Zen master (Catholic Priest) tells curious to embrace a new faith

NorthJersey.com ^ | 01.22.06 | EVONNE COUTROS

[Coleus]

Zen master tells curious to embrace a new faith

RIDGEWOOD - The two-hour lecture at the Old Paramus Church Education Center began with several minutes of silent meditation.  And for many who attended, participating in meditation was a first step in understanding the basic teachings of Buddhism and Eastern philosophy.  "All attempts at mutual education are important to help us grow," said Robert Kennedy, the noted Jesuit priest and Zen master. "It widens our vision."

Kennedy Roshi, as he is known to Buddhists, was the key speaker at Saturday's event, which was attended by more than 100 people of varied faiths. It examined immortality, salvation and schools of thought in Buddhism and Christianity.  It is the third lecture in a series to promote the understanding of Buddhism and Eastern thought sponsored by the Dhamma-Chakra Society of New Jersey. Kennedy is a practicing psychotherapist and retired chairman of the theology department at St. Peter's College in Jersey City. After being ordained a priest in the Jesuit tradition, he also studied Buddhism for many years and in 1991 was installed as a sensei, or teacher, of Eastern thought.

Saturday's lecture focused on many aspects of Eastern philosophy as well as Christian theology.

"I think the Buddhist and Christian traditions are both magnificent and both give wonderfully poetic metaphorical examples of what is inexpressible," Kennedy said. "I don't think the metaphors can be reduced to each other but that makes it all the better. Everything is not reduced to one way of looking at things."

Kennedy praised the strong outreach among Catholics and Jews to Buddhism.

"I don't think Buddhism is interested so much in learning from us, but they are open to us," said Kennedy, who holds doctorates in theology and psychology and is the author of "Zen Gifts to Christians" and "Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit."  "I think we're coming to appreciate each other on a practical level as in marriage."

Parviz Dehghani is a Muslim who has been married to his Buddhist wife for 25 years and attended the lecture as both religious scholar and admirer of Kennedy as a Zen master. The lecture allowed the public to understand the similarities between Buddhism and Christianity, Dehghani said.  "This lecture gives people a different direction in their own faith," he said. "It gives them a sense of enrichment in their own beliefs and a different way of looking at what they have been believing all along and through their lives. If Buddhism can enhance them to be a better Christian or Muslim, that's what it's all about."

Kennedy studied with Yamada Roshi in Japan, Maezumi Roshi in California and Glassman Roshi in New York. Glassman installed Kennedy as sensei and conferred the Inka, or final approval, on the cleric in 1997 that elevated him to master, or roshi. John LoGiudice of Paramus is a practicing Catholic who came to the lecture with several family members and friends to gain more knowledge of Buddhism. "I gained an insight of how the Buddhists and other cultures think and from what I gather - with Buddhism being an older culture - perhaps they are a little bit more advanced spiritually," LoGiudice said. "It's a journey. We're trying to learn more about it."

[cyborg]

Not my church, I wish they did then I'd actually attend. My sister decided to leave the church and study buddhism. I wish she'd go back but she clearly said to me she has no interest. She's much happier as a buddhist and not half as nasty. I used to go to a real fundy church where they had three hour services. The only catholic equivalent I liked was charismatic mass where they did bible study.

[Lochlainnach]

Buddha is a little bit more than "a teacher" to Buddhists. If you believe Jesus is God then, of course, Buddhism isn't necessary for you. But, because you believe in Jesus, that doesn't relegate Buddhism to obscurity for the rest of the world. This isn't a my god is better than your god situation.

Of course, Buddha and Jesus do not preach the exact same path to salvation (that is, if salvation is needed, which from my understanding, it is not in terms of Easter Religions), but there are similarities--and these are what interest me, and why I get miffed when people say Buddhism and Christianity are not at all compatible. But there are striking differences--many of which, understandably, came from theologians as well as "Christian" ideas posited after the death of Jesus when the Church was being shaped.

[PandaRosaMishima]

A Zen Master once told me, Do the opposite of what I tell you.
-So I didn't.
(do you know how many Zen Buddhists it takes to screw in a light bulb?)

[Mr. Silverback]

I'll respond to both your posts here.

The rosary isn't in the bible but an instrument of prayer accepted by the RCC.

Correct. I didn't mean the rosary specifically when I talked about the path, I was talking about how a Catholic would be on that path. A catholic would use the Rosary, a Protestant might use a list or just let fly with free association of prayer.

I guess it's the same when some Catholics go on autopilot when saying the rosary. I don't pray the rosary unless I can focus otherwise it's just another 'mental exercise'.

Good point, but what makes the Buddhist meditation a mental exercise is the fact that they're on a false path. They are praying to no one when they pray, and they are working for the extinction of desires when what is really needed is a total remake of the soul...a heart transplant.

How would you explain to someone that Jesus was Almighty God. I do not see this done very much in the RCC as much as I see it in evangelical churches.

I would tailor my approach to the person who was asking, because a seeker might need one piece of information, a skeptic another, and a child learning the faith still another. More specifically, a person who cna't wrap their mind around the Trinity needs a different approach than a person who figures Jesus was just a moral teacher. If you have someone specific in mind, tell me what the situation is and I'll try to help. But let me give you one of my favorites:

Take a look at Revelation 1:8--

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

So, God Almighty is the Alpha and Omega. But look at Revelation 22:13, 13 and 16--

"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End....I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."

