Does any one religion have all the answers? Or must we find the answers to life’s questions within ourselves? What would the Buddha think of Jesus’ message of unconditional love? Would the Buddha and Jesus have any common ground? In Jesus Meets the Buddha, author James Kim attempts to answer these questions and many more by exploring the histories and beliefs of two of the world’s major religions: Christianity and Buddhism. Driven by his own desire to answer questions such as “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” Kim builds on the discourses of the world’s greatest thinkers to examine religions and philosophies, including Judaism, Hinduism, Confucianism, and even Voodoo. His conclusion is that every religion in existence today is a precious gem of human history and an irreplaceable facet of the giant mosaic that makes up our world. He argues that by combining Jesus’ teaching with the long-held ethical and religious traditions of the East, we can build a meaningful unity for humankind. Provocative and well-researched, Jesus Meets the Buddha is a must-read book for anyone interested in the world’s religions or who is looking for their own answers about their place in the universe.

Does any one religion have all the answers? Or must we find the answers to life’s questions within ourselves? What would the Buddha think of Jesus’ message of unconditional love? Would the Buddha and Jesus have any common ground? In Jesus Meets the Buddha, author James Kim attempts to answer these questions and many more by exploring the histories and beliefs of two of the world’s major religions: Christianity and Buddhism. Driven by his own desire to answer questions such as “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” Kim builds on the discourses of the world’s greatest thinkers to examine religions and philosophies, including Judaism, Hinduism, Confucianism, and even Voodoo. His conclusion is that every religion in existence today is a precious gem of human history and an irreplaceable facet of the giant mosaic that makes up our world. He argues that by combining Jesus’ teaching with the long-held ethical and religious traditions of the East, we can build a meaningful unity for humankind. Provocative and well-researched, Jesus Meets the Buddha is a must-read book for anyone interested in the world’s religions or who is looking for their own answers about their place in the universe.

This book contains the works of a group of Evangelical mission "reflective practitioners," who are committed to developing ways to evangelize the Buddhist peoples of the world. As various forms of Buddhism gain popularity, this network tries to disclose creative approaches to reach them with the gospel communicated in culturally sensitive ways and with transformational impact. The five major dimensions of a holistic witness among Buddhist peoples discussed in this book are: experiential dialogue, intellectual dialogue, biblical exposition, cultural sensitivity, and economic development. We invite readers to gain access to the first volume, Sharing Jesus in the Buddhist World, which consists of nine papers that provide the framework and some concrete models of cultural-sensitive "contextualized" witness to peoples of Buddhist faith. It will serve as a rich resource for those concerned with the issues raised in this book.

Buddhists have judged Christianity primarily from a spiritual-practical point of view. Thereby the three principles of the Noble Eightfold Path have proved decisive. In that regard it is very significant that negative judgements about Christianity always arose over the question of vegetarianism and the consumption of alcohol which makes Buddhists believers doubt the spiritual level of Christianity. The collected articles and approaches of this volume present the difficulties of the Buddhist religion within the Christian-Buddhist Dialogue.

The Sacred Desert is a reflection on the role of the desert in theology, history, literature, art and film.:.; An original reflection on the role of the desert in theology, history, literature, art and film.; Discusses figures as diverse as Jesus, the early Christian Desert Fathers, T.E. Lawrence, T.S. Eliot, Georgia O'Keeffe, Wim Wenders and Jim Crace.; Makes connections across millennia of desert literature.; Deepens the reader's understanding of the desert as a real place, as an interior space, and as a textual site,.; Concludes with comments on the recent conflicts in Iraq.; Written in a r.

Katharis astonishing communication with her deceased daughter is a bold and raw story, and it will open your eyes to existence beyond the physical plane. Compassionately written, readers will connect with the pain of losing a loved one, but quickly progress into healing as they embark on a fascinating journey to deeper truths about the mysteries of life and the infinite beyond. Jean Slatter, author of Hiring the Heavens This beautiful story of a mothers journey through the grief of losing her daughter is filled with wisdom from this world and the other and is relevant to all. It is a treasure to be read and reread. Candance Kingley, psychotherapist Katharis and Koris conversations and understanding of the spiritual veil gave me hope and the promise that I too will be able to connect with my beloved daughter. As I came close to the end of their conversations, I realized that I will miss them both. This book has been, and will continue to be, a true gift to me. Mary Kay Wetzel, a mother familiar with Grief Meeting Kori through Katharis pen has allowed my being to expand. Give yourself a spiritual gift and allow Koris communication to move you into a higher/greater understanding. Dolores Ramsbottom, www.synchronizeyoursoul.com

Drawing on the teachings of Patanjali, Osho gives an entirely new perspective on the fundamental questions of life, the nature of heaven, religion and God. For Osho it is not a question of being good or bad , or of a God in the sky, but of each individual becoming aware of his being and attaining kaivalya the ultimate state of enlightenment when the meditator goes beyond all desire. This process draws on the inner science of yoga.

"The Direct Path is the Path to God without dogma or priests or gurus, the Path of DIRECT self-empowerment and self-awakening. Whether you know it yet or not, you have been on it since the day you were born." Today more Americans than ever consider themselves to be "spiritual" people, and yet regular attendance at religious institutions is down, perhaps because many of us are searching for a way to encounter the divine on our own terms. We long to connect with something greater than ourselves, but are often conflicted about the teachings and rituals of organized religions, or simply don't know where to begin. In this groundbreaking, eloquently written work, renowned religious scholar Andrew Harvey builds on his twenty-five-year study of the world's various mystical traditions--including Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Sufism, the Kabbalah, and Christian mysticism--to create an illuminating spiritual map that anyone can use to develop a direct path to the divine. Andrew Harvey has devoted his life to the study and pursuit of the divine, and in The Direct Path he chronicles his own spiritual journey, revealing the events that led to his own disillusionment with the guru system, and the hierarchy and hypocrisy of many contemporary religious movements. He then provides us with the tools we need to cultivate a personal relationship with the divine without relying on gurus, churches, or other institutions and intermediaries. Drawing on mystical traditions from around the world, Harvey outlines eighteen sacred practices--including breathing, chanting, meditation, prayer, and the practice of lovingkindness--that readers can use to unite mind, body, and soul, and he streamlines them into a step-by-step guide to personalized spiritual development and enlightenment. He discusses the four stages of spiritual transformation--awakening, engagement, marriage, and birthing--and shows us how we can incorporate the sacred into everyday life through activities such as dieting and fasting, dancing, laughing, and healing exercises such as yoga and tai chi. Through practical lessons and exercises, Harvey guides us in excavating our spiritual self, and creating not only a path to the divine but to the millions of other selves who walk the earth with us. Perfect for anyone who, in this time of spiritual uncertainty, yearns for fresh teachings and wisdom that will bring them closer to their life's purpose and meaning, The Direct Path is an intelligent, beautifully crafted masterpiece from one of today's most celebrated and respected spiritual luminaries.

From disagreement over an Islamic Center in New York to clashes between Christians and Muslims in Egypt, tension between the three Abrahamic faiths often runs high. Yet for all their differences, these three traditions-Judaism, Islam, and Christianity-share much in common. Three Testaments brings together for the first time the text of the Torah, the New Testament, and the Quran, so that readers can explore for themselves the connections, as well as the points of departure, between the three faiths. Notable religion scholars provide accessible introductions to each tradition, and commentary from editor Brian Arthur Brown explores how the three faiths may draw similarities from the ancient Zoroastrian tradition. This powerful book provides a much-needed interfaith perspective on key sacred texts.