Differences and similarities

I think there are key ideas in Buddhism that we can relate to within Christian theology, Christian understanding, but there is no perfect translation. And the differences between the two traditions are just as important as the similarities, as good dialogue is to respect those differences. One of the similarities is in meditation – that we all get distracted. The Buddhists fall asleep in meditation; they struggle with it, and so on. That is the similarity. The difference is our understanding of Christ and that in our meditation we are experiencing, at a level deeper than thought, deeper than words, the real presence of Christ in our hearts. And in that way we fulfil our destiny, which is to travel with him into union with the Father; and as we do that we learn to see him present in everyone. I think that is the Christian experience that comes out of our meditation.

Meditating as a Christian by Laurence Freeman OSB