Different Religion, Same Meditation?
Távol-keleti Tanulmányok July 2, 2024 Gábor Péter Boros
Christian contemplative prayer and Buddhist meditation, as practiced by Thomas Merton and Thích Nhất Hạnh, share striking similarities in their goals and methods despite differing theoretical frameworks. Both traditions aim to overcome a fundamental problem—separation from God or the illusion of a permanent self—through practices that involve self-emptying and achieving unity beyond duality. Merton and Nhất Hạnh each drew parallels between key concepts: Merton linked kenosis and śūnyatā, while Nhất Hạnh compared nirvāṇa to the Kingdom of God and mindfulness to the Holy Spirit. These similarities provide a basis for Buddhist–Christian interreligious dialogue.