Saying Grace
Cornelis Pietersz. Bega, 1663
My dear friends,
In the opening verses of the first letter of the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, he outlines the entire spiritual path in seed form: a call from God, the awakening of Christ's mind in us, and the faithful unfolding of grace until the end. When read with the heart of a Bodhisattva, these verses mirror the structure of the path to awakening taught in both Christian and Buddhist traditions: from initial calling (hearing the Dharma or Gospel), to the generation of bodhicitta (the mind of Christ), to full maturity in the presence of the Lord.
of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and our brother Sosthenes,...
- 1 Corinthians 1:1
Paul begins by recognizing his identity as one who has been "called" (klētos) by God. This is not merely a social role, but a divine summons into purpose. Just as in the Buddhist tradition one "hears the Dharma" and is stirred from ignorance into the path, so here the calling of God initiates the journey. The soul does not grasp for status; it responds to grace.
to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,
together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
both their Lord and ours:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 1:2-3
This grace is not given only to individuals, but to a sacred assembly of those who have been sanctified and called. In Christian terms, these are the saints. In Mahāyāna language, we might say these are the bodhisattvas in training, joined with all who "call upon the name"—an act parallel to "namo Buddhaya," an invocation of refuge and veneration. The shared Lordship of Christ implies a shared path and shared destiny.
because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus,
for in every way you have been enriched in him,
in speech and knowledge of every kind...
- 1 Corinthians 1:4-5
Paul sees that the grace of Christ is not static but dynamic: it enriches, transforms, and makes fruitful the inner life. As in the Buddhist path of the six perfections (pāramitās), the disciple grows in wisdom (prajñā) and skillful means (upāya), here described as speech and knowledge. These are signs that bodhicitta, the "mind of Christ," is taking root and bearing fruit.
so that you are not lacking in any gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 1:6-7
Just as a bodhisattva develops the perfections while awaiting complete Buddhahood for the benefit of all beings, so here the community is seen as having the potential for full spiritual development, heralding the full revelation of Christ. The "gifts" are the spiritual faculties and powers given for the journey, not merely for personal edification but for the building up of the body of Christ—the Sangha of the awakened.
so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 1:8
The journey continues not by self-effort alone but by divine empowerment. The promise of being made "blameless" on the day of the Lord echoes the Buddhist aspiration for complete purification and perfect awakening. In both paths, there is confidence in the fruition of the journey, not through self-serving pride, but through trust in grace and perseverance in practice.
- 1 Corinthians 1:9
The final verse declares the destination: not merely "fellowship", but communion (koinōnia), together with and through Christ. In Mahāyāna terms, it is the full realization of the bodhisattva path—becoming a Buddha for the sake of all beings. The faithful One who calls us will also unite us with the Son in perfected love and wisdom.
These verses of Paul open the entire landscape of the spiritual path: the initial call, the awakening of Christ’s mind within, the development of gifts for the journey, and the promise of final union. Whether we walk this path under the name of Christ or of the Buddha, the essential stages remain: we are called, we respond, we grow, and we are brought to completion by grace and diligence. May we walk it together in wisdom and joy.