“The Buddhist is looking with a peculiar intentness inwards. The Christian is staring with a frantic intentness outwards.”
I find both examples to be unappealing. I don’t think God intends for us to be too inwardly focused or to be wasting away in some sort of frantic state.
I am sure that is not the point Chesterton was making but that is my reaction to his comparison.
Chesterton’s point probably is that Buddhists cannot know the Holy Trinity, which dwells inside us and everywhere, but is still separate from our perceiving selves.
A man who put such thought and energy into religion, yet still rejected Christianity, has a soul in grave danger.