Compassion and Meditation : The Spiritual Dynamic Between Buddhism and Christianity

In Asian spiritual traditions the mountain traditionally symbolizes meditation while the ocean signifies compassion. Jean-Yves Leloup uses this metaphor to compare Buddhist and Christian approaches to meditation and compassion to reveal the similarities and divergences of these profound practices. Emphasizing their complementary nature, Leloup describes how Jesus and Buddha are necessary to one another and how together they form a complete system: Jesus as awakening through love, and Buddha as awakening through meditation. Where Buddha represents the forests, Jesus represents the trees. Buddha is brother to the universe, whereas Jesus is brother to humanity.

Jean-Yves Leloup is a theologian, French Orthodox priest, Coptic translator, and founder of the Institute of Other Civilization Studies and the International College of Therapists. His other books in English include the bestselling The Gospel of Mary Magdalene, The Gospel of Thomas, The Gospel of Philip, Judas and Jesus, and The Sacred Embrace of Jesus and Mary. He lives in France.