A Bridge to Buddhist-Christian Dialogue: How Poles and Front-Structures Help Us to Be Spiritually Mindful

Praise for the Book

“Significantly opens a new gateway for Buddhist-Christian dialogue.” —Dr. Kunihiko Terasawa, Wartburg College

“One of the most eminent Japanese scholars working on interreligious dialogue.” —Dr. Julius-Kei Kato, Western University

How can we honor our traditions while existing as our most authentic selves?

Whether you are a scholar, practitioner, or someone curious about the intersection of Buddhism and Christianity, A Bridge to Buddhist-Christian Dialogue offers a profound reflection on interpersonal relationships in a pluralistic world and builds a bridge to a more connected way of being. Let us continue to walk together.

In A Bridge to Buddhist-Christian Dialogue, theologians and interfaith pioneers Seiichi Yagi and Leonard Swidler explore the relational nature of identity through the lens of Christian and Buddhist philosophy, seeking to uncover the ways in which we draw upon each other and how we can use dialogue to honor both ourselves and our traditions.

A prominent voice in Buddhist-Christian thought, Dr. Seiichi Yagi’s teaching unearths the common ground between Buddhism and Christianity, including the concept of emptiness and the Christian call to love. He provides an original framework using Front-Structure and poles to help us understand the relational ontology and epistemology which he sees in both traditions. Dr. Leonard Swidler, professor emeritus of Temple University and interfaith dialogue advocate for over 50 years, relays the importance of dialogue, what it is, and how we can use Yagi’s insights to traverse our daily lives. Together, their ideas form a bridge to help us navigate dialogue among Buddhists and Christians, and with the world at large.

Readers Will Discover:

• Interreligious Dialogue: what it is and why it’s important.
• How the Buddhist and Christian paths are the same, how they’re different, and why it matters.
• The Buddhist path and the Christian way as examples of the relational nature of life and identity.
• How we can rely on our relational identities to transcend ego and become our most authentic selves.

This new edition of A Bridge to Buddhist-Christian Dialogue has been updated with a new foreword by Dr. Seiichi Yagi. First published in 1988, this book has offered a vital contribution to Buddhist-Christian scholarship and comparative insights for nearly 40 years.