The Lotus and the Cross: Jesus Talks with Buddha (Hardcover)

by Ravi Zacharias (Author)
Key Phrases: Boat Driver

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Have you ever wondered what Jesus would say to Mohammed? Or Buddha? Or Oscar Wilde? Maybe you have a friend who practices another religion or admires a more contemporary figure. Drop in on a conversation between Jesus and some well-known individuals whose search for the meaning of life took them in many directions -- and influenced millions. Popular scholar Ravi Zacharias sets a captivating scene in this first in the intriguing Conversations with Jesus books. Through dialogue between Christ and Gautama Buddha that reveals Jesus' warm, impassioned concern for all people, God's true nature is explored. It's a well-priced, hard cover volume readers will want to own, and also share with others.

About the Author
Ravi Zacharias was born in India, immigrating to Canada at age twenty. After earning a Masters of Divinity at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, he began a speaking ministry that has taken him worldwide (including the campuses of Harvard, Princeton, and Oxford University) as a recognized authority on comparative religions, cults, and philosophy. Zacharias' holds three doctorate degrees, and his books include the Gold Medallion winner Can Man Live without God, Deliver Us from Evil, Cries of the Heart, Jesus Among Other Gods, and two children's titles. He teaches a weekly, international radio program entitled Let My People Think. Ravi lives with his wife, Margaret, in Atlanta. They have three grown children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157673854X
• ISBN-13: 978-1576738542
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #154,495 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking; communicating his view quite fairly, August 27, 2006

By	Gnostic Path "http://gnosticpath.blogspot.com/" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

The author attempts to be fair AND to communicate his own view, his own conclusions. This means the book is a short vehicle to present some of his own understanding of the differences between Jesus and Buddha, and to show you his view, his side on the question of how to evaluate Jesus or Buddha.

Some would attempt to be fair and withold their own conclusion if it should be on one side or another, but his point is to respectfully present his side, to SHOW what's going on in his understanding when he looks at Buddhism and Christianity, the claims, the culture, the founders, the sorrows of human life.

It succeeds where other attempts might fail, in that it is not heavy handed and given the short space he does attempt to fairly express views other than his own.

The dialog does not sound stylistically like either the Jesus in various Gospels nor Buddha in various Sutras. It is interesting when Jesus says something that sounds like it is very much along the lines of what might be said in Buddhist lingo, and vice versa when the Buddha says something that relates to things often said in Christian lingo.

It is thought-provoking whatever one's view, and it is clear enough that the author is primarily trying to show his own understanding of Jesus Christianity in contrast to his understanding of Buddhism through his travels in Buddhist cultures and remembering his childhood in India.

It cannot go into too much depth on some things, that isn't unfair it's just a hazard of such a subject, particularly in a short book. But the complexities or critiques that could be made, can open up an interesting discussion, so this book does serve as a discussion-starter, and it does raise some challenges very well, whatever one's view on Buddhism vis-a-vis Christianity.

Is it Christian Apologetic? Yes and no, depending on what you mean or expect by 'Christian Apologetics' -- it is not a heavy-handed comparison or disection of Buddhism like you would find in a truly theological journal, despite raising deeply theological issues, nor is it vague or superficial as Lee Stoebel's work is, despite the popular format and casual style. If it is said to be Apologetics, then it is Apologetic simply in that it presents a Christian Author's reflections and does not attempt to hide his specifically Christian conclusions, from his own understanding of Christianity.

While it raises challenges to Buddhism and endorses Christianity, it does not demonize Buddhism nor does it ignore or minimize challenges to the actions and attitudes of Christian followers. It presents enough about Buddhism (the 4 noble truths, ideas of no-self, some things about Buddhsit culture, etc) to serve as a starting point for further discussion, and if people informed by Buddhism engage in that discussion, with Christians, then the result will in fact lead to greater understanding and depth of thought, for many people, and these are good things.

Does it succeed? This is why it isn't like the sort of Apologetics one finds elsewhere... it isn't pretending to defeat Buddhism, I don't think it is trying to, I think it is exploring differences in a way that highlights and affirms what the author sees as strengths in Christianity and the importance of Jesus. It is more like the inobtrusive evangelism that demonstrates by example: not demonizing others, not lecturing others, but living and speaking in accord with one's spirituality.

As a Gnostic with interest in Christianity, Buddhism, and various Christian 'heresies', I found the book to be very good.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well thought out and thought provoking book, August 16, 2007

By	Green Fire "Green Fire" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

I loved the style of this book. Throughout the whole book, I got the sense that I was really there in the boat with Priya as she had the privilege to discuss her life between two great minds. I liked how Mr. Zacharias used her as an example for several reasons:

1. Her position as a prostitute is considered a lowly occupation, no matter what class or cultural background a person comes from.

2. When she contracted her illness, a incurable one at that, she lashed out at the people surrounding her because she was in pain and wanted to share it in a negative form. We, in one aspect or another, all do that.

3. Her life was a downward spiral of pain and suffering. How can we not all identify with that in one aspect or another? We may not be prostitutes but our lives can somehow spin downward. We lose our jobs, homes, family, kids, property, etc.

Priya was "us".

As she has this conversation with these two great men, Jesus and Buddha, she represents what each of us would like to do-ask God to explain the reason for this life.

The conversation between Jesus and Buddha is polite and courteous, thought provoking and full of respect for each other. Not at one time, did I belive that they were attacking each other. Mr. Zacharias did a fine job in expounding one what Buddha taught and contrasting them well.

Jesus would say, the cause of suffering is walking away from God. Buddha said the cause of suffering is personal desire. Jesus says, "I come that you might have life and have it more abundantly." Buddha would say "You must reach Nirvana, the exstinguishment of the self and there will be no more suffering." Which of these worldviews are correct with Priya standing in the middle of them? Read the book and judge for yourselves.

For me, I have learned that I cannot depend on myself for godhood. It's just so much more easier to put my life in the care of someone who can control everything. I don't have to walk this life alone. I trust Him implicitly to take care of things for me. I don't want to do it all nor do I have the desire to do it. I get tired, I get sad and depressed. I make mistakes and I'm not always on my best behavior. Thankfully, Jesus understands this and says to me, "Cast all your cares on me, because I care for you." Reader, it just feels so good to let Him handle it. My life is not mine but His and I'd rather have it that way. (Got carried away here but I hope someone understands what I'm saying.)

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The beginning of the end..., January 1, 2007

A Kid's Review

I was born and raised to two lefty quasi-Buddhist parents that indoctrinated me with the philosophical pap that passes for Buddhism in the West.

A woman I met on an airplane handed me this book to look at and, at first glance, I scoffed at it but the woman was very gracious and I assured her that I would peruse it later...

Now, I am a born-again Christian and this book was the first step I took in that direction.

Some of the criticisms I have read on this site are valid, as Zacharias does not provide an all-encompassing refutation in this small work--but I don't think he was meaning to (its only like 100 pages), simply giving someone (perhaps like myself) their first critical glance at the Buddhist faith/philosophy and exploring some of the difficult implications that most Buddhists either ignore or suppress.

No, this book does not bring down the hammer and utterly refute Buddhism--but it can be used as an introduction to the ways of Buddhism and how they pale before the Ways of The Master.