Kingdom of heaven versus nirvana: a comparative study of conceptual metaphors for Christian and Buddhist ideals of life

https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/applirev-2021-0012/html?lang=en#:~:text=Thirdly%2C%20the%20kingdom%20of%20heaven,in%20the%20journey%20to%20nirvana.

Buddhists and Christians know that nirvana, or the Kingdom of God, is within their hearts. The Gospels speak of the Kingdom of God as a mustard seed planted in the soil of consciousness. Buddhist sutras speak of Buddha nature as the seed of enlightenment that is already in everyone’s consciousness. Thich Nhat Hanh in his introduction to Thomas Merton’s book “Contemplative Prayer” p.5