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4 reviews for:
The Ox-Herder and the Good Shepherd: Finding Christ on the Buddha's Path
Addison Hodges Hart
3.8 AVERAGE
4 reviews for:
The Ox-Herder and the Good Shepherd: Finding Christ on the Buddha's Path
Addison Hodges Hart
3.8 AVERAGE
This is an amazing little book. Consistent with both a buddhist world view and a Christian world view. However, the Christian world view offered here is what grows from a man who lived 2000 years ago, and transcended the lies and traps of the priests' world view.
I really appreciated the premise. I wish I had more knowledge about eastern religions and art. But I got the gist.
There is a principle that says that all truth is God's truth and thus we should not be afraid to follow it wherever it leads. Addison Hodges Hart is a Christian and a retired pastor. In this book he shows how Christ can be found along a path that is laid out by Buddhism.
In this book Hart takes a look at a set of ten pictures produced by a twelfth century Chinese Zen master named Kakuan Shien. These pictures focus on three figures -- an ox, a boy, and a man. The Ox is the true self. In the course of the pictures (with accompanying poems), the boy, who is the disciple or learner, becomes lost and then finds the inner self. It is, a meditation of finding one's identity. In this set of paintings along with commentary provided, we find a pathway to connecting ourselves spiritually to the inner self. It is not until the tenth picture that the Man (Hotei) appears. Hotei appears to be a Buddha figure or a bodhisttva, an enlightened one.
In the processof discovery the boy and the ox are united and in the end Hotei appears, as a figure of joy and abundance. Hart writes that in the course of this journey we discover that the spiritual pathway is not simply that of asceticism, though it can include some ascetic practices, but is ultimately a way to finding divine abundance.
In this book Hart takes a look at a set of ten pictures produced by a twelfth century Chinese Zen master named Kakuan Shien. These pictures focus on three figures -- an ox, a boy, and a man. The Ox is the true self. In the course of the pictures (with accompanying poems), the boy, who is the disciple or learner, becomes lost and then finds the inner self. It is, a meditation of finding one's identity. In this set of paintings along with commentary provided, we find a pathway to connecting ourselves spiritually to the inner self. It is not until the tenth picture that the Man (Hotei) appears. Hotei appears to be a Buddha figure or a bodhisttva, an enlightened one.
In the processof discovery the boy and the ox are united and in the end Hotei appears, as a figure of joy and abundance. Hart writes that in the course of this journey we discover that the spiritual pathway is not simply that of asceticism, though it can include some ascetic practices, but is ultimately a way to finding divine abundance.
This is a fantastic little book reflecting on The Ten Ox-Herding Pictures from Zen Buddhism from a Christian perspective. Hart begins with the point that from a Christian perspective all truth is Gods truth and truth found anywhere ought not be feared. From that, he sees lots of similarities between this story and the Christian story.
A knowledge of Buddhism is helpful but not essential. I think of some of those old apologetic charts that pointed out what was unique about Christianity, and there’s nothing wrong with seeing the difference in various religions. But Hart’s writing is so much more profound and beautiful than a chart listing differences. And why wouldn’t we expect similarities in world religions?
Fun fact, Addison is the older brother of David Bentley Hart and they clearly think along similar lines. I don’t know what their parents did but Id like to know so I can teach my kids that way!
A knowledge of Buddhism is helpful but not essential. I think of some of those old apologetic charts that pointed out what was unique about Christianity, and there’s nothing wrong with seeing the difference in various religions. But Hart’s writing is so much more profound and beautiful than a chart listing differences. And why wouldn’t we expect similarities in world religions?
Fun fact, Addison is the older brother of David Bentley Hart and they clearly think along similar lines. I don’t know what their parents did but Id like to know so I can teach my kids that way!