--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Buddhism also throws new, and I believe…" description: "\"“Buddhism also throws new, and I believe fuller, light on an oft-quoted passage from John’s Gospel: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/paul-f-knitter-26875_buddhism_buddhism-also-throws-new-and-i-believe-f_1043123.jpg" --- # Buddhism also throws new, and I believe fuller, light on… ![“Buddhism also throws new, and I believe fuller, light on an oft-quoted passage from John’s Gospel: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). In this passage, Jesus, in looking ahead to his own death…” quote by Paul F. Knitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/paul-f-knitter-26875_buddhism_buddhism-also-throws-new-and-i-believe-f_1043123.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/paul-f-knitter-26875_buddhism_buddhism-also-throws-new-and-i-believe-f_1043123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/paul-f-knitter-26875_buddhism_buddhism-also-throws-new-and-i-believe-f_1043123.jpg) > ““Buddhism also throws new, and I believe fuller, light on an oft-quoted passage from John’s Gospel: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). In this passage, Jesus, in looking ahead to his own death, speaks about death for all of us. Death means that as “single grains” we really die. The “singleness” of our identities is no longer to be found. The “fruit” that comes forth is very, very different from the single, little seed. Again, we’re dealing here with symbols, with pointing fingers. But they seem to point to a life after death that is no longer life lived as individuals.”” [Paul F. Knitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-knitter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jesus uses the grain of wheat metaphor to illustrate that personal identity dissolves in death, allowing a larger, collective flourishing beyond individual self. **In simple terms:** Death ends personal identity, enabling greater collective purpose. Key Takeaway Embrace self‑transcendence. Themes spirituality death collective purpose Mood contemplative hopeful Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal grief - community building - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts Christian theology symbolism afterlife Questions to Reflect On - How does letting go of self‑identity affect your life? - What collective goals can arise from personal sacrifice? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-means-530540/) [Die Singleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-singleness-2449942/) [Life after death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-after-death/) [Looking ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-ahead/) [Pointing Finger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pointing-finger/) [Pointing fingers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pointing-fingers/) [Single Grains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-grains-949937/) ## Related quotes > [A little and a little, collected together, becomes a great deal; the heap in the barn consists of single grains, and drop and drop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/a-little-and-a-little-collected-together-becomes-a-great-deal-the/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [When I was 9 or 10 years old, my dad took me over to a neighboring farm to help get stuff for the meal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/when-i-was-9-or-10-years-old-my-dad-took-me-over-to-a-neighboring/) [Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/) > [My values, our values, aren't about pointing fingers. 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It's even easier to start pointing fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-taylor/it-s-easy-to-give-up-it-s-even-easier-to-start-pointing-fingers/) [Zac Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-taylor/) ## More by Paul F. Knitter > [“If Christians insist that “if you want peace, work for justice,” the Buddhists would counter-insist, “if you want peace, be peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-knitter/if-christians-insist-that-if-you-want-peace-work-for-justice-the/) [Paul F. Knitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-knitter/) > [“Generalizing grossly, what Buddhists mean by practice is more interior and personal, while what Christians mean is more external and social. Or as Aloysius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-knitter/generalizing-grossly-what-buddhists-mean-by-practice-is-more-interior/) [Paul F. 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