Abyss Quote by Anonymous
![“[Buddhism and Christianity] are in one sense parallel and equal; as a mound and a hollow, as a valley and a hill. There is a sense in which that sublime despair is the only alternative to that divine audacity. It is even true that the truly spiritual and intellectual man sees it as sort of…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a9b/anonymous-1_abyss_buddhism-and-christianity-are-in-one-sen_2272362.jpg)
“[Buddhism and Christianity] are in one sense parallel and equal; as a mound and a hollow, as a valley and a hill. There is a sense in which that sublime despair is the only alternative to that divine audacity. It is even true that the truly spiritual and intellectual man sees it as sort of dilemma; a very hard and terrible choice. There is little else on earth that can compare with these for completeness. And he who does not climb the mountain of Christ does indeed fall into the abyss of Buddha.”
About This Quote
The passage compares Buddhism and Christianity as parallel opposites, suggesting that confronting profound despair is necessary to grasp divine daring, and that choosing one path over the other is a deep, painful dilemma.
In simple terms: Spiritual traditions are opposite yet equal; confronting despair reveals divine boldness.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge the tension between spiritual paths.
Themes
spirituality
philosophy
duality
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- deep meditation
- ethical decision making
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
despair
audacity
choice
comparative religion
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “sublime despair” mean to you?
- How can one honor both traditions without false?
A Different Perspective
The comparison may oversimplify complex traditions.
