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.
- A. William McVey, Existentialism and Christian Zen: An East/West Way to Christ
- Addison Hodges Hart, The Ox-Herder and the Good Shepherd: Finding Christ on the Buddha’s Path
- Aelred Graham, Zen Catholicism: A Suggestion
- Aelred Graham, Conversations: Christian and Buddhist
- Ama Samy, SJ, Zen: Awakening to Your Original Face
- Ama Samy, SJ, Zen Heart, Zen Mind: The Teachings of Zen Master Ama Samy
- Ama Samy, SJ, Zen: the Wayless Way
- Antony Fernando & Leonard Swidler, Buddhism Made Plain: An Introduction for Christians and Jews
- B. Alan Wallace, Mind in the Balance: Meditation in Science, Buddhism and Christianity
- Bieke Vandekerckhove, The Taste of Silence
- Bonnie Bowman Thurston, ed., Merton & Buddhism: Wisdom, Emptiness & Everyday Mind
- Brian J. Pearce, OP, We Walk the Path Together: Learning from Thich Nhat Hanh & Meister Eckhart
- Buddhadasa Bhikku, Christianity and Buddhism
- Carrin Dunne, Buddha and Jesus: Conversations
- China Galland, Longing for Darkness: Tara and the Black Madonna
- D. T. Suzuki, Mysticism: Buddhist and Christian: The Eastern and Western Way
- David G. Hackett, The Silent Dialogue: Zen Letters to a Trappist Monk
- Denise Lardner Carmody and John Tully Carmody, Serene Compassion: A Christian Appreciation of Buddhist Holiness
- Donald W. Mitchell, Spirituality and Emptiness: The Dynamics of Spiritual Life in Buddhism and Christianity
- Donald W. Mitchell & James A. Wiseman, eds., Finding Peace in Troubled Times: Buddhist and Christian Monastics on Transforming Suffering
- Donald W. Mitchell & James A. Wiseman, eds., The Spiritual Life: Gethsemani Encounters
- Donald W. Mitchell & William Skudlarek, OSB, eds., Green Monasticism: A Buddhist-Catholic Response to an Environmental Calamity
- Donovan Roebert, The Gospel for Buddhists and the Dharma for Christians
- Elaine MacInnes, The Flowing Bridge: Guidance on Beginning Zen Koans
- Elaine MacInnes, Light Sitting in Light: A Christian’s Experience of Zen
- Elaine MacInnes, Teaching Zen to Christians: Orientation Talks for Beginners
- Elaine MacInnes, Zen Contemplation for Christians: A Bridge of Living Water
- Elizabeth Harris and John O’Grady, eds., Meditation in Buddhist-Christian Encounter: A Critical Analysis
- Elizabeth West, Happiness Here & Now: The Eightfold Path of Jesus Revisited with Buddhist Insights
- Ellen Birx, Embracing the Inconceivable: Interspiritual Practice of Zen and Christianity
- Gordon Peerman, Blessed Relief: What Christians Can Learn from Buddhists about Suffering
- Gustav Ericsson, My Christian Journey With Zen
- Heinrich Dumoulin, SJ, Christianity Meets Buddhism
- Hikaru Nakamura, Saint Young Men (Multiple Volumes)
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama, The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Spiritual Advice for Buddhists and Christians
- Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, Living in the New Consciousness
- Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, The Practice of Zen Meditation
- Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, Zen Meditation for Christians
- Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, Zen: Way to Enlightenment
- J. K. Kadowaki, Zen and the Bible
- James Arraj, Christianity in the Crucible of East-West Dialogue / God, Zen and the Intuition of Being (2 Volumes in 1)
- James William Jones, The Mirror of God: Christian Faith as Spiritual Practice, Lessons from Buddhism and Psychotherapy
- James Wiseman and Donald Mitchell, eds., The Gethsemani Encounter: A Dialogue on the Spiritual Life by Buddhist and Christian Monastics
- Janet Conner, The Lotus and the Lilly: Access the Wisdom of Buddha and Jesus to Nourish Your Beautiful, Abundant Life
- Jean-Yves Leloup, Compassion and Meditation: The Spiritual Dynamic Between Buddhism and Christianity
- John Cowan, Taking Jesus Seriously: Buddhist Meditation for Christians
- John P. Cobb, Jr., Beyond Dialogue: Toward a Mutual Transformation of Christianity and Buddhism
- John P. Keenan, The Emptied Christ of Philippians: Mahāyāna Meditations
- John P. Keenan, The Gospel of Mark: A Mahayana Reading
- John P. Keenan, The Meaning of Christ: A Mahayana Theology
- Kenneth S. Leong, The Zen Teachings of Jesus
- Kim Boykin, Zen for Christians: A Beginner’s Guide
- Kristin Johnson Largen, What Christians Can Learn from Buddhism: Rethinking Salvation
- Leo D. Lefebure, The Buddha and the Christ: Explorations in Buddhist and Christian Dialogue
- Marco Pallis, A Buddhist Spectrum: Contributions to the Christian-Buddhist Dialogue
- Marcus Borg, Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings
- Mary Jo Meadow, Christian Insight Meditation: Following in the Footsteps of John of the Cross
