Carl McColman

A List of Books for Buddhist-Christian Dialogue

FacebookXReddit

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.

Thomas Merton and the Dalai Lama, 1968. Copyright of the Merton Legacy Trust and the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University. Used with permission.

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 avoidย 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:ย you are advised to read with a discerning mind.ย 

 

  1. A. William McVey, Existentialism and Christian Zen: An East/West Way to Christ
  2. Addison Hodges Hart, The Ox-Herder and the Good Shepherd: Finding Christ on the Buddha’s Path
  3. Aelred Graham, Zen Catholicism: A Suggestion
  4. Aelred Graham, Conversations: Christian and Buddhist
  5. Ama Samy, SJ, Zen: Awakening to Your Original Face
  6. Ama Samy, SJ, Zen Heart, Zen Mind: The Teachings of Zen Master Ama Samy
  7. Ama Samy, SJ, Zen: the Wayless Way
  8. Antony Fernando &ย Leonard Swidler, Buddhism Made Plain: An Introduction for Christians and Jews
  9. B. Alan Wallace,ย Mind in the Balance: Meditation in Science, Buddhism and Christianity
  10. Bieke Vandekerckhove, The Taste of Silence
  11. Bonnie Bowman Thurston, ed., Merton & Buddhism: Wisdom, Emptiness & Everyday Mind
  12. Brian J. Pearce, OP, We Walk the Path Together: Learning from Thich Nhat Hanh & Meister Eckhart
  13. Buddhadasa Bhikku, Christianity and Buddhism
  14. Carrin Dunne, Buddha and Jesus: Conversations
  15. China Galland, Longing for Darkness: Tara and the Black Madonna
  16. D. T. Suzuki, Mysticism: Buddhist and Christian: The Eastern and Western Way
  17. David G. Hackett, The Silent Dialogue: Zen Letters to a Trappist Monk
  18. Denise Lardner Carmody and John Tully Carmody, Serene Compassion: A Christian Appreciation of Buddhist Holiness
  19. Donald W. Mitchell, Spirituality and Emptiness: The Dynamics of Spiritual Life in Buddhism and Christianity
  20. Donald W. Mitchell &ย James A. Wiseman, eds., Finding Peace in Troubled Times: Buddhist and Christian Monastics on Transforming Suffering
  21. Donald W. Mitchell & James A. Wiseman, eds., The Spiritual Life: Gethsemani Encounters
  22. Donald W. Mitchell & William Skudlarek, OSB, eds., Green Monasticism: A Buddhist-Catholic Response to an Environmental Calamity
  23. Donovan Roebert, The Gospel for Buddhists and the Dharma for Christians
  24. Elaine MacInnes, The Flowing Bridge: Guidance on Beginning Zen Koans
  25. Elaine MacInnes, Light Sitting in Light: A Christian’s Experience of Zen
  26. Elaine MacInnes, Teaching Zen to Christians: Orientation Talks for Beginners
  27. Elaine MacInnes, Zen Contemplation for Christians: A Bridge of Living Water
  28. Elizabeth Harris and John O’Grady, eds., Meditation in Buddhist-Christian Encounter: A Critical Analysis
  29. Elizabeth West, Happiness Here & Now: The Eightfold Path of Jesus Revisited with Buddhist Insights
  30. Ellen Birx, Embracing the Inconceivable: Interspiritual Practice of Zen and Christianity
  31. Gordon Peerman, Blessed Relief: What Christians Can Learn from Buddhists about Suffering
  32. Gustav Ericsson, My Christian Journey With Zen
  33. Heinrich Dumoulin, SJ, Christianity Meets Buddhism
  34. Hikaru Nakamura, Saint Young Men (Multiple Volumes)
  35. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus
  36. His Holiness the Dalai Lama,ย Spiritual Advice for Buddhists and Christians
  37. Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, Living in the New Consciousness
  38. Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, The Practice of Zen Meditation
  39. Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, Zen Meditation for Christians
  40. Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, Zen: Way to Enlightenment
  41. J. K. Kadowaki,ย Zen and the Bible
  42. James Arraj,ย Christianity in the Crucible of East-West Dialogue / God, Zen and the Intuition of Being (2 Volumes in 1)ย 
  43. James William Jones,ย The Mirror of God: Christian Faith as Spiritual Practice, Lessons from Buddhism and Psychotherapy
