Customer Reviews

The Silence of God: The Answer of the Buddha (Faith Meets Faith Series)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A lot of substance in this book which deals mainly with Buddhism and Christianism. It would have been easier to appreciate if it had been organized in a less desultory manner. Amongst other things I liked the developments on the notion of Person and Trinity, the pragmatic approach to the real nature of religion and the various considerations about the concept of Nirvana. Person is described as being fundamentally relationship, without any substance as its substrate. It is interesting to compare this approach with that of Beatrice Bruteau in "God's Ecstasy", where she also amplifies on the notion of Person, more particularly in the concept of Trinity. Both authors come to the conclusion that a Person cannot be alone. The main consequence is that God as Trinity, neither is or has substance. God is pure relationship. Regarding religion and its dangerous tendency to deviate towards idolatry, the author who likes to challenge commonly admitted assumptions, declares that only an atheist religion can be a religion. This is because by being atheist it doesn't carry the risk to absolutize any particular idea of God. Buddhism therefore, despite the fact that it does away with the concept of God remains a religion. Buddha asks us not to rely on any speculative answer because the genuine knowledge of the Ultimate Reality is beyond the grasp of conscious awareness. Many things can also be said about Nirvana, but Nirvana itself cannot be said. Buddha demands the perfect act of faith, an act involving all our human capabilities. Faith is an act of sheer openness. There again, Panikkar concludes that contrary to the various claims of religious creeds, the perfect formula of faith is simply "I believe". Whatever you add, will have a smell of idolatry.