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Interfaith Group

Fortinbras Armstrong

(4,473 posts)

13. The Catholic monk Thomas Merton wrote some interesting things about Buddhism

Reply to grantcart (Original post)

Sat Mar 16, 2013, 04:43 PM

Mar 2013

His Zen and the Birds of Appetite is fascinating, although he wrote in an afterword that "any attempt to handle Zen in theological language is bound to miss the point," calling his book "an example of how not to approach Zen." I suppose it's an example of how the Buddha which can be spoken of is not the true Buddha.

He died in a freak accident in Bangkok in 1968, when he was apparently electrocuted by a malfunctioning fan.

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At first I studied the Buddha in order to become a better Christian [View all] grantcart Mar 2013 OP

The land of smiles lovemydog Mar 2013 #1

Religious chauvinism! What a descriptive turn of phrase! MADem Mar 2013 #2

Thanks for getting it started. grantcart Mar 2013 #5

There were a lot of hands stirring the pot...! Now at last, dinner's ready! MADem Mar 2013 #9

Just talking and being decent to one another lovemydog Mar 2013 #14

One counter-example goldent Mar 2013 #8

Oh, sure! MADem Mar 2013 #10

I'm afraid that my memories are quite different Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #12

My wife does both, actively. kwassa Mar 2013 #3

May I recommend some folks? grantcart Mar 2013 #4

Thich Nhat Hanh also has a center in Escondido kwassa Mar 2013 #6

very neat grantcart Mar 2013 #7

Very interesting journey, grantcart. cbayer Mar 2013 #11

The Catholic monk Thomas Merton wrote some interesting things about Buddhism Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #13

I've read Merton's lovemydog Mar 2013 #15

The title of that book is "The Wisdom of the Desert" Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #16

Another mistake made by many lovemydog Mar 2013 #17

I didn't really know how to pray. jeepnstein Mar 2013 #18

That is so interesting lovemydog Mar 2013 #19

Buddha and Jesus both taught similar things. I have often wanted to learn more about Jesus liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #20

I would suggest that your father was aggressive not because he was trying to convince you but grantcart Mar 2013 #21