Fresh eyes on becoming like Jesus

books:


	• The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus Dalai Lama Wisdom Publications, 1998 - 224 pages average customer review:based on 17 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

I found it lacking

I like what a reviewer below said, that this book is written with a you are holier than thou attitude. It's very accurate. My problem with the book is that there was little substance to it. Everyone was so excited about the Dahli Lama (sp?) speaking on Christianity that they missed the fact that he taught little in his speaking. And there was so much extraneous commentary that I found it distracting. I'd like to see his Holiness do a serious book on Buddhism and Christianity since I see that the two have much in common. I'm sure Christ achieved Buddhahood.

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An Introduction to Buddhism

this is a very special book, that is why i have given it three stars. i believe that all christians should aquire some knowledge and experience of buddhism, this would clearly make the world a more peaceful place.

the first meditation that i ever tried was through hhdl's (his holiness the dalai lama's) guidance in this book. it was also the first time that i have experienced something of what the mind is capable of... remarkable.

i was given this book by a close family friend. a very special person named fiona. my experiments with buddhism have certainly deepened my experience of our universe. we would do well to branch out in our approach towards faith. i am so grateful to fiona for the gift of this book. before reading it i had little or no understanding of any aspect of buddhism.

it seems that most traditions have something wonderful and unique to teach us about our universe. i believe that jesus with his message of love for all is saying "read this book it is special, though through it you may not learn much about what you perceive as your own faith... it will open a new door to an unexplored room in my household."

both the buddha and jesus (though not modern christians so much) believed that the kingdom of god is within one. it is like a small seed, the tiniest of all seeds, but if we are 'patient' and do a little self cultivating this little seed of love, knowledge and experience will grow into a mighty tree. self development comes the seed of the kingdom within us. hidden under layers of dust is the image of god. seek to polish this mirror and it will begin to clear. (but patience is needed with seeds, they grow slowly) all humans have the image of god - 'indestructible', gods own very image hidden away amidst the clutter and dust of our lives and distracting dogmas and beliefs. in reality we all have super nature. everyone at heart, deep down, is absolutely perfect... the true image of god. different people will come at this truth in different ways. some will say "wipe the mirror clean", "water the seed and plant it in good soil", others will say, no need to clean, no need to water. just as it is... perfect. my position is:
yes we are all deep down perfect, but it is beneficial to polish a mirror
in order to get the best out of it. to bring the deep to the surface. in this matter i differ from Hui Neng. instant enlightenment, yes, but also a little work is needed, in order to realize and refine what one already has!

i would also say that christians searching for truth outside their own tradition should not ditch their trust in jesus simply because truth can be found in other traditions, rather use any experience gained,to deepen their love for our lord and friend.

may buddhists learn more about jesus, may christians learn more about themselves and may whomsoever reads these words be blessed. amen.

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More insights re: The Dalai Lama

This year I've been learning more about Buddhism and have enjoyed reading the teachings of the Dalai Lama in several texts. The Good Heart offered interesting comparisons of the Christian and Buddhist perspectives, reflecting on specific Christian Gospel teachings. As a Christian who wants to learn more about the breadth of God's world and the people in it, I found the commentaries thought-provoking. Christians can learn much from the Dalai Lama about respecting others' points of view, and about what it means to be kind and compassionate toward others.
Be advised the book is the commentary and dialogue from the 1994 John Main Seminar, "an annual international spiritual event held in honor of the Benedictine monk John Main,whom Father Bede Griffiths once called the most important spiritual guide in the church today." pg 1
"In his opening remards, the Dalai Lama spoke about the importance of all the different forms of dialogue being practiced today between religions. He affirmed the importance of scholarly dialogue. But he also said that he felt the most important and--to use a characteristic term for a Buddhist--the most effective dialogue was not intellectual exchange, but a conversation between sincere practitioners from the position of their own faiths, a conversation that arises from a sharing of their respective practices." p5

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Fresh eyes on becoming like Jesus

How does Jesus look to a Buddhist master? In this series of talks with Christian monastics, the Dalai Lama reads the Gospels with fresh eyes. He aims to sense the qualities of heart behind Jesus' words and deeds. As a Buddhist, he is concerned with how people change - how they grow in compassion, cultivate peace, and become what our greatest teachers showed we can be:

"If someone tells you that you should not be hostile toward your enemy or that you should love your enemy, that statement alone is not going to move you to change ... It is a natural human feeling, so we must have effective techniques to help us make the transition from these inherently biased feelings toward a state of greater equanimity." (p. 49)

--author of "Different Visions of Love"

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

Sparkling wit and compassionate understanding mark these penetrating insights. Highly recommended.--Library Journal

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