  44. James Wiseman and Donald Mitchell, eds., The Gethsemani Encounter: A Dialogue on the Spiritual Life by Buddhist and Christian Monastics
  45. Janet Conner, The Lotus and the Lilly: Access the Wisdom of Buddha and Jesus to Nourish Your Beautiful, Abundant Life
  46. Jean-Yves Leloup,ย Compassion and Meditation: The Spiritual Dynamic Between Buddhism and Christianity
  47. John Cowan,ย Taking Jesus Seriously: Buddhist Meditation for Christians
  48. John P. Cobb, Jr., Beyond Dialogue: Toward a Mutual Transformation of Christianity and Buddhism
  49. John P. Keenan, The Emptied Christ of Philippians: Mahฤyฤna Meditations
  50. John P. Keenan, The Gospel of Mark: A Mahayana Reading
  51. John P. Keenan, The Meaning of Christ: A Mahayana Theology
  52. Kenneth S. Leong, The Zen Teachings of Jesus
  53. Kim Boykin, Zen for Christians: A Beginner’s Guide
  54. Kristin Johnson Largen, What Christians Can Learn from Buddhism: Rethinking Salvation
  55. Leo D. Lefebure, The Buddha and the Christ: Explorations in Buddhist and Christian Dialogue
  56. Marco Pallis, A Buddhist Spectrum: Contributions to the Christian-Buddhist Dialogue
  57. Marcus Borg, Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings
  58. Mark Heim, Crucified Wisdom: Theological Reflection on Christ and the Bodhisattva
  59. Mary Jo Meadow, Christian Insight Meditation: Following in the Footsteps of John of the Cross
  60. Mary Jo Meadow, Gentling the Heart: Buddhist Loving-Kindness Practice for Christians
  61. Maurice O’C Walshe, Buddhism and Christianity: A Positive Approach
  62. Patricia Hart Clifford, Sitting Still: An Encounter with Christian Zen
  63. Patrick Henry, ed.,ย Benedictโ€™s Dharma: Buddhists Reflect on the Rule of Saint Benedict
  64. Patrick Henry and Donald K. Swearer,ย For the Sake of the World: The Spirit of Buddhist and Christian Monasticism
  65. Paul F. Knitter, Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian
  66. Paul Knitter & Roger Haight, Jesus & Buddha: Friends in Conversation
  67. Paul O. Ingram, A Modern Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
  68. Paul O. Ingram, ed., Buddhist-Christian Dialogue: Mutual Renewal and Transformation
  69. Paul O. Ingram, Buddhist-Christian Dialogue in an Age of Science
  70. Paul O. Ingram, The Process of Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
  71. Paul O. Ingram, Theological Reflection at the Boundaries
  72. Paul Mommaers, Mysticism, Buddhist and Christian: Encounters with Jan van Ruusbroec
  73. Peter Feldmeier,ย Christianity Looks East: Comparing the Spiritualities of John of the Cross and Buddhaghosa
  74. Peter Feldmeier, Experiments in Buddhist-Christian Encounter: From Buddha-Nature to the Divine Nature
  75. Perry Schmidt-Leukel, ed.,ย Buddhism and Christianity in Dialogue: The Gerald-Weisfeld Lectures 2004
  76. Peter Feldmeier, Christianity Looks East: Comparing the Spiritualities of John of the Cross and Buddhaghosa
  77. Raimon Panikkar, The Silence of God: The Answer of the Buddha
  78. Richard Bryan McDaniel, Catholicism and Zen
  79. Rita M. Gross and Terry C. Muck, eds., Buddhists Talk about Jesus, Christians Talk About the Buddha
  80. Rita M. Gross and Terry C. Muck, eds., Christians Talk About Buddhist Meditation, Buddhists Talk about Christian Prayer
  81. Robert Aitken and David Steindl-Rast, The Ground We Share: Everyday Practice, Buddhist and Christian
  82. Robert Jingen Gunn, Journeys Into Emptiness: Dogen, Merton, Jung and the Quest for Transformation
  83. Robert Kennedy, Zen Gifts to Christians
  84. Robert Kennedy, Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit: The Place of Zen in Christian Life
  85. Robert Magliola,ย Facing Up to Real Doctrinal Difference: How Some Thought-Motifs from Derrida Can Nourish the Catholic-Buddhist Encounter
  86. Robert Powell, Christian Zen: The Essential Teachings of Jesus Christ
  87. Robert Sohl and Audrey Carr, eds., The Gospel According to Zen
  88. Roger Corless, The Vision of Buddhism
  89. Roger Corless and Paul F. Knitter, eds., Buddhist Emptiness and Christian Trinity: Essays & Explorations
