Description:
Jim Pym calls for what may be called a Christianized version of Buddhism, one appropriate for those who have grown up in a Christian culture. In You Don't Have to Sit on the Floor, Pym introduces Buddhism according to how he has practiced it and grown in it. He begins with his flight from Christianity, unable to take it on faith alone. He thus presents Buddhism first as an experience-based, pragmatic solution to suffering. Finding the path of sitting meditation less fruitful than expected, however, Pym gravitated toward Pure Land (Shin) Buddhism, and was eventually ordained a priest. With strong elements of faith, surrender, and grace, Pure Land's attraction for a former Christian is obvious. Incorporating faith back into his life, Pym introduces us to the power of belief in Buddhist deities, prayer, and mantra, then he returns to Christianity to build a bridge between the two religions, supplementing Christianity with meditative practices, and "find[ing] a place for God" in Western Buddhism. Brilliantly written, You Don't Have to Sit on the Floor will appeal to the many who are attracted to Buddhism but also feel a pull toward the divine. --Brian Bruya
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