Mediation and peace with Thich Nhat Hanh

By Alexander Carpenter

Thanks to Raymond's post about the Dalai Lama, a discussion about religious leaders has broken out on the blog. Since Thich Nhat Hanh has come up in discussions, I wanted to give commenters an opportunity to see what all the fuss is about.

This video comes from an Asia Society meeting on October 10, 2007 in which he leads a meditation and then discusses the Kingdom of God, Suffering, Consumption, and the Environmental Impact of Meat and Alcohol in addition to the comparisons between Viet Nam, Iraq and Burma. I love what he says about the relation between spiritual leadership in this country and Iraq. (Click on Open Tools to select chapters.)

"World-renowned Vietnamese-born Buddhist teacher, scholar, and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh talks with Vishakha N. Desai, President, Asia Society, about his controversial and distinguished life as a Buddhist and a voice for peace from the days of the Vietnam War to the ongoing conflicts of the 21st century. Hanh is author of the national bestseller Peace Is Every Step and his new book is The Art of Power."

Comments

[Alexander]

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has been attacking Buddhism in the Vessels post who watches this. What did you specifically like and not like and why?

[Pat Travis]

Alex,
Sorry, but don't have the hour plus. If you would like,perhaps you could tell readers the high points and any variance from the Dalai's message if that might facilitate discussion.

Regards,
pt

[Alexander]

I understand that we're all busy, but I can't do the learning for you, Pat. When dealing with ultimate things, it's intellectually vital to do primary research -- and to actually listen to others.

It's a lot easier to demonize, when we fail to confront.

It's interesting to see people with time to critique, then too busy to actually listen to the other side. See my notes in the original post about key chapters and the Open Tools note about clicking on them.

[Pat Travis]

Alex,
I may be wrong, but I dare say that I have probably read more Buddhist books and understand their basic Philosophy (intellectual and folk) better than you. I have also lived in Buddhist cultures for over 7 years. I worked with two American "Intellectual Buddhist" dentist in HK for 31/2 years that I would recommend to anyone as the highest quality dentists.
If there is something unique in this message please tell me. I am not trashing Buddhism as a people with a right to the table in this world. Many,just as Christian individuals, are dedicated and make good citizens.

However, If you offer Buddhism as an equal to Christianity or with a message that somehow instructs Christianity, I must disagree.

All the best,
pt

[Raymond Roccograndi]

Thich Nhat Hanh is quite an interesting figure. During the Vietnam War he joined Catholic Priest Daniel Berrigan and others as they marched in opposition to the war and burned draft cards. Christian author Thomas Merton has written that, "Thich Hanh is my brother... I have more in common with him than with many Americans."

Father Berrigan and Thich Hanh have shared in Holy Communion together, to much criticism from some in the Buddhist community, yet Hanh is persistent in his drive to bring together our religious traditions (a holy, Divinely-led mission). In nominating Thich Hanh, Martin Luther King, Jr. (a Christian, Baptist minster, no stranger to Christian theology or philosophy) wrote, "Thich Nhat Hanh is a holy man, for he is humble and devout. He is a scholar of immense intellectual capacity. His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity."

I find much inspiration from the same Spirit of the Lord that inspired Christ, the Dalai Lama, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther, Ellen White, and Mother Theresa in the work of Thich Nhat Hanh. May God continue to bless and keep this holy man. Thanks Alex for this video.

Pat, you might want to read Thich Nhat Hanh's books. I recommend "Living Buddha, Living Christ" and "Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers" you also might want to read Dr. Marcus J. Borg's "Jesus & Buddha: the Parallel Sayings."

I agree, Pat, that Buddhists make dedicated and good citizens, at times, more so than many Christians. "Christians" that bomb abortion clinics, protest homosexual marriage and women's ordination, proscribe an eternity of damnation and hell to whole faith traditions, etc. These are not the fruits of Buddhism nor are they Christ-led for that matter; would that some Christians were more like Buddhists in some respects, they might actually resemble the Saviour they claim to follow.

[Pat Travis]

Thanks Raymond,
You see, we must parse what Buddhis say.Ie. The kingdom of God and Christ. May I quote from p.284 of the "Tibetian Book of Living and dying."
"Dieties can take on forms we are most familiar with in our lives.For example for Cristian practioners, the dieties may take the form of Christ or the virgin mary...they may take the form most appropriate and beneficial for us."

As to the Kingdom of Heaven,p.362. " The teachings of all the mystical paths of the world make it clear that there is within us an enormous resovoir of power, the power of wisdom and compassion, the power of what Christ called the Kingdom of Heaven."

My Bible says we enter the "Kingdom of Christ " by literally believing in the "Historic Christ of History."

Most literal reading of Jn.3:16. "In this way God loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son (ina- for the purpose) that whosoever believing in Him may have eternal life...That is not the Christ of Buddhism!

"My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth."...or Buddhism.

Regards,
pt

[Raymond Roccograndi]

Actually Pat, I've been looking to buy a "Tibetan Book of the Dead" to read and better understnad the Tibetan branch of Buddhism, do you have a particular suggestion?

[Pat Travis]

Raymond,
The last post of the evening for this old white guy.
The book I have was bought in Singapore as best as I remember. The title is "The Tibetian Book of the Living and Dying." by Sogyal Rinpoche.,1992(Subtitle-A new spiritual classic from one of the foremost interpreters of Tibetian Buddhism to the West) First published in UK by Rider.London.
ISBN 0 7126 5752 5

If I have been overbearing to you and Alex, it is because perhaps I am projecting on you what has been given to me in the past by very informed "western intellectual Buddhist." Within that framework, I am sorry.

Regards,
pt

[Pat Travis]

Raymond, You state,"I find much inspiration from the same Spirit of the Lord that inspired Christ, the Dalai Lama, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther, Ellen White, and Mother Theresa in the work of Thich Nhat Hanh.

Does the Spirit speak against itself? When Christ is spoken of in scripture as the creator and son of God and when the Spirit in Jn.16 will convict the world of sin, Righteousness and judgment how does this same spirit speak in Buddhism which has no Creator of the universe and recognizes not sin and rebellion but ignorance not judgment but nirvanna? Which Spirit is correct...it is self contradictory!

If you choose to divorce yourself from classical Christianity and classical Protestantism that is based on scripture being the Word of God, being written and spoken by men as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, then we can have no common ground. It is not the same message that is being spoken by the above individuals. The Spirit is not confusion.

Christ is not just "a diety" taking a convienient form in our own recognition. Our Christ has reality and definite attributes.

We rejoice in Christ, our Creator God who loved us and sufferred for us that we might receive forgiveness of sins and peace in our heart by trusting in Him as our savior...the Christ not just "recognized" in our hearts and mind but the Christ of reality seated at the right hand of God.

Regards,
pt

[Pat Travis]

Raymond,
I feel no good will be accomplished by striving with you and Alex on Buddhism,Environmental Buddhism and Global warming.

I think two different basic philosophies and science have been adequately demarcated for others to explore in these subject areas.

There is danger both in overstating (adding) and understating (subtracting) scripture. Neither meat nor wine in moderation is prohibited in scripture. At least the Bible has no common ground with Thich Nhat Hahn.

Let the buyer beware.

Regards,
pt