I found Jesus through a Zen Buddhist monk named Thich Nhat Hanh 10 years ago. After a challenging break up, I picked up a book called “No Mud, No Lotus” by Thich Nhat Hanh which led me to reading “Living Buddha, Living Christ” by him as well. This book touched me deeply and changed the trajectory of my life. Thich is one of my most influential Buddhists of the 20th century but also had a picture of Jesus in his meditation and prayer room at his monetary in the south of France, Plum Village. He loved both the Buddha and Jesus with all his heart and wrote another book called “Going Home: Jesus and Buddha are Brothers”. He was heavily influenced by Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960’s when he toured the United States to try to peacefully end the Vietnam war. Vietnam was Thich’s home country and he was exiled from Vietnam because he wouldn’t choose a side in the war. He firmly was on the side of peace which upset both sides. Thich was almost killed by a bomb in the war and many of his disciples were killed in the war.
Many Christian’s and Buddhists are shocked that I can both be a Buddhist and a Christian. You might call me a Taoist as well or a Sufi Muslim. I’m many things yet none of them define me. To me it is very simple, I follow the path of unconditional love to the best of my abilities. God to me has touched every spiritual man or woman of all spiritual traditions. Some might call this mysterious force that heals us from within as God, Allah, Emptiness or The Dao. Jesus said that “ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10:16. This is my spiritual path in one verse. There are many spiritual traditions all around the world hearing the same voice. A voice of unconditional love and compassion for all beings. How do you hear this voice? Be still and open your heart with humility.
In Christianity they speak of the Holy Spirit and how it can transform us. The Holy Spirit is how God touches people deeply and changes their heart from stone to flesh. How he shapes them by love into more and more like Jesus. In Buddhism this is enlightenment and at the deepest level it would be described as Nirvana. When God touches you so deeply that all concepts of greed, hatred and fear dissipate. All suffering dissipates in these moments and you are fully liberated from all notions that enslave you. Only unconditional love is left for all beings and in this moment you feel deeply connected to the entire Universe. In Buddhism, emptiness is how they describe God. God is empty of all notions of greed, hatred, and fear that cause us so much suffering on this planet.
Jesus said in Mark 12:32 “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” In my experience, Jesus is saying that those with an open heart will know God no matter what spiritual tradition they follow. A Buddhist with an open heart will know God deeper than a Christian who has a closed heart to love. Even an atheist who follows the spiritual principles of Jesus will know God deeper than an evangelical Christian who has a closed heart.
One of my favorite Zen masters said to never be attached to one religion or philosophy, even Zen. To keep a beginners mind open to all ideas and ready for the infinite possibilities of life. All religious wars began with arrogance that their one spiritual tradition is the only truth while all spiritual teachers emphasize humility and the brotherhood and sisterhood of all beings. Below is a link to the free audio book of “Living Buddha, Living Christ” by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Your brother,
Johnny