So Jesus is also the Alpha and Omega, and is therefore God. There are other examples of course. Give me your thoughts.

[Sangey]

I do not know about rosary, but about Mala (prayer beads.)

Start at Guru (head) bead

Keep beads in right hand say mantra, click one bead. Repeat.

All the way around, move left hand counter down.

Keep going. All left hand down, move right hand counter down,move all left back up.

All right hand counters down, move counter over 1 bead (if looking at someone that counter starts at 6:00 and move anticlockwise)

Beads have 108 in number counters are at left right 21 beads and the big counter moves around. Accumulation when all done is 1166400 recitations.

Say opening prayers and aspirations. Start practice. Do prostrations, mandala offering. Start prayers. While praying make auspicous visualizations. Dedicate merit when complete for benefit of all sentient beings. Say long life prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other Lamas, teachers.

Malas are different for different practice. Malas that are used for a long time are said to be powerful. Many people blow on their malas after practice. Some people get teachers to bless their malas. It is really auspicious to have your root Lama bless your mala. You should always wear it.

That is about it. Hope it helps

Buddha Bless the USA

[Mr. Silverback]

I screwed up the blockquote tags in that last post some. If you have trouble following it, let me know.

[Mr. Silverback]

There are people who say a lot of things are compatible with Christianity, that doesn't make them right.

[RobbyS]

Christianity is based on belief in a personal God, and that God is the creator of the Universe. The Buddhist would say that God is not a person, and is not a creator. Indeed, the creation is an illusion.

[cyborg]

I made a 108 bead mala for my sister. She is a devotee of the Dalai Lama and is going to teach english in Asia this year. I wish she would come back to the Church but she's happy as a buddhist or a student. I think that she will end up in a monastery at some point. I do know she has very strong feelings about the Dalai Lama, issues about Tibet,etc.

[cyborg]

I understood it fine. I am going to research this further so I can better understand these issues. I want to help myself, help my sister but I also want family peace.

[RobbyS]

The Jesus we know is the Jesus taught by the Church.

[GladesGuru]

"Sounds similiar to I am what I am."

Or "I yam what I yam" - Spinach Man

[GladesGuru]

I regularly advise Tantric Yoga to those beautiful enough to benefit from such philosophical postures.

;-)

[Sangey]

This is old, but I today sent it to a new friend, and thought this thread I would share it with my Christian Freeper friends:

----------------quoted text---------------------
Dalai lama urges Christians not to convert to Buddhism -21/11/05
By Fran Race

The Dalai Lama has urged Christians not to convert to Buddhism.

The controversial words were spoken by the spiritual leader of Tibet and the leader of the Tibetan Government in Exile at a conference entitled "Ethics for a New Millennium" in Edinburgh, Scotland this weekend.

Instead, the Dalai Lama urged Western Christians and Muslims embrace the teachings of compassion and peace that can be found in their own religious traditions.

"All major religions carry the same messages. Messages of love, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. I have Muslim friends, Christian friends. All have these same values."

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibet, but has lived in exile for nearly 50 years since his homeland was invaded by China.

Despite the continued use of violence against his people by the Chinese he has inspired the hearts and minds of many across the world with his teachings of non-violence and compassion.

For his tireless work to promote human rights and peace he was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1989.

As part of his address he urged the USA and Britain to take a "firm stand" with China regarding democracy, freedom of speech and human rights.

These words come days after British Prime Minister Tony Blair engaged in discussions with Chinese President Hu Jintao, and at a time when US President George Bush is in Beijing.

Proposals to increase trade with China has been met with fierce opposition by both human rights and free Tibet protestors.
-------------------------end of quoted text------------

Fran Race is a reporter for Ekklesia and a member of All Hallows Anglican church in Leeds. She can be contacted: fran.race@ekklesia.co.uk

--------------------------

When I say Christians should stay Christians and Buddhists should Buddhists, I am serious and I am on good religious ground.

Compassion is the way to earn merit. It matters not if Christian or Catholic or Buddhist.

I'm going to bed now. good night.

Buddha Bless the USA

[Lochlainnach]

Here's an instance of difference...a major difference. But this is a difference of God, not necessarily Earthly preaching (just go with me a bit). Buddha left his home because he was overwhelmed by human suffering. Jesus' purpose on earth was to save humanity from the wages of its sins. Of course, the path each takes to saving us is drastically different.

But, both, like I've said, when you get right down to it, were concerned with human dignity and how to defeat human suffering. I think this is a proufound connection, even if their paths wind away from one another.

[cyborg]

I don't think she was christian in the first place. Some people grow up in a religion and it's just religion and not a relationship to them. It's very difficult. I think a lot of people don't have a clue about who God really is either or who is right.

[GladesGuru]

"Buddha loves you and has a wonderful plan for the extinction of your ego."

The Buddha as Grelber? ? ?

Does the creator of Broomhilda know about this?

[Lochlainnach]

Who's the spinach man?

[Salvation]

Did you see this?

[Mr. Silverback]

(do you know how many Zen Buddhists it takes to screw in a light bulb?)

None. Enlightenment must come from within.