75 Books for Buddhist-Christian DialogueDecember 21, 2012 By Carl McColman 9 CommentsThomas Merton and the Dalai LamaThomas Merton and the Dalai LamaAre you interested in exploring the richness of dialogue and interspiritual practice between Christianity and Buddhism? If so, then heres enough literature to keep you going for a while. Each of the seventy-five books on the following list has some sort of connection with both Christianity and Buddhism.Some of these titles are academic studies, some the writings of monastics, others geared toward the laity. Some are books by Christians about Buddhism, or by Buddhists about interfaith dialogue; by Christians who find meditation a helpful adjunct to their primarily Christ-centered faith, or by persons who identify as dual practitioners, seeking an authentic path that is simultaneously faithful to both the Gospel and the Dharma. One or two are by Christians, about Christian spirituality, but informed by the authors Buddhist practice.This list is rather weighted toward the Christian side of the conversation. I would love to include more Buddhist authors and more Buddhist perspectives on Christianity, but Im not as familiar with the Buddhist side of this conversation. While the most popular topic of these books is meditation, some are more narrowly focused on matters such as theodicy or psychology.I have only read a fraction of these books myself, so I offer them here with no endorsement other than my own interest in the subject. A list this size will naturally entail books of varying quality or merit, so you are advised to read with a discerning mind.clip2_111f A. William McVey, Existentialism and Christian Zen: An East/West Way to Christ Aelred Graham, Zen Catholicism: A Suggestion Aelred Graham, Conversations: Christian and Buddhist B. Alan Wallace, Mind in the Balance: Meditation in Science, Buddhism and Christianity Bonnie Bowman Thurston, ed., Merton & Buddhism: Wisdom, Emptiness & Everyday Mind Brian J. Pearce, OP, We Walk the Path Together: Learning from Thich Nhat Hanh & Meister Eckhart Carrin Dunne, Buddha and Jesus: Conversations D. T. Suzuki, Mysticism: Buddhist and Christian: The Eastern and Western Way Denise Lardner Carmody and John Tully Carmody, Serene Compassion: A Christian Appreciation of Buddhist Holiness Donald W. Mitchell, Spirituality and Emptiness: The Dynamics of Spiritual Life in Buddhism and Christianity Donald W. Mitchell and James A. Wiseman, eds., Finding Peace in Troubled Times: Buddhist and Christian Monastics on Transforming Suffering Donald W. Mitchell & William Skudlarek, OSB, eds., Green Monasticism: A Buddhist-Catholic Response to an Environmental Calamity Donovan Roebert, The Gospel for Buddhists and the Dharma for Christians Elaine MacInnes, Zen Contemplation for Christians: A Bridge of Living Water Elizabeth West, Happiness Here & Now: The Eightfold Path of Jesus Revisited with Buddhist Insights Gordon Peerman, Blessed Relief: What Christians Can Learn from Buddhists about Suffering His Holiness the Dalai Lama, The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Spiritual Advice for Buddhists and Christians Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, Living in the New Consciousness Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, The Practice of Zen Meditation J. K. Kadowaki, Zen and the Bible James William Jones, The Mirror of God: Christian Faith as Spiritual Practice, Lessons from Buddhism and Psychotherapy James Wiseman and Donald Mitchell, eds., The Gethsemani Encounter: A Dialogue on the Spiritual Life by Buddhist and Christian Monastics Janet Conner, The Lotus and the Lilly: Access the Wisdom of Buddha and Jesus to Nourish Your Beautiful, Abundant Life Jean-Yves Leloup, Compassion and Meditation: The Spiritual Dynamic Between Buddhism