Interior of the Church of the Light
Tadao Andō, 1999
My dear friends,
On this third Sunday of Lent, let us contemplate the profound intersection of Buddhist wisdom and Christian faith. The teachings of Christ, much like the Dharma, offer a paradoxical truth: wisdom and strength are found in what the world often perceives as foolishness and weakness.
is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved
it is the power of God.
For it is written,
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
Where is the one who is wise?
Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
- 1 Corinthians 1:18-20
In these verses, Paul articulates a central paradox: the cross, emblematic of ultimate sacrifice and perceived defeat, is indeed the source of our deepest wisdom and strength. This mirrors the Buddhist understanding of emptiness and the path of compassion—where relinquishing ego and attachments, often viewed by the world as folly, leads to true liberation and enlightenment.
God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.
For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom,
but we proclaim a crucified Messiah, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
- 1 Corinthians 1:21-24
Paul's message transcends cultural and religious boundaries, emphasizing that the path to divine wisdom and salvation cannot be comprehended through worldly wisdom alone. Similarly, in Buddhism, the path to enlightenment is paradoxical, requiring a journey through selflessness and the realization of Sunyata (emptiness), which confounds conventional understanding but leads to the awakening of boundless compassion and wisdom.
and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
- 1 Corinthians 1:25
In this verse, the divine paradox reaches its culmination. It echoes the Buddhist principle that true strength and wisdom lie not in dominance or intellectual prowess, but in humility, compassion, and the recognition of our interconnectedness. Both paths invite us into a transformative journey, where apparent foolishness and weakness become gateways to profound spiritual realization.
As we reflect upon these teachings, let us embrace the wisdom found in humility and self-giving love. May our Lenten journey be enriched by the understanding that in both Christianity and Buddhism, the path to true wisdom and strength defies the world's expectations, leading us instead to a deeper communion with the Divine and all sentient beings.