Living Buddha, Living Christ

Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen monk, looks at Buddhism and Christianity side by side and finds shared ground in the practice of mindfulness and compassion. He compares the Holy Spirit with the Buddhist idea of mindfulness, reads the Eucharist as a practice of being fully present, and treats Jesus and the Buddha as living teachers rather than historical figures. He writes about the Lord's Prayer, the Sermon on the Mount, and how each tradition can help a person live in the present moment without giving up their own roots.

Readers who belong to one faith and are curious about the other will find a respectful, practical guide. It also suits anyone interested in interfaith dialogue, since the author argues that deep practice in one tradition can enrich a person's understanding of another.

Deep, inward-looking and contemplative; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Mindful Reader. Which reader are you?