Pope Francis: The Ultimate Zen Christian

 

 

In The Zen Christ, a book I’m writing that merges the teachings of Christ with the practice of Zen, there is a clear delineation of the two concepts; one of religion and one of philosophy. The book explores the type of Christianity practiced by Christ and his followers as a type of muscular Christianity that embodies mindfulness as well as active participation.

 

Zen Christianity is a Thinking Man’s Christianity when it is used to apply the teachings of Christ in everyday life. The goal is not to become one with Christ, who is the acknowledged Son of God for all Christians, but to live a life that follows his teachings and constantly strives to acknowledge our sins and to learn to love one another.

 

Zen Christianity works to define and to dilute Christ’s work to the essence and the spirit of the man who was Jesus Christ. In Pope Francis, the living example of one who strives to define and to exude the spirit of Christ is on full display.

 In Francis’s doctrinal universe, we learn to dilute the message to the bare bones:

 ·         1) Practice the Golden Rule: Follow the Commandments of the Lord, your God, and go forth and love your neighbor as you would yourself.

 

·         2) The Meek shall inherit the Earth: The Earth is a sacred sphere. And in this sacred space, we must nurture all those who inhabit the earth. No one is above us or beneath us. One only has to witness Francis’ ritual washing of the prisoners’ feet.

 

·         3) Build your house on a rock. Have a strong, solid foundation of faith in your life. If you are busy in the world of commerce and trade, remember that God’s house is waiting for you and you must never lose sight of the value of love in your life.
 

In my own Presbyterian Church, there is a beautiful stained glass window depicting Christ holding a lantern. It’s centered in the front of the sanctuary where we worship. Below is the simple inscription, “Behold, I stand at your door and knock.” The essence of Christianity is its simplicity. In Francis, we find this complete return to basics of a religion stripped of ideology and complex philosophical design.

 

In essence, Pope Francis is the messenger that we have needed for some time. His message is a simple one of love and faithfulness in a world of pain and disillusionment. Francis is the pure essence of Christ on earth, and he is the Zen Christian on a pilgrimage. All we need to do is open our hearts and minds to Christ’s messenger on Earth.