Buddhism: Buddhism, Taoism and Other Far Eastern Religions

Many books have been published on the relationship of Buddhism to Christianity, but none that I have read come close to the depth and scholarship of Mr. Yamato's book. A Christian whose grandfather was an ardent Buddhist, the author neither castigates Buddhism as a useless false religion nor does he spout the popular sophism that all relgions are equally valid paths to God. Instead, Yamamoto introduces Buddhism in terms that are at once personal and historically accurate. He traces the origin of the philosophy from it's orgins in India through it's evolution into a religion, to it's late theistic manifestation as Japanese Pure Land Buddhism. He then talks about his grandfather, a devout Japanese Buddhist, and of the tranquility and integrity this gentle religion engendered in the man. But though Buddhism does deliver in it's promise of relieving human suffering, Yamamoto argues that it ultimately falls short of human aspirations for meaning, immortality, and most important of all, a relationship with God. He brilliantly contrasts the diametrically opposed ways in which Jesus and Buddha responded to human suffering, without categorically declaring that one is neccesarily superior to the other. Ultimately, this is a very personal books and the author's own conclusions, as he readily admits, are personal to him. A highly recommended book for both Buddhists and Christians.Truly a gem in a market overflowing with shallow studies of comparitive religon.