In this work Jacob Yuroh Teshima juxtaposes two religions whose origins are completely different: Zen Buddhism and Hasidic Judaism. The purpose of this comparative study is not to determine which religion is superior, but rather to compare their functional equivalents. After presenting backgrounds of the two religions, Dr. Teshima examines the Zen Buddhist practice of zazen and Hasidism's devequth, or meditation on God. He then discusses how each religion comes to terms with the major obstacle in the practice of comtemplation: distracting thoughts. Teshima compares conceptions of man offered by the two religions, making clear their fundamental differences concerning the nature of selfhood and source of fulfillment. The study concludes with an examination of how the two religions come to terms with the insecurity of life and what it is that gives life meaning and significance. Contents: Introduction to Zen Buddhism and Hasidism; Zazen and Devequth; The Problem of 'Strange Thoughts'; Annihilating Selfhood and Attaining Ecstasy; The Concept of Man; Insecurity of Life: The Hasidic Approach to Exile and the Zen Approach to Birth and Death.

"Zen and Hasidism presents a comparative study of Zen and Hasidism, and suggests ways in which Jewish spiritual life can be enriched by a knowledge of Zen meditation practices - while remaining Jewish." "In this quest, the author, a well-known author and playwright, has collected sources on Zen and Judaism, both Hasidic and non-Hasidic, dividing them into four sections: "The Monastery and the Yeshivot", "The Virtue of Sitting" on Meditation, "Can a Jew Practice Zen and/or Buddhism and Still Remain a Jew?", with an overview. Among the contributors are such noted Jewish scholars as Louis Ginzberg, Jiri Langer, Hyman G. Enelow, Rivka Schatz-Uffenheimer, Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and others." "Jiri Langer's account of his life in a Belzer yeshiva, coupled with John Blofeld's Life in a Zen Monastery, Rivka Schatz's study of The State of Nothingness and Contemplative Prayer, coupled with Self-Extinction in Zen and Hasidism, by Jacob Yuroh Teshima, along with two dozen other selections, provide a wide-ranging and balanced account of the similarities and differences between the two mystical traditions."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

In this work Jacob Yuroh Teshima juxtaposes two religions whose origins are completely different: Zen Buddhism and Hasidic Judaism. The purpose of this comparative study is not to determine which religion is superior, but rather to compare their functional equivalents. After presenting backgrounds of the two religions, Dr. Teshima examines the Zen Buddhist practice of zazen and Hasidism's devequth, or meditation on God. He then discusses how each religion comes to terms with the major obstacle in the practice of comtemplation: distracting thoughts. Teshima compares conceptions of man offered by the two religions, making clear their fundamental differences concerning the nature of selfhood and source of fulfillment. The study concludes with an examination of how the two religions come to terms with the insecurity of life and what it is that gives life meaning and significance. Contents: Introduction to Zen Buddhism and Hasidism; Zazen and Devequth; The Problem of "Strange Thoughts"; Annihilating Selfhood and Attaining Ecstasy; The Concept of Man; Insecurity of Life: The Hasidic Approach to Exile and the Zen Approach to Birth and Death.

In this book Martin Buber completed his great lifework of recreating and interpreting Hasidism. Here he makes explicit the place of Hasidism among world religions, and its significance for the modern world, by a series of illuminating contrasts with Biblical prophecy, Spinoza, Freud, Sankara, Meister Eckhart, Gnosticism, Christianity, Zionism and Zen Buddhism. -- From publisher's description.

This book tries to clarify a Buddhist view of interfaith dialogue from various points of view. It discusses how the Buddhist notion of Sunyata (Emptiness) works dynamically for mutual understanding and transformation of world religions. It also analyzes dialogue between Buddhism and Contemporary Christian theology, especially that of Paul Tillioh and Langdon Gillay.