A Monk in the World An interview with Wayne Teasdale Brother Wayne Teasdale is a lay monk who combines the traditions of Christianity and Hinduism in the way of Christian sannyasa. An activist and teacher in building common ground between religions, Teasdale serves on the board of trustees of the Parliament of the World=s Religions. He is a member of the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue and helped draft their Universal Declaration on Nonviolence. He is an adjunct professor at DePaul University, Columbia College, and the Catholic Theological Union, where he lives in Chicago, and coordinator of the Bede Griffiths International Trust. He is co editor of The Community of Religions, with George Cairns, and the author of two books and dozens of articles on mysticism and religion. He holds an M.A. in philosophy from St. Joseph College and a Ph.D. in theology from Fordham University. Silveira: What is a monk, and or mystic? Teasdale: A monk is someone who searches for the Divine, or Ultimate Reality, regardless of the tradition. The mystic is similar to the monk insofar as the mystic is God-intoxicated, or centered on the inner quest. A monk usually lives in a monastic community, but not necessarily. Today we are witnessing the possibility of a householder type of monasticism which allows ordinary people to live a more contemplative spirituality within the family. Silveira: Do you think anyone can be a monk, or a mystic in ordinary life? Teasdale: Yes, I=m quite convinced of it, and have seen it happen many times, but it takes dedication, resolution, and discipline to achieve this state of life. Everyone has the mystic, the monk within them. There has to be a clear intention to make the mystical quest the focus of one=s life, and the priority of one=s action. Silveira: You have said and written many times that mysticism is the origin and common ground among the religions. Please elaborate on this? Teasdale: All the great world religions arose out of the mystical process of their founders. We see this in the experience of the rishis, the mystic seers of ancient India, who are the founders of the Hindu tradition. Equally it is the case with the Buddha, whose inner awakening to enlightenment is the basis of the Buddhist dharma. His inner experience is the model for all those who follow this path. Such an origin is evident in the biblical tradition, in the encounters between God and the patriarchs and prophets recorded in the Bible. Each of these figures recounts what their direct experience of God has been. Jesus= consciousness of a relationship of intimacy with the divine father is the origin of the Christian faith, while Islam has its foundation in the private revelation from Allah through the mediation of the Archangel Gabriel to the Prophet Mohammed. The direct mystical realization of these charismatic founders C all of them great mystic sages C generated their religious traditions as vehicles of their transmission throughout subsequent history. Silveira: You speak of the importance of friendship in the spiritual journey; do you think friendship is essential to lead a spiritual life? Teasdale: More and more I am inclined to think so on the basis of my own experience, in the recognition of the need for mutual support we all have. We need to process insights, experiences, trials, contemplative methods, decisions, and life vocations with spiritually like-minded companions. Again, in historical terms, friendship is seen to have enormous benefit in not only the practical demands of living a spiritual life, but in maintaining a movement of viable inner change for others. Friendship makes progress more certain, and is a salutary guard against self-deception in the spiritual journey. Silveira: Tell me some living examples of awareness that you have encountered throughout the world? Teasdale: In my early life, it was this wonderful uncle, John Cosgrove, who embodied a depth of humility, discernment, insight and holiness. Then Thomas Keating, a Trappist abbot and spiritual teacher whom I=ve known since I was an undergraduate, and from whom I learned most of the principles of the spiritual life. His wisdom and sanctity have been a constant source of inspiration for me. There is also Brother David Steindl-Rast, a Benedictine monk with a high degree of perception of divine matters and the psychology of the spiritual journey. I=ve learned a great deal from the Dalai Lama, who incarnates awareness in his very being, in his simple humanity, and his infinite capacity to accept others. Finally, there is the example of Bede Griffiths, an English Benedictine monk who spent nearly forty years in India. His selfless love, openness and acceptance of others taught me a lot. Silveira: Do you see an increase in spirituality in America today? Teasdale: Yes, I see considerable evidence of such a growing interest in and commitment to the spiritual path everywhere I turn in America and beyond. People are reading books in spirituality more and more, and are setting aside time each day for their spiritual practice, as well as taking time off to visit monasteries, retreat houses, dharma centers, and other places of withdrawal for prayer and reflection. Silveira: In the light of world events, are you hopeful for the future of humanity? Teasdale: Not if we are left to our own devices, which could drag us down into fear, hatred and violence. If we are true to our spiritual instincts, and remain committed to prayer, contemplation, and kindness, if in the face of crises we maintain our focus on love, forgiveness and compassion, we will be able to survive any challenge without capitulating to the dark forces of division and destruction. In the end, if enough people turn to the spiritual path, the light will inevitably prevail. Violence is a well that soon runs dry, and evil can only go so far before it disintegrates Return to Convention information page