Zen Gifts to Christians

by Robert E. Kennedy

How Zen experience can enrich Christians' emotional orientation. Robert Kennedy is one of three Jesuits in the world who answer to both the titles "Father" and "Roshi," or venerable Zen teacher. In 1991, after ten years of practicing Zen meditation, he was installed as a Zen teacher at the recommendation of his teacher, Glassman Roshi, and of Glassman Roshi's teacher, Maezumi Roshi. Today, he directs a dozen groups of people from many religious persuasions - even atheists and agnostics - who sit weekly in Zen meditation throughout the greater New York metropolitan area. This book is specifically addressed to the Christian practitioners of Zen meditation or those who are curious about it. It is structured around the ten well-known ox-herding pictures that have been a consistent source of inspiration to Zen students for centuries. Each picture represents a specific Zen insight into life, and these insights, says Kennedy, are not only fully compatible with Christianity but can help Christians achieve the spiritual goals enshrined in a Christian classic. For example, The Cloud of to be silent and attentive, to be wholly present to life, to be able to separate one's true self from one's false self, the self-seeking part of the personality that so often brings on pain.

Genres: Spirituality

131 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[James Keenan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. I really appreciate how Robert Kennedy infuses poetry, art and koans to explore the way in which Zen’s core teachings can enhance a Christian’s understanding of God. I have never heard non-duality applied to the Christian context, however, it has certainly been refreshing as I have long seen Buddhism as Christianity’s main metaphysical adversary due to its teachings on, for example, no self. Stating that non-duality affords one the capacity to see Christ in the other is not something I had considered, though once revealed through Kennedy’s wonderful book, it became so intuitive. I would have liked to have seen Kennedy delve deeper into why Christians might struggle with incorporating Zen ideas and practices. An obvious example which comes to mind is the idea that we live in a fallen world. If God resides in all of us, ‘who’ committed that first sin? Although it need not pose a metaphysical impossibility to Kennedy’s approach, it does need addressing. Regardless, all-in-all a great read with plenty of food for thought.

[Josiah Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the author introduced many concepts of Zen that had great potential to be applied to a christian context, I felt like he failed to dive deeply enough into their details. This left me at times confused as to what the author meant, or disappointed because the subject matter was not detailed enough. While certainly thought provoking, I wish that this book would have delved a little deeper.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

on the desk in den or in the bedroom - from jimmy o'toole
my notes
p.10 suggests the books are always available, the true learning comes from focussing, attention to what arises, the point..on the point. the mechanical is important for us to pay attention on the form,..see my recordings...

[Paul Damian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I take from Robert Kennedy a new insight in Eucharist. This fundamental sacrament is a metaphor of the world: everything is the body of Christ.

[Robert]

The author is a Jesuit priest who brings his order's fascination with the mystical into play with Buddhist through and practice - all while acknowledging that aspects of different religions can come together to complement each other, and that the Christian perspective is enhanced by the practice of Zen. Laudably economic at 120 pages; clear, easy to understand language; poetic. I am not a traditional Christian yet still found the author's insights reasonable, certainly not patronizing in any way, and even helpful.