In a world often divided by religious boundaries, few books offer a truly open-hearted invitation to see beyond the labels. Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is one such rare gem. For anyone exploring Christianity or Buddhism — or walking the edge between both — this book gently clears a path where love and mindfulness meet.
Are you a Christian curious about Buddhist meditation? A Buddhist intrigued by the teachings of Christ? Or someone simply seeking peace and clarity in a conflicted world? In this article, Spiritual Culture will guide you through the spiritual richness of Going Home, where Thich Nhat Hanh shares a lifetime of deep interfaith dialogue and lived compassion.
What This Book Is About
Thich Nhat Hanh: A Peaceful Voice in a Divided World
Thich Nhat Hanh (1926–2022) was a renowned Vietnamese Zen monk, poet, peace activist, and founder of the Plum Village tradition. His global influence spans continents and faiths. Nominated by Martin Luther King Jr. for the Nobel Peace Prize, he was known not just for teaching Buddhist mindfulness, but for living it — always with deep regard for the teachings of other spiritual traditions.
Published in 1999, Going Home emerges from decades of his interfaith conversations, particularly with Christian monastics and theologians. Written in his trademark clear and poetic style, the book doesn’t just compare teachings — it weaves them together in a contemplative, experiential way.
A Thematic Walkthrough of the Book
Rather than a rigid chapter-by-chapter theology, Going Home unfolds like a spiritual conversation. Thich Nhat Hanh begins by honoring both Jesus and Buddha as awakened beings who taught the path of love, transformation, and liberation. He then explores key topics such as:
- The nature of God and Nirvana
- The practice of prayer and mindfulness
- The role of community (Sangha and Church)
- Understanding suffering and compassion
- Living the Kingdom of God in the present moment
Each section invites readers not to pick sides but to go deeper into their own roots, with openness to the wisdom of the other.
☸️ Core Teachings in the Book
1. Jesus and Buddha as Spiritual Brothers
Central to the book is the vision that Jesus and Buddha are not competitors, but kindred spirits. Thich Nhat Hanh writes:
“If you are a Christian, you feel that Jesus Christ is your spiritual ancestor. If you are a Buddhist, you see the Buddha as your teacher. But if you look deeply, you can see the Buddha and Jesus as brothers, as friends.”
This teaching encourages us to move past religious exclusivity. Instead of asking “Which one is right?” Thich Nhat Hanh suggests asking, “What can I learn from both?”
For example, where Buddha offers the Noble Eightfold Path as a way out of suffering, Jesus speaks of loving God and neighbor as the highest commandment. Both call us to transform suffering through love, awareness, and compassionate action.
2. Mindfulness and Prayer: Different Forms, Shared Essence
Another powerful theme is the bridge between mindfulness in Buddhism and prayer in Christianity. Thich Nhat Hanh writes:
“Mindfulness is the energy that helps us to be present with ourselves, with others, and with God.”
He sees prayer not just as words, but as a deep communion with life. A Christian praying with full presence is no different, in essence, from a Buddhist practicing mindful breathing. Both enter the sacred dimension of now.
The book beautifully dissolves dogmatic boundaries, helping readers experience spiritual presence in simple, grounded practices like:
- Walking meditation
- Breathing with a prayerful heart
- Listening deeply to Scripture or sutra
3. The Kingdom of God and the Pure Land: Living the Present Moment
One of Thich Nhat Hanh’s most striking insights is the linking of the Kingdom of God and Buddhism’s Pure Land — not as distant heavens, but as realities available now.
“The Kingdom of God is available. The question is: are you available to the Kingdom?”
He urges Christians not to wait until after death to experience divine love. Just as Buddhists can enter the Pure Land through mindful awareness, Christians can live in the Kingdom by practicing love, compassion, and forgiveness in each moment.
This realization transforms spiritual practice from belief in an afterlife to living divinity now.
4. Embracing Suffering with Compassion
Suffering is a central theme in both traditions. Jesus suffers on the cross. The Buddha teaches the Four Noble Truths beginning with suffering (dukkha). Thich Nhat Hanh shows that true practice lies in embracing suffering — not avoiding it.
“When you look deeply into the pain, you see that it contains love.”
This deep teaching reminds us that suffering, when met with mindfulness and compassion, becomes the doorway to awakening. The cross and the Bodhi tree are both symbols of profound transformation through love.
5. Interbeing: A Shared Vision of Unity
Thich Nhat Hanh coined the term “interbeing” to express the interconnected nature of all life. In Going Home, he relates this directly to Christian ideas of unity — the Body of Christ, or the indwelling Spirit.
“We are because others are. We are not separate. We inter-are.”
This vision transcends both doctrines and identities. Whether you say Nirvana or Holy Spirit, the insight remains: we are not isolated selves. We belong to each other — and to the divine ground of all being.
Bringing the Teachings Into Daily Life
Who This Book Is For
Going Home is ideal for:
- Christians exploring meditation or Buddhism
- Buddhists curious about Christ’s teachings
- Anyone in interfaith dialogue or relationship
- Seekers who love both silence and scripture
- Those feeling torn between faiths, or feeling spiritually “homeless”
More than a theology book, it’s a contemplative companion for the heart.
Simple Practices Inspired by the Book
- Walking Prayerfully
As you walk, say slowly: “I have arrived. I am home.” This blends Buddhist mindfulness with the Christian theme of finding rest in God. - Reading Scripture Mindfully
Whether it’s the Gospels or a sutra, read slowly, breathe between each line, and listen not just with your mind — but with your whole being. - Cross-Faith Journaling
Reflect on how the teachings of Jesus and Buddha meet in your own life. Write down a moment you experienced forgiveness, peace, or presence — and what name you give that sacredness.
Strengths and Challenges of the Book
Strengths
- Gentle Tone: No preaching, only invitations
- Bridge-Building: Unites without diluting either tradition
- Accessible Language: Ideal for non-academics and spiritual seekers
- Lived Wisdom: Drawn from real monastic life, not abstract theory
Possible Challenges
- Readers seeking doctrinal certainty may find the fluid interweaving of traditions disorienting.
- Some conservative Christians or Buddhists might resist the idea that the two teachers are brothers.
- Those unfamiliar with either tradition may need background to fully grasp all references.
Yet these “challenges” are part of the book’s point: to nudge us lovingly out of comfort zones — into deeper presence and openness.
Your Journey Through This Book Begins Here
Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers is more than a book — it’s a doorway into spiritual spaciousness. It invites us to recognize that love, mindfulness, and transformation are not exclusive to any one religion. They are the essence of the human journey toward wholeness.
If you’re seeking a path where Christ’s love and the Buddha’s clarity walk hand in hand — this book may feel like finding home.
“We don’t have to abandon our roots to appreciate another tradition. We can enrich our own understanding by looking deeply into the other.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh
Start by reading just one chapter. Or better yet — take a quiet walk, breathe gently, and let the wisdom of Jesus and Buddha touch your heart in the silence between words.
If this book speaks to you, consider exploring Thich Nhat Hanh’s Living Buddha, Living Christ next — a natural companion on this gentle interfaith path.
