing” and “Let God be God in me.”

A Zen perspective on religious practice is to see what is already so and to remove the
barrier between ourselves and the fundamental nature of all things. Zen awareness
practices provide concrete methods to work through the “barriers.”

ZCOC welcomes Christians who wish to practice Zen. In our community, we have
active Roman Catholics, Jews, atheists, Buddhists and people from all backgrounds and
traditions. Yamada Roshi pointed out that we all drink the same cup of tea, whether we
call ourselves Christian or Buddhist. But from a Zen perspective, one notes that we
seldom do actually drink our tea….we are lost in thought, doing several things at the
same time, waiting for something more important or interesting to do! Our practice
helps us to be “in the moment” and to experience fully, apart from words to describe its
meaning.

Specific questions or concerns about the relationship of Zen practice to Christianity may
be discussed individually or during group discussions. From time to time, we offer an
Introduction to Zen Practice for Christians Workshop, but we encourage Christians to
register for the Introduction to Zen Workshop or Zen Mindfulness Month program.
Appointments also may be made to meet with Sr. Virgie Luchsinger, a teacher who
practices both Christianity and Zen, when she is at the Center, or also by phone or
email:Luchsinger@zcoc.org

–Deborah Barrett

Christian Zen Reading List

Title Author

The Ground We Share: Everyday Practice, Buddhist Robert Aitken and David
and Christian Steindl-Rast
Total Liberation: Zen Spirituality and the Social Ruben L. Habito
Dimension
Lord Teach us to Pray: Christian Zen and the Inner William Johnston
Eye of Love
The Mirror Mind: Zen-Christian Dialogue William Johnston
Zen and the Birds of Appetite Thomas Merton
A Taste of Water: Christianity Through Taoist- Chwen Jiuan Lee and Thomas
Buddhist Eyes G. Hand
The Silence of God: The Answer of the Buddha Raimundo Panikkar
Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit Robert E. Kennedy
Living Buddha, Living Christ Thich Nhat Hanh
Silence Shusaku Endo
Awareness – The Perils and Opportunities of Reality Anthony deMello
Thoughts on the East Thomas Merton