Buddhism in the light of our Catholic faith

Buddhism and Catholic faith, Question: I met someone who practices Buddhism this year and I find myself drawn to some of their practices. I think meditating and believing that all life is sacred is very similar to prayer and being pro-life. But they have nothing like Mass and Communion. How do I explain to my friend why they are so important to Catholics?

Answer: Ah yes, it's a common attraction that many college students encounter. I think those in their late teens and early twenties often find fascinating new ideas about life and spirituality. For this reason Buddhism is a religion that many are intrigued by. One of the reasons it seems to be intriguing to many college-age students is because it targets "enlightenment". And it presents some ways to meditate, to be at peace and to seek something more. Well, at least on the surface.

So how do we analyze the Buddhism in the light of our Catholic faith? Well, first of all, with all the religions of the world, there are things we can have in common. For example, if a world religion says we should be pro-life, as you say, then we would agree with them. If a world religion states that we should strive to respect the dignity of every person, then we can say "Amen" to that too. If a world religion states that we should strive for wisdom, be at peace, love others and strive for human unity, this is a common goal.

The main difference is the means by which all this is achieved. Inside the catholic faith we believe in a concrete truth that is right or wrong (and of course we believe that it is right). What belief is this? It is the belief that Jesus Christ is God and the Savior of the whole world! This is a rather profound and fundamental statement.

Buddhism in the light of our Catholic faith: Jesus the only Savior

Buddhism and Catholic faith: therefore, if Jesus is God and the one and only Savior of the world, as our Catholic faith teaches, then this is a universal truth binding on all people. If we were to believe that He is only the Savior for Christians and that others can be saved through other religions, then we have a big problem. The problem is that this makes Jesus a liar. So what do we do with this dilemma and how do we approach other faiths like Buddhism? I suggest the following.

First, you can share with your friend that what we believe in Jesus, i Sacraments and everything else in our faith is universal. This means that we believe it is true for everyone. Therefore, we always want to invite others to examine the riches of our faith. We invite them to examine the Catholic faith because we believe it is true. Second, it's okay to acknowledge various truths taught by other religions when those truths are shared beliefs we have. Again, if Buddhism says it is good to love others and seek harmony, then we say, "Amen". But we don't stop there. We have to take the next step and share with them we believe that the way to peace, harmony and love consists in being deeply united with the one God and Savior of the world. We believe that prayer is ultimately not just about seeking peace but, rather, about seeking the One who brings us peace. Finally, you can explain the deeper meaning of each Catholic ritual (such as Mass) and share that we believe these aspects of the Catholic faith have the potential to transform anyone who comes to understand and live them.

Hope it helps! In the end, make sure your goal is to share rich truths you are lucky enough to live and understand as a follower of Jesus Christ!