1. Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
Speaking the Same Language
Falvey, World Parliament of Religions, 2009

2. Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
Various approaches are used to seek a common understanding
I will talk of two approaches; one by a great man, the other by me
Falvey, World Parliament of Religions, 2009

3. Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
Buddhadasa or พุทธทาสภิกขุ as he was commonly known in his home Thailand, generously attempted to explain the essence of Buddhism using Christian language.
Falvey, World Parliament of Religions, 2009

4. Buddhadasa’s Parallels
Paticca samuppada = God
Dependent origination, meaning everything depends of something else to arise, is central to Buddhist insights.
Falvey, World Parliament of Religions, 2009

5. Building on Buddhadasa
Falvey, World Parliament of Religions, 2009

6. Falvey, World Parliament of Religions, 2009

7. Gospel Story in Buddhist Language
Seeking a common basis
Stories of Buddha and Jesus so similar
Message in stories, symbols and meanings of names allow even closer alignment of the stories
Falvey, World Parliament of Religions, 2009

8. Falvey, World Parliament of Religions, 2009

9. Falvey, World Parliament of Religions, 2009
Why a Novel?
A novel allows emotion and rationality to interact to engage the whole of the reader
The life stories of Buddha and Jesus are both collated to relay deep truths that do not lend themselves to precise description
Falvey, World Parliament of Religions, 2009

10. Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
Speaking the Same Language
Falvey, World Parliament of Religions, 2009

11. Falvey, World Parliament of Religions, 2009

12. Dialogue = Part of Process ≠ Output
Falvey, World Parliament of Religions, 2009

13. Output: Insight, Salvation etc
This is the personal project of each of our lives in whatever manner suits our personalities and life circumstances.
This is how Buddhism is structured – with multiple explanations of the same process of salvation, aimed at our diverse indiosyncracies.
One part of the process is expansion of capacity to understand, hence ‘Dharma and Man’
Falvey, World Parliament of Religions, 2009

14. Engage Emotions and Intellect
Falvey, World Parliament of Religions, 2009