Description
Book SynopsisIn Growing in Love and Wisdom, Susan Stabile draws on a unique dual perspective to explore the value of interreligious dialogue, the essential spiritual dynamics that operate across faith traditions, and the many fruitful ways Buddhist meditation practices can deepen Christian prayer.Raised as a Catholic, Stabile devoted 20 years of her life to practicing Buddhism and was ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun before returning to Catholicism in 2001. She begins the book by examining the values and principles shared by the two faith traditions, focusing on the importance of prayer--particularly contemplative prayer--to both Christianity and Tibetan Buddhism. Both traditions seek to effect a fundamental transformation in the lives of believers, and both stress the need for experiences that have deep emotional resonance, that go beyond the level of concepts to touch the heart. Stabile illuminates the similarities between Tibetan Buddhist meditations and Christian forms of prayer such as Ignat
Trade Review"A gentle gift to the work of interreligious existence in the 21st century... Stabile faithfully and reasonably steers a course between with this lucid, welcome offering. Growing in Love and Wisdom embodies for us the insights of Nostra Aetate in action -- rejecting nothing that is true and holy, and regarding with sincere reverence those practices of Buddhist meditation that reflect the Truth which enlightens all humanity... This rich resource can be of profitable use in an undergraduate classroom considering interreligious matters, or in a broad introduction to spirituality. Highly recommended for personal, parish or academic use." --Catholic Books Review "In the growing crowd of books on Buddhist-Christian dialogue, this one is different. It's a 'hands-on' book. Susan Stabile's intent is to help Christians learn from what Buddhists do, rather than from what they believe. In practical, step-by-step instructions on how Christians can use Tibetan techniques of meditation, she opens new possibilities of clarifying and deepening Christian experience. This is a book for those who what to practice before they preach, or are preached to."--Paul F. Knitter, Paul Tillich Professor of Theology, World Religions, and Culture, Union Theological Seminary, New York "Stabile's very readable book lucidly presents similarities in values between Christianity and Tibetan Buddhism. Her clearly-explained prayer suggestions for Christians, which make up most of the book, are adapted from Buddhist practice and are mainly discursive in nature. They offer a rich variety of ways in which their Christian spiritual life can be enriched by Eastern teachings."--Mary Jo Meadow, author of Christian Insight Meditation: Following in the Footsteps of John of the Cross "A new standard for the possibilities in authentic, deeply rooted inter-religious dialogue... the book is beautifully written, in a simple yet clear style, making its deft navigation of interaith ideas ring with clarity." --Carl McColman, carlmccolman.com
Table of ContentsIntroduction ; Part I: How We Think about Other Faith Traditions ; Chapter 1: The Value of Interreligious Dialogue ; Chapter 2: Core Truths that Operate Across Faith Traditions ; Part II: Adapting Prayer Practices from Another Faith Tradition ; Chapter 3: The Importance of Contemplation and Affective Experience ; Chapter 4: Why Look to Tibetan Buddhist Meditation? ; Part III: Analytical Meditations and Commentary ; Chapter 5: Friend, Enemy, Stranger ; Chapter 6: Tonglen ; Chapter 7: Kindness of (M)other Sentient Beings ; Chapter 8: Exchanging Self and Others ; Chapter 9: The Four Immeasurables ; Chapter 10: Meditation on Compassion ; Chapter 11: Giving the Four Elements ; Chapter 12: Perfect Human Rebirth ; Chapter 13: Death ; Chapter 14: Impermanence ; Chapter 15: Overcoming Anger ; Chapter 16: The Eight Worldly Concerns ; Chapter 17: Taking Refuge ; Chapter 18: Emanating as the Deity ; Chapter 19: Meditating on the I ; Part IV: Other Meditations and Practices ; Chapter 20: Meditations to Develop Concentration and Mindfulness ; Chapter 21: Other Practices ; Notes ; Glossary ; Suggestions for further reading
