Living Zen, Loving God

by Ruben L. F. Habito, John P Keenan (Foreword by)

Overview

The release of Ruben Habito's new book, Living Zen, Loving God has coincided with a rave review from Publishers Weekly magazine:

"Habito may not seem himself as a revolutionary, but his humble life calling - to illuminate the commonalities between Zen Buddhism and Christianity - seems a profound gift. Habito excels in illuminating the connective spiritual tissue between the two religions, while explaining the principles of Buddhism. This is an excellent book for readers who want to deepen their understanding of Christianity, as well as Buddhism." - Publishers Weekly

Exactly right. This wonderful book, in its friendly, informative tone, carefully explains Buddhist ideas - from key concepts like Emptiness and The Truth of Suffering to an in-depth and enlightening examination of the Heart Sutra - all in terms that will help modern Christian practitioners to deepen their faith, and Buddhists, to revitalize and broaden their perception and understanding.

This is a book with immense value to anyone interested in interreligious dialogue and studies, and as such, has already won accolades from Habito's contemporaries. (See below.)

Habito, a practicing Catholic and former Jesuit priest - as well as an acknowledged Zen master and professor in the School of Theology at Southern Methodist University - makes a clear case that Zen practice can deepen a Christian's connection to God, further clarify the Gospel teachings of Jesus, and enable one to live a more joyous, compassionate, and socially engaged life. Habito demonstrates that the practice of Zen meditation and even some elements of the Buddhist worldview can enable one to love God more constantly and commit to the service of the Realm of Heaven and the human community more wholeheartedly.

Ruben L.F. Habito is the author of numerous publications, in both Japanese and English, on Zen and Christianity and is a prominent figure in the Buddhist-Christian Dialogue. A native of the philipines, Habito served as a Jesuit priest in Japan under the guidance of the great spiritual pioneer Father Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle and studied Zen with renowned teacher Koun Yamada. He lives in Dallas, Texas.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780861713837
Publisher:	Wisdom Publications MA
Publication date:	07/10/2005
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

A former Jesuit priest, Ruben L.F. Habito is professor of world religions and spirituality at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, and resident teacher at Maria Kannon Zen Center in Dallas, Texas. A dharma heir of Yamada Koun, he is also the author of Healing Breath and other works in Japanese and English.

John P. Keenan is professor of Religion at Middlebury College and vicar of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Scarborough, Maine. He has published translations and studies in Yogacara Buddhism, and has employed Mahayana Buddhist philosophy in works including The Meaning of Christ: A Mahayana Theology and The Letter of James: Everyday Practice for Everyday Christians.

Table of Contents

	Foreword	IX
	Foreword to the First Edition	XV
	Preface	XVII
	Acknowledgments	XIX
	Introduction	XXIII
1.	Seeing into One's Nature: A Christian's Experience of Zen	1
2.	Emptiness and Fullness	11
3.	The Heart Sutra on Liberating Wisdom	27
1.	The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara	29
2.	Perception of Emptiness	32
3.	Negation of Concepts, Invitation to Direct Experience	35
4.	The Truth of Suffering	38
5.	No Wisdom, No Attainment	41
6.	The Heart Sutra As Mantra	44
4.	Every Day Is a Good Day	45
5.	The Song of Zazen	51
Part I
Part II
Part III
6.	The Enlightened Samaritan: A Zen Reading of a Christian Parable	71
7.	The Four Vows of the Bodhisattva	81
8.	Kuan-Yin with a Thousand Hands	93
9.	Zen Experience of Triune Mystery	103
10.	Zen and Christian Spirituality: Attuning to the Breath	111
Appendix	Conversations with Koun Yamada Roshi and Father Hugo Enomiya Lassalle	115
	Recommended Readings	127
	Index	131
	About the Author	137

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Habito may not seem himself as a revolutionary, but his humble life calling—to illuminate the commonalities between Zen Buddhism and Christianity—seems a profound gift. Habito excels in illuminating the connective spiritual tissue between the two religions, while explaining the principles of Buddhism. This is an excellent book for readers who want to deepen their understanding of Christianity, as well as Buddhism." —Publishers Weekly

"Wonderful."—Spirituality and Health

"At a time when one hears all too often of the irreconcilable differences between religions, it is a relief and a delight to read the words of someone who has gleaned much from Christianity and from Zen Buddhism."—Philosophy East and West

"A brilliant meditation that brings new depth and scope to the study of religion."—New York Resident

"A pioneering example of what I call interspirituality: the exploration experientially of another tradition while remaining committed to one's home tradition. This is a very valuable book."—Brother Wayne Teasdale, author of The Mystic Heart: Discovering a Universal Spirituality in the World's Religions

