Giancarlo A. Miranda SMITH Rev. Fr.

Anthony Raymund Apostol

September 10, 2023

EAST MEETS WEST: AN ANALYSIS ON THE MAHAYANA BUDDHISM'S

CONCEPT OF 'SUNYATTA' AND THE JOHN OF THE CROSS’S
CONCEPT OF NADA
Introduction

There has been a trend today to converge Eastern with Western thoughts and vice

versa. Though there are differences, it is undeniable that there are some points where

East and West meet with each other thus enriching both sides. The writings of Juan de

Yepes Y Alvarez commonly known as John of the Cross are commonly linked to the

Eastern school of thought particularly Buddhism. His concept of nada or ‘nothing’ as the

path towards todo or to ‘the all’ is closely related to Siddharta Gautama Buddha’s quest

for Nirvana or a state of bliss because both use asceticism and detachment as tools to

arrive to their end.

Objectives

The primary goal of this research is to discover the meeting of John of the Cross’

concept of nada or ‘nothing’ and Buddhism by conducting a comprehensive

philosophical analysis. This inquiry seeks to point out the convergence of the two while

also critically assessing the implications, strengths, and limitations of both schools of

thought.

Specifically, this study aims to:

1. Examine similarities and differences in how these two traditions approach the idea of

spiritual emptiness, self-negation, and the dissolution of ego.

2. Explore how spiritual practices are employed in each tradition to facilitate the

journey toward a deeper spiritual understanding and connection with the divine or

ultimate reality.

3. Explore the practical and philosophical implications of the convergence between John

of the Cross's "Nada" and Buddhist emptiness in the context of contemporary

spirituality and cross-cultural dialogue.

Significance

John of the Cross's work is very akin to oriental philosophy and interplaying them may

bring about themes that provide fertile ground for philosophical exploration. As the

concept of nada deals with spiritual denudation in order to arrive at todo, Buddhism on

the other hand, proposes asceticism which requires anatta or non-self in order to arrive

at nirvana. Though two dissimilar ends, they utilize the same means and since there is

something common between the two, there is a possible meeting point that can

complement each other. Moreover, by intersecting John of the Cross’ nada and Buddhist

philosophy, this proposed thesis can further launch dialogue between Western and

Eastern schools of thought and can contribute to the body of thought within the field of

comparative philosophy.

Methodology
To embark on this philosophical quest, the researcher will delve deeply into the

doctrines of John of the Cross and the Basic tenets of Buddhism. This will involve a

comprehensive study of their respective works, as well as the examination of competent

commentaries related to their writings. Extensive literary materials pertaining to the

proposed topic will be explored both in physical libraries and online resources.

Additionally, relevant research that bears similarities to this topic will be consulted to

enhance the researcher's understanding and insights into this philosophical inquiry.

Summary

The intersection of John of the Cross's nada and Buddhist philosophy holds the potential

to introduce a dialogue between two diverse schools of thought that can lead to mutual

understanding and respect for their differences. This philosophical inquiry aims to not

only shed light on these two schools of thought and their relevance in the pluralistic

society. Through rigorous research and analysis, this study seeks to contribute

meaningfully to the field of comparative philosophy.