Rhythms of Spiritual Praxis as Discipleship from Karma to Atonement among Believers from a Tibetan Buddhist Background

Authors

  • Jessica A. McFalls

Abstract

This article summarizes the author’s master’s thesis research about the experience of Tibetan Buddhist (TB) background believers transitioning from a tacit belief in Karma to an experiential understanding of the atoning work of Christ, how those who seek to disciple TB background believers can better serve them on their journey to freedom from the ‘iron law’ of Karma, and, what tools of praxis, already present within the Church, are available to contextualize to the TB world for this purpose. The study confirms that words alone are not adequate to move TB background believers from belief in Karma to an experiential understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Interviews with TB background believers reveal a struggle to make this transition. Observations from the literature and the interviews suggest: 1) rhythms of spiritual praxis have power to transform beliefs at the tacit level, 2) certain spiritual disciplines are especially effective in this specific area of discipleship, 3) certain church traditions such as the Eucharist, and repetitive prayers also have great potential for tacit level transformation and Christian formation in relation to the Atonement.

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Published

2020-12-02

How to Cite

MCFALLS, J. A. Rhythms of Spiritual Praxis as Discipleship from Karma to Atonement among Believers from a Tibetan Buddhist Background. Glocal Conversations, [S. l.], v. 8, n. 1, 2020. Disponível em: https://gc.uofn.edu/index.php/gc/article/view/21. Acesso em: 2 dec. 2024.