"With a deft hand Living Zen, Loving God guides us to Buddha's compassionate wisdom and to Christ's love. Completely Christian and completely Zen, Habito is one of the great and true teachers for our age."—Rev. James Ishmael Ford, author of In This Very Moment

"This is theology as it should be: thoughtful, intelligent reflections arising directly out of lived religion and pointing us toward wise and loving engagement with our world."—Kim Boykin, author of Zen for Christians

"Ruben Habito speaks from deep inner experience to illuminate both traditions for us."—Taigen Dan Leighton, author of Faces of Compassion

"An original, creative contribution to contemporary religious self-understanding. This work provides inspiration for anyone seeking a spiritual path in global perspective."—Professor Mark Unno, advisor to the Journal of Buddhist-Christian Studies and author of Shingon Refractions

Editorial Reviews

"Habito may not seem himself as a revolutionary, but his humble life calling—to illuminate the commonalities between Zen Buddhism and Christianity—seems a profound gift. Habito excels in illuminating the connective spiritual tissue between the two religions, while explaining the principles of Buddhism. This is an excellent book for readers who want to deepen their understanding of Christianity, as well as Buddhism." —Publishers Weekly

"Wonderful."—Spirituality and Health

"At a time when one hears all too often of the irreconcilable differences between religions, it is a relief and a delight to read the words of someone who has gleaned much from Christianity and from Zen Buddhism."—Philosophy East and West

"A brilliant meditation that brings new depth and scope to the study of religion."—New York Resident

"A pioneering example of what I call interspirituality: the exploration experientially of another tradition while remaining committed to one's home tradition. This is a very valuable book."—Brother Wayne Teasdale, author of The Mystic Heart: Discovering a Universal Spirituality in the World's Religions

"With a deft hand Living Zen, Loving God guides us to Buddha's compassionate wisdom and to Christ's love. Completely Christian and completely Zen, Habito is one of the great and true teachers for our age."—Rev. James Ishmael Ford, author of In This Very Moment

"This is theology as it should be: thoughtful, intelligent reflections arising directly out of lived religion and pointing us toward wise and loving engagement with our world."—Kim Boykin, author of Zen for Christians

"Ruben Habito speaks from deep inner experience to illuminate both traditions for us."—Taigen Dan Leighton, author of Faces of Compassion

"An original, creative contribution to contemporary religious self-understanding. This work provides inspiration for anyone seeking a spiritual path in global perspective."—Professor Mark Unno, advisor to the Journal of Buddhist-Christian Studies and author of Shingon Refractions

From the Publisher

"Wonderful."

Spirituality and Health

"At a time when one hears all too often of the irreconcilable differences between religions, it is a relief and a delight to read the words of someone who has gleaned much from Christianity and from Zen Buddhism."

Philosophy East and West

"A brilliant meditation that brings new depth and scope to the study of religion."

New York Resident

"A pioneering example of what I call interspirituality: the exploration experientially of another tradition while remaining committed to one's home tradition. This is a very valuable book."

Brother Wayne Teasdale

"With a deft hand Living Zen, Loving God guides us to Buddha's compassionate wisdom and to Christ's love. Completely Christian and completely Zen, Habito is one of the great and true teachers for our age."

Rev. James Ishmael Ford

"This is theology as it should be: thoughtful, intelligent reflections arising directly out of lived religion and pointing us toward wise and loving engagement with our world."

Kim Boykin

"Ruben Habito speaks from deep inner experience to illuminate both traditions for us."

Taigen Dan Leighton

"An original, creative contribution to contemporary religious self-understanding. This work provides inspiration for anyone seeking a spiritual path in global perspective."

Professor Mark Unno

Perhaps one of the most radically healing acts available to humanity today is to bridge the distance between the world's major religions helping devotees discover their common spiritual ground instead of fuel for their political conflicts. Habito may not see himself as a revolutionary, but his humble life calling to illuminate the commonalities between Zen Buddhism and Christianity seems a profound gift. As a native of the Philippines, he began his spiritual training as a contemplative Jesuit priest in Japan. Later he became a pupil of Buddhism under renowned teacher Koun Yamada Roshi. This offering is specifically aimed at the Christian community, helping readers expand their experience of Christ through the teachings of Buddha. For instance, he compares the Zen teachings of dying to ego-attachments in order to reach enlightenment as being similar to the Christian experience of "dying to one's old self" and being reborn into an entirely new life of Christ. Habito excels in illuminating the connective spiritual tissue between the two religions, while also explaining the principles of Buddhism. When speaking to suffering, he notes that both religions ask followers to embrace the realities of suffering in order to offer wisdom and relief. This is an excellent book for readers who want to deepen their understanding of Christianity as well as Buddhism. It includes an Appendix, excerpting conversations with his teachers Koun Yamada Roshi and Father Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, S.J. as well as suggestions for further reading. (Mar.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly