1 0 S p i r i t ua l i t y S t u d i e s 5 - 2 Fa l l 2 0 1 9 Our friendship has stayed strong all these years partly because I get a sense, we are both inquisitive and our bond of inter-monastics dialogue is not based on wanting to change the other, but to better understand our own tradition. Seeing how other communities function, practice together, how we interact, deal with issues that arise, how we live the teachings that we profess… All these things and more give us insights into our own communities, and how we can become better community members within our own group. I definitely see the world through a Buddhist perspective, and I allow that view to shape how I respond in my daily interactions. It is fun to see where I have differences with people, and to realize I don’t need anybody else to see the world the way I do to feel secure. It’s interesting to watch somebody who I have a lot of confidence in, and who I respect, but see them believe something that seems so alien to me. It gives me great confidence to not trust my own views and opinions, but also to know I don’t need to throw out my views either. It’s just the way it is. Another aspect of inter-monastic dialogue is that we are actually fairly new at this, I’m not sure of the history, but world religions have not been talking to each other for so long. I see our gatherings as a way of building trust and developing relationships. When things do happen in the world, and where different communities need to help find solutions, hopefully some of the ground work has already been done. His Holiness the Dalai Lama often, when asked about how to resolve issues in the world, especially where violence is happening, will invariably say, something like, “In these cases it is almost too late, we need to look for where these situations could flare-up in the future and start laying a foundation to prevent it from happening.” In the same way I hope that is one of ways that interfaith dialogue is providing benefit to the world. experience. walk in northern Minnesota, which was a great regain my health and we did a 10-day, 160 km to that point. After a few years I was able to reason I had to stop the walk before we got Fr. William would join us, but due to health that if we reached the state of Minnesota, started emailing each other. We had hoped Fr. William was really intrigued by this and we Bay, ontario, Canada (which is about 2,500 km). N walk, totally on faith (no money), starting near group that I was planning to do a pilgrimage Abhayagiri for a tour. My abbot had told this ering at a nearby monastery and they came to group for a future monastic dialogue was gathother was at Abhayagiri when a planning fifteen years. our initial introduction to each I think we have known each other for almost a source of inspiration for me for a long time. Father William has been a dear friend and perspective based on your own experience? what is your take on interfaith dialogue and its worldwide). It would be interesting to learn institutional promoter of interfaith dialogue ter-religious Dialogue (currently the leading and Secretary General of the Monastic InBenedictine monk of Saint John’s Abbey, MN, ship between you and Fr. William Skudlarek, dictines. As I know, there is a bond of friend- dialogue with Christians, particularly Bene- You have been involved in inter-religious start to dream about it now. a hike, but nothing will happen if we don’t fall into place for us to be able to attempt such journey? meeting, but what happens over a four-month towards another over a short conference or It’s easy to show respect and appreciation a 2000 km hike over an extended period of time? of different faiths doing something difficult like of this, and what is a better way than two people ent faith. I think the world needs to see examples dition from opening up to the wisdom of a differ- learning about myself, or about my monastic tra- tape. I would see the focus would be on what I’m
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