BUDDHA, CHRIST, AND INTERRELIGIOUS PEACE, WITH DR. LEO D. LEFEBURE

“…mindfulness is very much like the Holy Spirit. Both of them help us touch the ultimate dimension of reality. Mindfulness helps us to touch nirvana, and the Holy Spirit offers us a door to the Trinity.” -from Living Buddha, Living Christ, by Thich Nhat Hanh

In this program Caer Hallundbaek speaks with Dr. Leo D. Lefebure, Matteo Ricci, S.J. Professor of Theology at Georgetown University. A prolific writer and traveler of where religious paths cross, merge and support each other, he is the author of The Buddha and the Christ: Explorations in Buddhist-Christian Dialogue; Life Transformed: Meditations on the Christian Scriptures in Light of Buddhist Perspectives; The Path of Wisdom: A Christian Commentary on the Dhammapada; and Revelation, the Religions, and Violence, recipient of the Pax Christi U.S.A. 2001 Book Award.

He has also served on the board of directors of the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies; was a participant in the New York Buddhist-Catholic dialogue; an adviser to the Board of Monastic Interreligious Dialogue; and is currently on the Board of Trustees of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions.

Topics in this hour include: Lefebure’s own background as a Roman Catholic with diverse Christians in his family;  how interfaith studies and dialogue become a central focus of his life’s work; his book Life Transformed: Meditations on the Christian Scriptures in Light of Buddhist Perspectives; a meditation from the book; why it is important to explore and make connections between Buddhism and Christianity (or other faiths); the relationships between Buddhism and Christianity; how we get through our adolescence around God and religion that tends to lead to arguments and fighting, including in-fighting; his book Revelation, the Religions, and Violence; the “scapegoat mechanism”; loving thy neighbor, listening and lunch; the violence around differing religious beliefs; his experiences in interreligious dialogue and memorable moments; bringing discussions on religious tolerance into the community;  the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions; Tip for your Spiritual Toolbelt; and more.

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