Overflow

Excuse me while I go all Catholic Geek on you.

In a little burst of serendipity, I came across my latest favorite book, called Zen Catholicism at a discount book sale. Yes, Zen Catholicism. Both I and the sales clerk did a double take at the title.

Now you might suspect, as I originally did, that this book might just be another fluffy “New Age” spin aimed at Catholics who are slightly embarrassed at the stodginess of their boring faith and want to try on something trendier. You know, the kind of book that this papal document is aimed at. But I looked inside the cover and was surprised. Imprimatur by Archbishop Cardinal Spellman of New York. Written in 1963, *before* Vatican II. Blurb on the cover from Thomas Merton.

The guy sets out right away saying he’s just trying to show the compatibility of Catholicism, pre-Vatican II Cathoilicism, with the Zennist approach to the teachings of the Buddha. I’m reading the first chapter (very dense material!) in conjunction with Gaudium et Spes as a cross-reference since the topic concerns the nature of man and God.

Now, I am hardly a stickler for orthodoxy. But every once in a while I find it’s good to get a bearing on where I stand in relation to the core teaching of the faith community I call home. Keeping an “open mind” about religion these days is quite fashionable, but I find that for many the “open mind” attitude is not afforded back to the established orthodoxies. Mea Culpa there more than I’d like to admit.

So I decided I would take some time to triangulate my position in relation to Traditional Catholicism. I am surprised to find I’m a lot closer — at least in the basic topics I’ve studied so far — to being traditional than I thought.

I suspect that, while Zen Catholicism is not a Buddhist spin on Catholicism, it is definitely a Catholic spin on Buddhism. Dom Aelred Graham picks and chooses among competing teachings in the Buddhist traditions the ones that are most compatible with Catholic theology. Case in point the differing teachings on the existence of the individual human ego. Graham conveniently cites the original Buddha’s refusal to make definitive metaphysical statements, leaving him free to choose whatever conclusion is most convenient.

Well, I’ve never made any bones about being a “Cafeteria Buddhist.” But, if you’re a newbie at the Buddhist buffet, and all the dishes are described in Chinese, it’s nice to have someone along who knows the language to show you which dishes are good and which will make you a bit queasy.

Which reminds me of something funny I read a while back:

“Buddhism in America is like surfing in America. Few people want to actually do it, but they do want to listen to the music and wear the clothes.”