Is there interbeing between Catholicism and Buddhism

by Thich Nhat HanhNovember 25, 2019

Well, yesterday, the day before yesterday, we said something like Buddhism is made of non Buddhist elements.

It's like a flower that is made of non-flower elements.

And the Buddha has used only non-Buddhist elements to make his Buddhism. And he was aware of that.

So looking around, you see many elements. And if you are a skillful person, you can make use of every element you see around in order to make your own Buddhism.

So the same thing must be true with Christianity. Christianity is made of non-Christianity elements. And the teaching of interbeing is available in Christianity also.

The teaching of living happily in the present moment can be found in the teaching of Jesus Christ.

And when you read the Bible, you read statement like this one.

There will be a day when you will see that I am in my father and you are in me and I am in you.

That is from John. And this is the teaching of interbeing. I am in the father and you are in me and I am in you. We are inside of each others and not outside.

And like in the gospel, according to Matthew, it is said that "let us not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself."

So that is the teaching of living happily in the present moment.

So that many points that can be recognized.

And there are many of us who practice according to the teaching of Jesus and the Buddha. And do not find any conflict.

And that is very good for the cause of peace and unity and harmony in the world also