- Mary Jo Meadow, Gentling the Heart: Buddhist Loving-Kindness Practice for Christians
- Maurice O’C Walshe, Buddhism and Christianity: A Positive Approach
- Patricia Hart Clifford, Sitting Still: An Encounter with Christian Zen
- Patrick Henry, ed., Benedict’s Dharma: Buddhists Reflect on the Rule of Saint Benedict
- Patrick Henry and Donald K. Swearer, For the Sake of the World: The Spirit of Buddhist and Christian Monasticism
- Paul F. Knitter, Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian
- Paul Knitter & Roger Haight, Jesus & Buddha: Friends in Conversation
- Paul O. Ingram, A Modern Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
- Paul O. Ingram, ed., Buddhist-Christian Dialogue: Mutual Renewal and Transformation
- Paul O. Ingram, Buddhist-Christian Dialogue in an Age of Science
- Paul O. Ingram, The Process of Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
- Paul O. Ingram, Theological Reflection at the Boundaries
- Paul Mommaers, Mysticism, Buddhist and Christian: Encounters with Jan van Ruusbroec
- Peter Feldmeier, Christianity Looks East: Comparing the Spiritualities of John of the Cross and Buddhaghosa
- Peter Feldmeier, Experiments in Buddhist-Christian Encounter: From Buddha-Nature to the Divine Nature
- Perry Schmidt-Leukel, ed., Buddhism and Christianity in Dialogue: The Gerald-Weisfeld Lectures 2004
- Peter Feldmeier, Christianity Looks East: Comparing the Spiritualities of John of the Cross and Buddhaghosa
- Raimon Panikkar, The Silence of God: The Answer of the Buddha
- Richard Bryan McDaniel, Catholicism and Zen
- Rita M. Gross and Terry C. Muck, eds., Buddhists Talk about Jesus, Christians Talk About the Buddha
- Rita M. Gross and Terry C. Muck, eds., Christians Talk About Buddhist Meditation, Buddhists Talk about Christian Prayer
- Robert Aitken and David Steindl-Rast, The Ground We Share: Everyday Practice, Buddhist and Christian
- Robert Jingen Gunn, Journeys Into Emptiness: Dogen, Merton, Jung and the Quest for Transformation
- Robert Kennedy, Zen Gifts to Christians
- Robert Kennedy, Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit: The Place of Zen in Christian Life
- Robert Magliola, Facing Up to Real Doctrinal Difference: How Some Thought-Motifs from Derrida Can Nourish the Catholic-Buddhist Encounter
- Robert Powell, Christian Zen: The Essential Teachings of Jesus Christ
- Robert Sohl and Audrey Carr, eds., The Gospel According to Zen
- Roger Corless, The Vision of Buddhism
- Roger Corless and Paul F. Knitter, eds., Buddhist Emptiness and Christian Trinity: Essays & Explorations
- Rose Drew, Buddhist and Christian?: An Exploration of Dual Belonging
- Ross Thompson, Buddhist Christianity: A Passionate Openness
- Ross Thompson, Wounded Wisdom: A Buddhist and Christian Response to Evil, Hurt and Harm
- Ruben L. F. Habito, Be Still and Know: Zen and the Bible
- Ruben L. F. Habito, Experiencing Buddhism: Ways of Wisdom and Compassion
- Ruben L. F. Habito, Healing Breath: Zen for Christians and Buddhists in a Wounded World
- Ruben L. F. Habito, Living Zen, Loving God
- Ruben L. F. Habito, Zen and the Spiritual Exercises
- Seiichi Yagi and Leonard Swidler, A Bridge to Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
- Susan J. Stabile, Growing in Love and Wisdom: Tibetan Buddhist Sources for Christian Meditation
- Susan Walker, ed., Speaking of Silence: Christians and Buddhists on the Contemplative Way
- Thich Nhat Hanh, Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers
- Thich Nhat Hanh, Living Buddha, Living Christ
- Thich Nhat Hanh and Daniel Berrigan, The Raft is Not the Shore: Conversations Toward a Buddhist-Christian Awareness
- Thomas G. Hand, Always a Pilgrim: Walking the Zen Christian Path
- Thomas Merton, Mystics and Zen Masters
- Thomas Merton, The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton
- Thomas Merton, Zen and the Birds of Appetite
- Thomas Ragland, The Noble Eightfold Path of Christ: Jesus Teaches the Dharma of Buddhism
- Tilden H. Edwards, Jr., “Criss-Crossing the Christian-Buddhist Bridge” in Tarthang Tulku, ed., Reflections of Mind: Western Psychology Meets Tibetan Buddhism
- Tom Chetwynd, Zen and the Kingdom of Heaven
- Tony Luke, Way of Zen, Way of Christ: Satori and the Kingdom of God
- Valerie Brown, Hope Leans Forward: Braving Your Way Toward Simplicity, Awakening, and Peace
- William Johnston, Christian Zen: A Way of Meditation
- William Johnston, The Mirror Mind: Zen-Christian Dialog
- William Johnston, The Still Point: Reflections on Zen and Christian Mysticism
- William Skudlarek OSB, Demythologizing Celibacy: Practical Wisdom from Buddhist and Christian Monasticism
- Willigis Jäger, Mysticism for Modern Times
- Winston L. King, Buddhism and Christianity: Some Bridges of Understanding
- 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.
