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

Harold Kasimow (Editor), John P. Keenan (Editor), Linda Klepinger Keenan (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 2003

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. Many who have 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 such a new and meaningful contribution. Rather than offering research or lectures, this book 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. 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, and scholarly communities, as well as a foreword by Jack Miles, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of God: A Biography. Their anecdotes and interviews collected here amount to an unprecedented and enduring work, sure to deepen our ability to understand each other, and ourselves.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I read the whole book in one day. I was so moved by the spirit of devout searching." -- Sylvia Boorstein, author of Pay Attention, for Goodness' Sake: Practicing the Perfections of the Heart - The Buddhist Path of Kindness

"Intimate, moving, and delightful." -- Tom Chetwynd, author of Zen and the Kingdom of Heaven

"This book heralds an important new age in interreligious relations, and more than ever it is needed and welcome." -- Brother Wayne Teasdale, author of The Mystic Heart, and A Monk in the World.

"This is a rich collection of personal and philosophical reflections by leading religious practitioners, teachers and scholars." -- Yehudit Kornberg Greenberg, Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Director of Jewish Studies Program, Rollins College

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications (June 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0861713362
• ISBN-13: 978-0861713363
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #641,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Robert A. Jonas, was born in Wausau, Wisconsin, to a Lutheran family. He attended Mosinee High School and then Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, thinking that he'd be a Lutheran minister. But when God was declared dead (Newsweek, Time, etc.) he transferred to Dartmouth College and majored in Government, thinking that his dream for a more just society could be realized more effectively through political action rather than prayer. At Dartmouth he encountered Tai Kwan Do karate and Chinese meditation, and this experience initiated his life-long interest in the Christian-Buddhist dialogue. He joined the Roman Catholic Church in 1973 as a Third Order Carmelite, a follower of the 16th century mystic, St. John of the Cross. In 1978 Jonas entered Harvard University as a doctoral student in peace studies. In the course of his studies he changed his focus to psychology and fashioned his doctorate under the guidance of clinical psychologist Richard Katz (Boiling Energy: Community Healing among the Kalahari Kung). Jonas practiced as a psychologist at Wrentham State School for several years, and then as an organizational consultant and psychotherapist in private practice. From 1988 to 1991 he studied the Christian contemplative tradition at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, MA, and in 1991 he received a post-doc Masters in spirituality with a thesis on the intersection of Christian contemplative prayer, Buddhist meditation and Object Relations psychotherapy. In 1991 he began lessons in the Japanese Buddhist tradition of Blowing Zen, and now has three CD's on iTunes. In 1993 he founded the Empty Bell, a contemplative sanctuary dedicated to the Christian-Buddhist dialogue (www.emptybell.org). He has written several books, two of them about his friend and mentor, Fr. Henri Nouwen. He is now a musician, retreat leader, and videographer, with many videos posted on YouTube and Vimeo.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Demonstrates How Well These 3 Religions Can Interconnect, February 29, 2004

By 

Swing King (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beside Still Waters: Jews, Christians, and the Way of the Buddha (Paperback)

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!

1 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beside Still Waters:, September 2, 2003

By 

E. Nachtrieb "punkindoodle" (OKLAHOMA CITY, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beside Still Waters: Jews, Christians, and the Way of the Buddha (Paperback)

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