Good morning! The sun should be rising right about now and setting abnormally early. But don’t worry, as soon as you get used to it we lose an hour of sleep and its back to normal. This week, our philosophy section will be a series. We’ll spend the week bridging eastern and western thought under the philosophies of Christianity and Buddhism. Today, for our main course, we’ll be laying down the foundation with the goal of both philosophies. After that, we’ll relax a little bit and consider the old donkey (more on that later). And after THAT, we’ll finish our breakfast with a fitting Q&A from The Book of Joy which is an account of conversations between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond TuTu. Get ready! Breakfast is served!

When you scrape off the surface level rituals, traditions, notions, or even flavors of both Christian and Buddhist philosophy, you will find a lot more in common than you think. These two philosophies, emerging from two different teachers on different parts of the planet, actually share the same goal. Both are an experience of the pursuit of transcendence.

The goal of both philosophies is to try and release the self from “illusion” or “ego” and orient it towards “awakening” or “salvation".

The most important distinction to be made between these two philosophical practices goes beyond the labels of Christianity and Buddhism as religions. There is a distinct difference between the eastern and the western method of “transcendence.”

For the west (think monotheism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity), there is a “top-down” approach to realize and align your will with God’s by always “looking up.” We pray and reach our hands towards God to ask for His guidance on our path to heaven.

For the east (think non-theism, Taoism, Confucius, Buddhism), there is a “bottom-up” approach where you turn the idea inward. Rather than asking for God’s help, you look within yourself and develop your own spirit. You can’t align yourself with God’s will until you do the work to release yourself from the attachments you have that detract your will from aligning with that of God’s.

Here’s the bridge — Buddhism seeks awakening from attachment, while Christianity seeking union with God beyond self-will. Both philosophies require you to let go of the “I” of it all.

Buddhism would say that the majority of human suffering stems from identifying with things you can not control. When something bad happens of any kind, you feel personally responsible or victimized when the happening was outside of you entirely. In Christianity, the same thought applies. Most of what we experience is outside of our control. However, your lack of faith in God—your attachment to the material world and detachment from God’s will—gives you the impression that you could maybe be in control if you wanted to be.

Thus, both of these philosophies, vastly different in appearance and tradition, originating completely separate of each other, have actually come forth with not only the same goal. That’s heavy.

Imagine a donkey standing exactly halfway between two identical piles of hay. It’s equally hungry and thirsty, and equally close to both. Logically, it has no reason to choose one over the other—and so it doesn’t move at all. It starves to death, perfectly rationally.

This is a paradox about reason and indecision. Too much rational weighing, and too much symmetry to where a logically correct choice can’t seam to be made. Thus the donkey freezes in indecision until it dies.

Here’s the obvious twist. We are the donkey. Every time we turn on the tv and can’t find anything or leave the debate for dinner options lasting until the very last minute.

It’s the strange truth that too many good choices can trap us as surely as none at all. Sometimes freedom just means picking something, not waiting to pick the perfect thing.

On Page 54, in the chapter titled “Have You Renounced Pleasure?”, they discuss the impermanence of physical pleasures and even some emotions. The two holy men agree that there does exist a form of happiness that lasts (or can last) all day. The Dalai Lama is asked, “But what is this mental happiness or mental pleasure that you’re talking about that lasts for 24-hours?”

“A genuine sense of love and affection,” the Dalai Lama answered.

“If you develop a strong sense of concern for the well-being of all sentient beings and in particular all human beings, this will make you happy in the morning, even before coffee.” the Dalai Lama continues.

This was a short interaction but it is very profound. That first bit about physical pleasures describes a school of thought called hedonism. Hedonism is, unfortunately, the default philosophy that most humans subscribe to. It’s not their fault, our bodily chemistry directs us toward pleasure and away from pain. Science calls this the hedonic treadmill.

However, the Dalai Lama says that concern for your fellow man’s well being creates a lasting sense of happiness and joy. This, coming from the leader of the Buddhist religion, mirrors perfectly what is taught in Christianity. The concept of Agape (the highest form of love) is simply willing the good for another. Jesus Christ’s great commandment was “Love one another.” It goes even further, eventually you will have to love your enemies.

This shows how these two vastly different religions have common ground in that they both understand that we do not exist simply as individual beings. What is truly good for one, is good for the whole.

Munch on this, think about it, and walk through today with as much love in your heart as you possibly can and see if you feel that all pervasive happiness that the Dalai Lama mentioned.

You ought to thank your friend/colleague/parent/forwarder because they’ve blessed your inbox with something special. Every day we will upload more thought-provoking content that will ignite your day with a sense of mindfulness and thoughtfulness.

Remember to stay mindful, smell the flowers, and take it easy.

Chef Ricky - Thought Breakfast

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