Beside Still Waters: Jews, Christians, and the Way of the Buddha

By Jack Miles

Book Overview

A compelling question for people of faith today is how to remain committed to one's own religious tradition while being open to the beauty and truth of other religions. For example, some fear that Buddhism is a threat to Western faith traditions and express grave doubts about interreligious and cross-cultural encounters. Yet, many who have actually broadened their experience profess to have developed a deeper understanding of and a deeper commitment to their tradition of origin. This is what makes Beside Still Waters: Jews, Christians, and the Way of the Buddha such a new and meaningful contribution. Rather than offering research or lectures, Beside Still Waters takes a deeply personal approach, allowing the reader to delve into the individual experiences of fourteen Jews and Christians whose encounters with Buddhism have truly impacted their sense of religious identity. As Jack Miles, author of God: A Biography , says in the book's foreword, "The Buddhist presence in the religious world is far larger than a head-count of Buddhists can reveal." Beside Still Waters upholds this point by way of the diverse and eloquent authors who lend their perspective in its pages; these include Sylvia Boorstein, John B. Cobb, Norman Fischer, Ruben Habito, and other important members of the Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, and scholarly communities. Their collected anecdotes and interviews amount to an unprecedented and enduring work, sure to deepen our ability to understand each other, and therefore, ourselves.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0861713362
• ISBN13: 9780861713363
• Release Date: June 2003
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Demonstrates How Well These 3 Religions Can Interconnect

This book is an inspirational work taking a look at people who classify themselves as Christian or Jewish, but who commit themselves also to the teachings of the Buddha. When three traditions like this meet, it's like, as Jack Miles points out in the foreword, 3 drained travelers gathering at a resting spot discussing their journey. All three traditions are ancient, but spiritual practice is new and exciting for anyone who engages themselves in it's wonderful arms. All three paths take practice and dedication, not one of them we simply understand "right off the bat." This book truly is fascinating in it's representation of all three dominant world religions and how one can successfully utilize the very best of the teachings offered by them all. If you enjoyed "The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the teachings of Jesus" by H.H. the Dalai Lama, your sure to enjoy this book, likewise. So what are you waiting for? Buy it!

Beside Still Waters:

Some of the essays were way over my head but in general I liked the focus of the book.