The Prophet and the Bodhisattva: Daniel Berrigan, Thich Nhat Hanh, and the Ethics of Peace and Justice
Charles Strain's deep study of Daniel Berrigan and Thich Nhat Hanh comes at a time of growing terrorism, ethnic and proxy wars, economic desperation, and environmental collapse. In the decades following Vietnam, Berrigan and Nhat Hanh have embodied a prophetic Christianity and a socially engaged Buddhism that require the transmutation of hatred and anger into identification and reconciliation--'being peace.' Impeccable scholarship and personal empathy distinguish this rich contribution to Buddhist-Christian studies. --Christopher Queen, Harvard UniversityCharles Strain offers a beautiful synthesis of Daniel Berrigan and Thich Nhat Hanh's insights. Without glorifying or sentimentalizing these men, he shows how their roles are essential complements in peace work. The prophet exposes injustice and articulates the imperative need for social transformation; the bodhisattva offers the skills to repair social relations without falling prey to moral superiority. This book is important reading for peacemakers and anyone interested in religious social engagement. --Sharon Erickson Nepstad, University of New MexicoRunning throughout these pages is the spiritual riddle: how do we manifest what's best in these admirable spiritual traditions in our daily lives in the midst of a troubled yet beautiful world? In a gently subtle way, Strain places this question under our skin. . . . The world will be a better place as more and more people seek to merge the prophetic tradition represented by Father Daniel Berrigan with the mindfulness, concentration, and insight offered by Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh. --Jack Lawlor, Order of Interbeing