But let’s be real about one thing: Buddhism is mostly a soteriological system. It is primarily focused around liberation. Non-tantric precepts and sutras are primarily about preparing the practitioner for liberation also. There are some doctrines, rituals, and metaphysics; however, Buddhism does not offer a coherent metanarrative in history.
An astute commenter (David Balfour) on Bruce Charlton’s blog made this point:
“Buddhism offers what it says it does and no more. A spiritual path that allows the transcendence of suffering and the ego. A way to escape the wheel of Dharma. But Buddhism does not explain why beauty in musical harmony exists, why there is creativity and play, why there are individuals to be transcended to begin with. I could go on but it dawned on me at some point that love is an act of relationships and is impoverished by abstraction and detachment from the lover and the loved one. Christianity alone adequately embraces the validity of a Buddhist path as a valid spiritual path but with the inclusion of the individual identity as something to be cherished and valued rather than rejected. Christianity alone can account for why the laws of physics allow for the emergence of a dance of souls that play, create, love and live in joy as an 'end' and not a path to a rejection of these finest of things with a static Nirvana, however blissful. If Nirvana is the stage, heaven is the eternal play that exults and celebrates the divine drama.”It would seem to me that celebrating the “divine drama” is necessary for one to be immersed in a life affirming religion. I would add, that this drama has to be integrated in a way that makes it seem Real. It also would have to have methods to make it significant, providing a value of importance to us. And it would have to have a purpose so we know where we are going with it.
In Christianity, Christ unites in his person the transcendent and the imminent, or being and becoming, therefore giving meaning to both. The divine drama is brought together in a way that integrates the whole of Reality, offers us significance through Grace, and gives us purpose in that the God-man becomes our aim. We are not put here to transcend our desires, but to transmute them so that we can co-participate in God’s Glory.
On the other hand, Buddhism is a “non-theistic” religion; however, in practice, it is somewhat polytheistic, with a retinue of various gods, goddesses and other non-corporeal beings. Buddhists will say that it's not the same as the Christian belief in God, angels, and the like, because Buddhists don't believe that their gods and angels (dakinis) “inherently exist.” In Buddhist speak, they are “empty.” Buddhism yearns for purity and holiness in a higher Being, but since God and Christ are not acknowledged, this impulse is often displaced onto the guru or lama. The guru or lama is seen as a perfect being, or sort of a living God. Students are expected to live in obedience to him, and to chalk up questionable actions as “crazy wisdom” or what was appropriate to the circumstances. True nature (which the lama or guru is allegedly living from) is always seen as enlightened, and it may be the student is just deluded or ignorant.
Christianity acknowledges the purity and holiness of a personal God, but also accepts man’s fallen and sinful nature. Only God is perfect, therefore we must always accept a deep humility towards the Infinite and Absolute standard. We are not God, but in relationship to Him. The mystical quest to be with Him is an ontological quest first! With Jesus Christ being the necessary link for this quest, God comes looking for man. While the Buddhist goes looking for God (that is not a God).
Certainly I wish more Christians would move beyond the rote ritualism or “emotionalism” they feel with Christ, and immerse themselves in a deeper mystical and metaphysical quest with the Sacred. But like even in Buddhism, religions need to meet people where they are. And as Westerners, we are probably better served by a religion that has tilled the fertile soil we abide in.
As for the Westerners who adopt Eastern forms of mysticism because they are on the run from God, there is always the hope they may come back to the Church with a revitalized Christianity that would nicely mimic the Prodigal Son parable. Still, my meditation teacher would frequently prophetize “Buddhism is coming to the West.” It may continue to make headway since it is not fraught with the tarnishes of Christianity in our secular world. But I am not sold that it will produce the saints and proper sacrifices we will need in the coming days.