Co-existence cultivates a learning ground which encourages and invites teaching and breeds immeasurable growth. I believe it’s a type of expansion that can’t happen in another way.
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Welcome to Beyond the Shadow of Doubt.
Shadows are created because there is light.
Whatever is covered by the shadow still exists — even if you can’t see it. Yet.
In The Universal Christ, Father Richard Rohr wrote:
“…the expression ‘the light of the world’ is used to describe the Christ (John 8:12). Jesus also applies the same phrase to us, ‘you are the light of the world (Matt 5:14).’
Light is less something you see directly, and more something by which you see all other things. In Jesus Christ, God’s own broad, deep, and all-inclusive worldview is made available to us.”
I love Father Rohr’s insight — “broad, deep, all-inclusive worldview.”
I got a small taste of this recently when our family visited Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan for the first time.
While in Japan, I learned something I never knew about their “official” religion. We toured a lot of both shrines — which represent Shintoism — and temples — which represent Buddhism.
I asked our tour guide, Mutsumi, how it was that the people of Japan practiced both. She smiled and shared with us,
“They co-exist. Shintoism is a native religion in Japan. Thanks to Shinto’s generous attitude toward other religions, people were not uncomfortable about the co-existence of Shintoism and Buddhism. That’s why Japanese don’t feel it’s strange to follow the traditions of both.”
That really stayed with me.
Imagine what would be different if our collective focus was on co-existence — on that “broad, deep, all-inclusive worldview” Father Rohr describes.
When we’re caught in black-and-white or binary thinking, we only look for the either/or.
Co-existence becomes a challenge because we can’t see the beauty of both/and.
Continuing in The Universal Christ, Father Rohr writes:
“The binary mind, so good for rational thinking, finds itself totally out of its league in dealing with things like love, death, suffering, infinity, God, sexuality, or mystery in general.
It just keeps limiting reality to two alternatives — and thinks it is smart because it chooses one.”
What struck me about what Mutsumi said about the co-existence of Buddhism and Shintoism in Japan is that the Japanese actually find peace and beauty in practicing both.
She went on to explain:
“On auspicious occasions — like wedding ceremonies, baby blessings, or when children turn three, five, and seven — we go to shrines to obtain Shinto God’s blessings.
But on inauspicious occasions — like funerals or memorial services for the deceased — we go to Buddhist temples.”
How might you be short-changing yourself by holding tightly to binary, black-and-white thinking?
Where is that kind of thinking hurting your relationships?
And where could it benefit you to introduce the idea of both/and?
I want to share one more passage from The Universal Christ, because Father Rohr actually compares Christianity to Buddhism. He says:
“I am convinced that in many ways Buddhism and Christianity shadow each other. They reveal each other’s blind spots.
In general, Western Christians have not done contemplation very well, and Buddhism has not done action very well.
Although in recent decades we are seeing the emergence of what is called ‘Engaged Buddhism,’ which we have learned from teachers like Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama.
There’s a reason most art shows Jesus with his eyes open and Buddha with his eyes closed.
In the West, we have largely been an extroverted religion — with all the superficiality that represents — and the East has largely produced introverted forms of religion, with little social engagement up to now.
Taking the risk of overgeneralization, I will say that we did not understand the human mind or heart very well, and they did not understand service or justice work very well.
Thus we produced rigid capitalism, and they often fell into ideological communism.
Both religions tried to breathe with one lung — and that is not good breathing. Or better said, you can’t just inhale and you can’t just exhale.”
Let that sink in. You might even want to rewind and listen again.
I feel Father Rohr’s words deeply. The compare-and-contrast between the two religions is not only fascinating — it’s profoundly true.
Co-existence creates a learning ground — one that invites teaching, encourages humility, and breeds immeasurable growth.
It’s a kind of expansion that can’t happen any other way.
No matter your faith background, I invite you — especially at this time of year — to look for ways to co-exist.
With your friends.
Your family.
Your neighbors.
Your loved ones.
Everyone.
Thanks for joining me today. Have a blessed holiday.