But, Carl, which would you recommend and why? I do find some of the Buddhist teachings to be a bit clearer and less nuanced than ours because there are so much fewer of them. At same time anything that puts them on equal terms would be apostasy. They have part of the light, but it still has huge veil over it if it isn’t Christ-centered and orthodox.
Colleen, I can’t really answer your question since I have read so few of these books myself. I drew up this list for my own benefit, but then thought it would be of interest to others who are interested in interfaith work. I suppose for someone who is just beginning, I would suggest either The Gethsemani Encounter: A Dialogue on the Spiritual Life by Buddhist and Christian Monastics or Speaking of Silence: Christians and Buddhists on the Contemplative Way. These books, based on dialogue between Christian and Buddhist monks, will uphold the difference between the faiths while maintaining a respectful approach to both. I think that’s the most useful starting-point for this kind of exploration.
Carl, thanks for the list! I have been following your blog in silence for a while now, and this is an area of particular interest for me. You’ve just provided an great reading list for the next decade!
I can personally recommend the following from your list:
1. Living Buddha, Living Christ. Thich has a really great way of explaining how he came to a fruitful understanding of Christ’s teaching, and offered insights into it from a Buddhist perspective that helped me as a Catholic.
2. The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton. This is especially interesting if you’ve read The Seven Storey Mountain first, because Merton is in a very different place from one to the next. By the end, he’s developed quite an appreciation for all contemplative practice, and a real desire to learn from it regardless of the source.
3. Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian. Knitter’s book can be pretty challenging at times, but in a way that makes you really sit down and think about your own sense of faith practice. I was reading this with a prayer group I belonged to, and it was fodder for some great discussion.
I would also recommend something not on the list: Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh: Engaged Spirituality in an Age of Globalization, by Robert H. King. It draws a parallel between the two spiritual greats, showing how each one developed his own appreciation of the other’s practice, and how their own faiths moved them to be monks who actively engaged
the world.
Thanks again, and Merry Christmas!
Many thanks for the above comments. A starting place is just what I need.
I’m a Catholic who practices Zen and so I’ve read many of the books on this list. I’ve found the most profitable books to be the ones written by those who are mixing/integrating the two traditions. While the monastic dialogues are of interest (I’ve a whole cache of the monastic inter-religious dialogue newsletters as Br. Harold from Gethsemani was very involved and generous when I was there) and are profound in their own way, as someone looking to delve into the practice they are paradoxically a bit theoretical.
The two religions in many ways are quite different. My theology professor brother likes to point this out to me. So my advice, watch out it is free, is to go do the practice. Books can be helpful but once you start to conceptualize ‘it’ you’ve missed ‘it’ completely. Roshi Robert Kennedy SJ likes to say that anything you can say about Zen you could easily say the opposite.
Check out Kennedy’s website, I think he makes it somewhere in the south (LA?) and if you want to explore this fully, there is nothing better to do than meet with a teacher and sit a sesshin with him. He is a real Zen master; his presence is powerful. Although my aforementioned professor brother did a panel discussion with him as Holy Cross and thought of him as a forgetful elder.
PS many zen teachers are dismissive of Merton’s understanding of Zen and koans as it is only intellectual. Again, people who are in some way practicing both, as a teacher or under a teacher, would be of most assistance.
Jager is highly regarded and his book Man’s Search for Meaning should be on this list.
I would hope that those teachers would recognize that Merton’s writing, intellectual though it may be, can be a portal through which many Catholics and other Christians first encounter the spirituality, discipline and practice of the eastern traditions. It would sadden me to think that potential students would be turned away because of their enthusiasm for Merton, or made to feel somehow inferior because their horizons have been expanded by a mere theorist.
I don’t think anyone would turn someone away because of their enthusiasm for an author. If they were turned away, the teacher might be of questionable insight to begin with.
I don’t want to belabor the point but Zen in particular seems to point to the place before concepts. The more you think about it the further away you get. However, if you went to a teacher saying this they might suggest taking up books and studying as a valuable tool.
This is a helpful list.
Best,
Chris
I think we’re on the same page here: at the end of the day, the best thing any book can teach us about prayer and meditation is to put the book down, and do it.
Carl, this list is a great resource. Thanks for posting. As a long-term practitioner and retreat leader of Buddhist-Christian retreats, I’d selfishly add to the list, the contemplative exploration of consciousness in my recent book from Orbis (2022), “My Dear Far-Nearness: The Holy Trinity as Spiritual Practice.”