“Speaking of Silence: Christians and Buddhists on the Contemplative Way”
Paulist Press, NY 1987

ISBN 0 8091-2880-2

Review by Aldhelm Cameron-Brown, OSB

Christians who have had some contact with Buddhists or Buddhist teaching have often felt that although Buddhists say they do not believe in God, there is nevertheless a rich spiritual depth there. There may even be some aspects of the tradition that we can learn from them to enrich our own deep spiritual tradition.

For those interested in these matters I can recommend this book. It contains transcripts of some of the talks and discussions held over five years by Christians and Buddhists at the Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado, between 1981 and 1985. Although it is not a new book the subject matter continues to be alive and relevant for us today.

The Christian speakers include a Benedictine monk, Br David Steindl-Rast, of Mount Savior Monastery, New York, Fr Thomas Keating, a retired Cistercian abbot, and two priest of the Eastern Orthodox tradition in the USA who contribute their knowledge of the rich spiritual tradition of the Eastern Church. The Buddhist speakers include a Tibetan Buddhist monk Tai Situ, whom Fr Francis and I met in India, and again at Samye Ling, the Tibetan monastery in Scotland.

The speakers present very varied viewpoints and insights, and they have a great deal to teach about the spiritual path and spiritual growth.