The Lotus and the Cross: Jesus Talks with Buddha

by Ravi Zacharias

Book Overview

Popular scholar Ravi Zacharias sets a captivating scene between Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha in the first book of the Conversations with Jesus series. Have you ever wondered what Jesus would say to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 157673854X
• ISBN13: 9781576738542
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Multnomah Books
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Well thought out and thought provoking book

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.)

An Excellent, Competent Contrast from a Decidedly Christian Point of View

Christianity is exclusive in one sense and Christianity is not exclusive in another. Jesus himself proclaimed himself God and the only way to God (John 1:1, 14:6, 8:24-36) but Jesus also invites all to come (i.e. John 3:16). Yes, Jesus said that you cannot share Jesus with other gods or things. Jesus must be your heart's sole desire. But if you have the desire to come to Christ, you can indeed come. Buddhist sympathizers reviewing this book have an imbalanced amount of vitriol towards Ravi and this excellent book, and are doing so through the lens of their own ignorance. Worse here is the amazing arrogance they assert by claiming that they know better what Jesus would say than an learned and established Christian such as Ravi. It's one thing to accuse Ravi of mischaracterizing Buddha, but it's completely absurd to assert that they would know better about what Jesus would say. Now it is true that Ravi takes a fairly current event and uses it as an occasion to put forth a reasonable conversation between Jesus and Gautama (Buddha), and his conversation has the fictional Gautama on the defense. But seriously, what do you expect from someone who has a concrete worldview whose religion is every bit about educating those of other religions that Christianity really is all about proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the supreme God, and that warning that Jesus really is the only path to God? And why is bias all that shocking for so many? We all have it. No matter how hard we try to pull oursevles above it or to toss it aside so that others will hear us, we cannot shake it. The real questions that one needs to ask are this: Is the author being reasonable and is the author right? Personally, I found this book to be insightful, even-handed and well written. Ravi strikes hard at several Buddhist inconsistencies and illogical fallices, but yet keeps the conversation above the fray without resorting to "name calling" or ad homs that degrade this conversation into rhetorical irrelevance. The tone is simple, conversational and polite, and is nothing like what other reviewers here have inferred I am amazed at the reaction of several reviewers here (who are being intolerant and exclusive in their own right) who clearly do not have a clue what true Christianity entails. And should these critics truly be Buddhists, then they do little more than give their religion a black eye.

The beginning of the end...

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.

Great Book

One of the things that I really liked about this book is that it points out discrepancies in Buddha's teaching without putting him down. Jesus is very respectful of Buddha and shows love and compassion to him the same as he would any other human being. This is a very thought provoking book. However, if you are a Christian trying to find out a little more about Buddhism, I would not recommend this book unless you are an intellectual. It is written for people who know a lot about Buddhism or atleast have some understanding of things like nirvana and other Buddhist teachings. However, it is a great book if you are trying to discover the crucial differences between the teachings of Jesus and Buddha. The book is very clear on these points and the author is able to be so without being offensive or insensitive.

An Interaction of Worldviews

As an avid Ravi Zacharias fan, I eagerly anticipated the release of The Lotus and the Cross and I was thoroughly pleased with the book's content and style. Ravi Zacharias has a reputation for his intellect and sensitivity, being able to engage both the mind and the heart. I applaud him on a job well done.Possible voices of dissension could arise from a Christian perspective in wondering how ANYONE could imagine being able to speak in the place of Jesus. As a Christian, I can respond by admitting that Ravi Zacharias, of course, will be fallible in representing Jesus. But what you find as you read the book is that Zacharias is very faithful to the Bible in representing Jesus, paraphrasing Jesus' words from various passages in the Bible, and sometimes even quoting the Biblical Jesus word for word. And it is not difficult to read this book imagining this version of Jesus as "Ravi's version of Jesus" and still benefit from the book.An even further complaint could come from the Buddhist who might argue that Gautama Buddha was misrepresented or distorted. As a non-Buddhist, I eagerly anticipate responses of where Zacharias may have been historically or doctrinally inaccurate of Buddha's positions. I also look forward to hearing Buddhist reactions in how the character of Buddha is treated.One complaint that I do not think is legitimate is one that says, "Jesus seemed to come out in the upper-hand of all of the arguments." The legitimate complaint would not be who comes out upper-hand, but whether or not both positions were presented fairly and accurately. While we should be sensitive, truth is what we are searching for, not pluralism.Aside from these objections, The Lotus and the Cross is a very easy-read and is captivating from cover to cover. The book opens with the story of a girl who left her home to seek life in the city, was raped, became a prostitute, and eventually contracted AIDS and burned herself. What would Jesus have said in response to the plight of this suffering and anguished girl? What would Buddha have said? What would they have said to each other? The plot is engaging as both Buddha and Jesus present their answers to life's struggles, engaging each other in cordial dialogue. For the average Christian, this may a good intro into the basics of Buddhism. From the opening prologue to the closing words of Jesus and Buddha, this is a very fascinating and engaging book and would be a benefit for both Christian and Buddhist alike.