The Interfaith Encounter of Zen* and Christian Contemplation: A Dialogue between Masao Abe and Keith J. Egan

Abstract

Our task in this interfaith dialogue is to discuss the similarities and differences of practice, particularly meditation and contemplation, between Christianity and Buddhism. Such a dialogue is not an easy one because in both Christianity and Buddhism practices such as meditation and contemplation are beyond purely theoretical or theological understanding since they can be grasped only through personal commitment and penetrating inner experience. I don’t think I am qualified to grasp the existential significance of Christian and Buddhist practice sufficiently. In order to develop a Christian-Buddhist dialogue, however, I will try, with the guidance of Professor Egan, to elucidate the religious meaning of practice in Christianity and Buddhism in so far as I understand them.KeywordsUltimate RealityBuddhist PracticeReligious MeaningOriginal RealizationBuddhist ScriptureThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.