to search outside the religion of their childhood for spiritual answers. They want a religion that speaks directly to their personal lives, keeps pace with the changes in modern society, and gives a personal experience of the divine. Many are nourished by more than one spiritual root, have more than one guide, or even belong to two distinct religions. Americans have been turning in record numbers to the East to nourish their spiritual lives. Buddhism is now one of the fastest-growing faiths in America.
The East has a great deal to offer. But what is it? The East has developed, over 3,500 years, some of the best methods for attaining God awareness found anywhere in the world. The East also offers centuries of wisdom on the art of happiness and concrete ways to deal with stress and anxiety.
You may be surprised to find out how smoothly Eastern practice can complement, and even strengthen, your own spirituality or religious faith. Eastern faiths let us see our own religion with new eyes. My own spiritual search is an example. I was raised a Christian, but I never truly embraced the teachings of Jesus until I found Buddhist and Swami teachers who embodied Christ's love and compassion. Take, for example, the Eastern view of suffering. We all know the Western approach to suffering is influenced by the commercial culture we live in. Take an aspirin. Buy a sports car. Buy off your pain. But Buddhism teaches that life is inseparable from suffering. Devout Buddhists ask, "How can we embrace suffering?" Western thought is adept at making apt distinctions between things. It's no surprise that many Western thinkers have defined such things as God, heaven, and divinity as things apart from us. But Eastern mystics see no separation between the worldly and the divine. This view may take some getting used to. But it offers an amazing vision for westerners who seek a direct experience of the sacred.
Although there are differences in emphasis, at their core, the teachings of great saints are very similar. The original teachings of Jesus and Buddha share themes of kindness, compassion, love, tolerance, and passion for individual awakening. They took different routes to the same destination. People who have God awareness don't quibble over the narrow differences between traditions. They recognize one another as brothers. As Gandhi said, "God has no religion."
Balancing values from both traditions may be the greatest key to happiness and fulfillment. Buddhist Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh said, "To me religious life is life. I do not see any reason to spend one's whole life tasting just one kind of fruit. We can be nourished by the best values from many traditions."
Converging Paths is an inspirational collection of parallel sayings from great Eastern and Western teachers. From Jesus and Buddha to Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama, these words can inspire, inform, and nourish your spirit. Each page offers a pair of dynamic quotes, followed by a practical piece of advice, written to offer comfort, guidance, hope, and encouragement.
This little book is thought provoking but fun. It will challenge you to expand your outlook. Whatever your faith, these timeless thoughts can recharge your being. Lose yourself in these pages—they will offer your spirit the greatest wisdom of the ages. Even a few moments of practice, done fully, can alter the rest of your day.
—Susan Santucci
Cambridge, Massachusetts
The Law of Abundance
What goes out from you
comes back to you again.
—Mencius
4th c. B.C. Chinese philosopher
Give and it will be given to you.
—Luke 6: 3 8, NRSV
Goodness and happiness exist in
abundance. You can create them
through your generosity.
Know the Divine Value of Your Life
I wish I could be like Asita and Simeon,
the holy men who came to see the Buddha and Jesus,
and tell you how important your birth is.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
That is why I say unto you,
"For your sakes I came down."
You are the beloved.
—Epistle of John 4: 16, KJV
Jesus said that in the great
scheme of things, you will find that
your life is one single day and your
sufferings one single hour. So awake
to how brief and precious your life
really is. Cherish each day.
Believe
Since our thoughts and words are the seeds that will bring forth
our harvest of the future, I will begin today
to fill my consciousness with the ideas of abundance.
—Paramahansa Yogananda
In the center of your own soul
choose what you want to become, to accomplish...
Every day in the silence of absolute conviction know that
it is now done.... Imagine yourself to be what you want to be.
See only that which you desire, refuse even to think of the other.
Stick to it, never doubt.
Say many times a day, "I am that thing."
—Ernest Holmes
Replace negative thoughts
with positive ones.
Act as if you believe,
and in time your belief
will take root.
Know That You Are Never Alone
I am always with all beings;
I abandon no one.
And however great your inner darkness,
you are never separate from me.
—The Bhagavad Gita
Lo, I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world.
