Review of Thich Nhat Hanh's "Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers"

Having read the first book (Living Buddha, Living Christ) in this two book series a number of years ago, I was excited at the opportunity to read Going Home. Thich Nhat Hanh impressed me greatly with his careful, simplistic writing style that is both meaningful and very approachable. Going Home disappointed me personally, however, as it was so similar to the previous work as to be slightly boring at times. For a newcomer to Nhat Hanh’s works, I would recommend one or the other, but both seems redundant. This report however, is just on Going Home.
Quietly reminding readers every few pages of the Buddhist practice of mindfulness, Nhat Hanh gives words of wisdom and instruction on living life, from both a personal and communal standpoint. You can almost hear his soothing voice roll over you as your eyes roam across the page. I found myself extremely relaxed after each session with this book and I’ve no doubt that emotion was due to the understated contemplative style of writing. The premise of this work (as with LB, LC) is that there are many striking similarities between Buddhism and Christianity to be discovered, but that there are also many differences that cannot be reconciled. For the purpose of his book, Nhat Hanh purposefully ignores the sources of contention and focuses on ethical ways of living taught by both Buddhism and Christianity. Mindful living, peaceful treatment of others, and communion with all of creation are among the hallmarks of his topics.
Much more so in Going Home than in LB, LC Nhat Hanh strays from considerations of ethical living and delves into the theological realm. It is in these departures from his standard writing style that Christians will run into the most roadblocks in their understanding and acceptance of his theses. Nhat Hanh, in a very Buddhist fashion, equates the Buddha with Jesus the Christ and may thereby alienate some of his Christian readership. In another section, he waxes poetic on how the very qualities of the Buddha and the Christ, if we are living peacefully, mindfully, ethically and lovingly, are so inherent and deeply embedded in us, that they make us, ourselves, the Buddha and the Christ. Again, Christian readers may experience slight balking at this concept.
In its sum, Going Home is a refreshing look for the Christian reader at what may be considered “old hat” material. As such, it is like hearing the words of Christ again, in a new way, for the first time – a phenomena likely to happen in any situation, place, and from the mouth of a follower of any religion in we listen closely. At the same time, the book is a good introduction to some of the more important concepts in Buddhism (such as the Four Noble Truths and mindful living) that the curious Christian reader would find largely non-threatening. A Buddhist reader would be delightfully surprised to find so many of their own traditions and ideas in line with Christianity. Given the author’s own religious tradition, I would imagine a Buddhist reader having an easier time with some of the book’s theology than their Christian brothers and sisters. Though I would recommend LB, LC to the more exclusive (with regard to theology, not social practices) Christian, Going Home offers much in the way of furthering the inclusive dialogue between these two great traditions.

-R