"Wide Open to Life": Thomas Merton's Dialogue of Contemplative Practice

The prevailing dialogues between Buddhists and Christians have taken various forms. Theological dialogues explored the doctrinal foundations and iterations of their respective traditions, with emphasis upon parallels between doctrines such as God and emptiness, suffering and sin, Christ and the bodh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBuddhist-Christian studies Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 193 - 203
Main Author Simmer-Brown, Judith
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Honolulu University of Hawai'i Press 01.01.2015
University of Hawaii Press
Subjects
Buddhism
Buddhists
Christianity
Christians
COMPARATIVE THEOLOGY
Contemplation
Merton, Thomas
Merton, Thomas (1915-1968)
Monks
Relations
Religions
Social aspects
Theology
India
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Summary:The prevailing dialogues between Buddhists and Christians have taken various forms. Theological dialogues explored the doctrinal foundations and iterations of their respective traditions, with emphasis upon parallels between doctrines such as God and emptiness, suffering and sin, Christ and the bodhisattva. The political dialogues explored the embattled, traumatized borders between traditions torn by colonialism, warfare, and missionary agendas. The dialogues of social engagement have explored common issues of concern regarding the environment, economic justice, and human rights. Here, Simmer-Brown talks about Thomas Merton as an innovator and partner in interreligious dialogue, a dialogue that has come to be called "the dialogue of contemplative practice" or "the contemplative dialogue."
ISSN:0882-0945
1527-9472
1527-9472
DOI:10.1353/bcs.2015.0017