The Virtue of Obedience in Franciscan Christianity and Theravāda Buddhism

In the field of interreligious dialogue, it is sometimes easier to find points of contact between the practical aspects of the major faith traditions, rather than focus on matters of philosophy or theology. This essay explores the possible commonality between monastic/religious life in Christianity...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Buddhist Christian studies
Main Author: Worssam, Nicholas Alan (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: University of Hawaii Press 2022
In: Buddhist Christian studies
Further subjects:B Obedience
B bhikkhu
B Franciscan
B monk
B Friendship
B preceptor
B Theravāda
B Vinaya
B Cabinet officers
B Rule
B friar
B mendicant
B Vows
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Summary:In the field of interreligious dialogue, it is sometimes easier to find points of contact between the practical aspects of the major faith traditions, rather than focus on matters of philosophy or theology. This essay explores the possible commonality between monastic/religious life in Christianity and Buddhism as described in the foundation documents of the Franciscan and Theravāda traditions. The particular focus will be the virtue (or vice, depending on one's perspective) of obedience. In Christian monastic tradition a common summary of the commitments made by a "religious," that is, a monk or nun, brother or sister, is the triple vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience (Latin: paupertas, castitas, and obedientia). These values are strongly represented in all Christian monastic rules. They were explicitly cited in the Rules of Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226). The question explored here is whether the practice of obedience as delineated in the Later Rule (the Regula Bullata, 1223) of St. Francis has any parallel in the Buddhist monastic code, known in the Theravāda scriptural language of Pāli as the Vinaya, and in the Dialogues of the Buddha, known as the Suttas. Areas to be explored include obedience to the teaching of the founders and their monastic rules, the process of reception into the monastic community, and the roles of preceptors, ministers, and spiritual guides.
ISSN:1527-9472
Contains:Enthalten in: Buddhist Christian studies