  90. Rose Drew, Buddhist and Christian?: An Exploration of Dual Belonging
  91. Ross Thompson, Buddhist Christianity: A Passionate Openness
  92. Ross Thompson, Wounded Wisdom: A Buddhist and Christian Response to Evil, Hurt and Harm
  93. Ruben L. F. Habito, Be Still and Know: Zen and the Bible
  94. Ruben L. F. Habito, Experiencing Buddhism: Ways of Wisdom and Compassion
  95. Ruben L. F. Habito, Healing Breath: Zen for Christians and Buddhists in a Wounded World
  96. Ruben L. F. Habito, Living Zen, Loving God
  97. Ruben L. F. Habito, Zen and the Spiritual Exercises
  98. Seiichi Yagi and Leonard Swidler, A Bridge to Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
  99. Susan J. Stabile, Growing in Love and Wisdom: Tibetan Buddhist Sources for Christian Meditation
  100. Susan Walker, ed., Speaking of Silence: Christians and Buddhists on the Contemplative Way
  101. Thich Nhat Hanh, Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers
  102. Thich Nhat Hanh, Living Buddha, Living Christ
  103. Thich Nhat Hanh and Daniel Berrigan, The Raft is Not the Shore: Conversations Toward a Buddhist-Christian Awareness
  104. Thomas G. Hand, Always a Pilgrim: Walking the Zen Christian Path
  105. Thomas Merton, Mystics and Zen Masters
  106. Thomas Merton, The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton
  107. Thomas Merton, Zen and the Birds of Appetite
  108. Thomas Ragland, The Noble Eightfold Path of Christ: Jesus Teaches the Dharma of Buddhism
  109. Tilden H. Edwards, Jr., โ€œCriss-Crossing the Christian-Buddhist Bridgeโ€ in Tarthang Tulku, ed., Reflections of Mind: Western Psychology Meets Tibetan Buddhism
  110. Tom Chetwynd, Zen and the Kingdom of Heaven
  111. Tony Luke, Way of Zen, Way of Christ: Satori and the Kingdom ofย God
  112. Valerie Brown, Hope Leans Forward: Braving Your Way Toward Simplicity, Awakening, and Peace
  113. William Johnston, Christian Zen: A Way of Meditation
  114. William Johnston, The Mirror Mind: Zen-Christian Dialog
  115. William Johnston, The Still Point: Reflections on Zen and Christian Mysticism
  116. William Skudlarek OSB,ย Demythologizing Celibacy: Practical Wisdom from Buddhist and Christian Monasticism
  117. Willigis Jรคger, Mysticism for Modern Times
  118. Winston L. King, Buddhism and Christianity: Some Bridges of Understanding
  119. 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 โ€” 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 โ€” it is the easiest way you can support this blog.

Let’s Stay in Touch!

Explore Mystical Spirituality with Carl McColman! Get access to guided meditations, mystical study guides, and monthly Zoom calls with Carl. Join Patreon Today
Become a patron at Patreon!
,
, , , , ,

Published by

Carl McColman

Responses

  1. Colleen Avatar
    Colleen

    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.

    Reply
    1. Carl McColman Avatar
      Carl McColman

      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.

      Reply
  2. Keainid Avatar
    Keainid

    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!

    Reply
  3. Quinn Avatar
    Quinn

    Many thanks for the above comments. A starting place is just what I need.

    Reply
  4. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    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.

    Reply
  5. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    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.

    Reply
    1. Carl McColman Avatar
      Carl McColman

      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.

      Reply
      1. Chris Avatar
        Chris

        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

        Reply
        1. Carl McColman Avatar
          Carl McColman

          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.

          Reply
  6. Robert A. Jonas Avatar
    Robert A. Jonas

    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.”

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Question? Comment?

I'd love to hear from you!

CONTACT FORM