The Still Point: Zen and Christian Mysticism Book - Spiritual Growth & Meditation Guide for Mindful Living

Though this is not a recent book, it provides excellent context for overcoming rationalism. Johnston speaks of an impoverished, dehumanized West, rich in technology but poor in intuition, sick from lack of mysticism. He sees Western Christians turning to Zen because of a dissatisfaction with a Christianity that is too rational, too Cartesian, too juridical. Most of these Christians are probably ignorant of the mystical element in Christianity. The East still remembers that humans can adore the Infinite with the whole body. This is important to Christianity, which is incarnational. The true Christian life is not imitating Christ, but "becoming" Christ, embodying Christ. As the apostle Paul said, "not I, but Christ lives in me." For this to happen, something must die. Zen's losing of the ego and finding the non-ego-self is in tune with Paul. Says Johnston: "I would suggest that the Zen technique can teach the Christian how to relax, how to be calm, how to think in a deeper way, how to dispose himself to receive God's love, how to conceive the truths of faith not only in his brain but in his whole body."