and Christianity John Cowan, Taking Jesus Seriously: Buddhist Meditation for Christians John P. Keenan, The Gospel of Mark: A Mahayana Reading John P. Keenan, The Meaning of Christ: A Mahayana Theology Kakichi Kadowaki, Zen and the Bible Kenneth S. Leong, The Zen Teachings of Jesus Kim Boykin, Zen for Christians: A Beginners Guide Kristin Johnson Largen, What Christians Can Learn from Buddhism: Rethinking Salvation Leo D. Lefebure, The Buddha and the Christ: Explorations in Buddhist and Christian Dialogue Marcus Borg, Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings Mary Jo Meadow, Christian Insight Meditation: Following in the Footsteps of John of the Cross Mary Jo Meadow, Gentling the Heart: Buddhist Loving-Kindness Practice for Christians Patricia Hart Clifford, Sitting Still: An Encounter with Christian Zen Patrick Henry, ed., Benedicts Dharma: Buddhists Reflect on the Rule of Saint Benedict Paul F. Knitter, Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian Paul O. Ingram, Theological Reflection at the Boundaries Paul Mommaers, Mysticism, Buddhist and Christian: Encounters with Jan van Ruusbroec Perry Schmidt-Leukel, ed., Buddhism and Christianity in Dialogue: The Gerald-Weisfeld Lectures 2004 Peter Feldmeier, Christianity Looks East: Comparing the Spiritualities of John of the Cross and Buddhaghosa Raimon Panikkar, The Silence of God: The Answer of the Buddha Rita M. Gross and Terry C. Muck, eds., Buddhists Talk about Jesus, Christians Talk About the Buddha Rita M. Gross and Terry C. Muck, eds., Christians Talk About Buddhist Meditation, Buddhists Talk about Christian Prayer Robert Aitken and David Steindl-Rast, The Ground We Share: Everyday Practice, Buddhist and Christian Robert Kennedy, Zen Gifts to Christians Robert Kennedy, Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit: The Place of Zen in Christian Life Robert Powell, Christian Zen: The Essential Teachings of Jesus Christ Roger Corless, The Vision of Buddhism Roger Corless and Paul F. Knitter, eds., Buddhist Emptiness and Christian Trinity: Essays & Explorations Rose Drew, Buddhist and Christian?: An Exploration of Dual Belonging Ross Thompson, Buddhist Christianity: A Passionate Openness Ross Thompson, Wounded Wisdom: A Buddhist and Christian Response to Evil, Hurt and Harm Ruben L. F. Habito, Healing Breath: Zen for Christians and Buddhists in a Wounded World Ruben L. F. Habito, Living Zen, Loving God Seiichi Yagi and Leonard Swidler, A Bridge to Buddhist-Christian Dialogue Susan J. Stabile, Growing in Love and Wisdom: Tibetan Buddhist Sources for Christian Meditation Susan Walker, ed., Speaking of Silence: Christians and Buddhists on the Contemplative Way Thich Nhat Hanh, Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers Thich Nhat Hanh, Living Buddha, Living Christ Thich Nhat Hanh and Daniel Berrigan, The Raft is Not the Shore: Conversations Toward a Buddhist-Christian Awareness Thomas Merton, Mystics and Zen Masters Thomas Merton, The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton Thomas Merton, Zen and the Birds of Appetite Thomas Ragland, The Noble Eightfold Path of Christ: Jesus Teaches the Dharma of Buddhism Tilden H. Edwards, Jr., Criss-Crossing the Christian-Buddhist Bridge in Tarthang Tulku, ed., Reflections of Mind: Western Psychology Meets Tibetan Buddhism Tom Chetwynd, Zen and the Kingdom of Heaven William Johnston, Christian Zen: A Way of Meditation William Johnston, The Mirror Mind: Zen-Christian Dialog William Johnston, The Still Point: Reflections on Zen and Christian Mysticism William Skudlarek OSB, Demythologizing Celibacy: Practical Wisdom from Buddhist and Christian Monasticism Willigis Jger, Mysticism for Modern Times Wolfgang Kopp, Free Yourself of Everything: Radical Guidance in the Spirit of Zen and Christian Mysticism