There are plenty of times when one can look at religions that are separate and, to the more incendiary, completely opposite. To one who has a mindset that is more ecumenical or willing to acknowledge similarities, there can be a wealth of discussions from just the common ground that allow us to leap into the discussions of differences in a way that allows peaceful contact and deeper understanding.
There is, in my experience, as much of a misunderstanding about Orthodox monastic practices as there is about Buddhist meditative practices. In fact, there is probably a better understanding of Buddhism in America than of Orthodoxy. To this end, and to the end of giving Christians some ground to speak with Buddhists on, I hope to give a healthy understanding of the similarities.

An examination of Buddhist practices and beliefs will lead into a description of Orthodox monastic stillness. From there, the common ground will be explored as well as the avenues for discussion.

Buddhism has a longer heritage than Christianity by about six centuries. This has given is a great amount of time to grow and become established before Christianity even comes on the scene. This is obvious in the ways that its tenants have shaped the "Eastern Mind" so that dialogues between East and West sometimes boil down to very convoluted discussions.

The Buddhist seeks to eliminate the self in order to achieve a mindset that is inextricably bound to the present. This is bound up in the Buddha's enlightened response to his friends that he is awake. Others have expressed this as being "aware" or "mindful" (Kabat-Zinn 3). This mindset includes not holding on to anything in this world while at the same time being inextricably bound to it because the experience is the way in which it is achieved (Corduan 223).

How is this played out in the life of a Buddhist? It is achieved through meditation. The Buddhist will attempt to connect with the present moment by attempting to live in the moment and avoid all the traps that the mind sets up for itself.
One of the greatest pitfalls on this path is the tendency of the mind to be stuck in its own image of itself. "I am like this" or "I just do these things" are common illusions that the mind views the world through that does not allow it to live in the present. Awareness doesn't limit itself to overcoming images of self. One of the greatest enemies is the eternal amount of worrying that this life can cause. How one will accomplish all the tasks

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