Customer Reviews

A Monk in the World: Finding the Sacred in Daily Life

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Combining the spiritual traditions of Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, Brother Wayne Teasdale is a "monk in the world, a sannyasi who lives in the midst of society, at the very heart of things" (p. xx). Addressing readers who aspire to be "engaged in the world," but free from its "greed, indifference, insensitivity, noise, confusion, pettiness, unease, tension, and irreverence" (p. xxii), he explores the questions: "Is it possible for the masses of humanity, who do not live in monastic seclusion, to activate the monk within? Are we capable of realizing the mystical life here in the world, in the midst of so much frantic activity?" (p. xxvii). In his 237-page book, Brother Wayne shows that, although our culture "is burdened by a steady stream of chatter that reflects a noisy mind and a cluttered heart," it is possible "to live a secular life of integrity and quality, depth and creativity" (pp. 20-21).

Teasdale's book is complemented by an insightful Foreward in which Ken Wilber writes, "this is a beautiful, wonderful, wise book that gently touches and compassionately evokes the deep spirituality in all of us. But more than that, it further invites us--challenges us--to carry that awakened spirituality into the world, thus integrating inner life with outer life, drenching both in a radiance from the realized heart that allows grace the room to do its divine work" (p. xiii). Those readers who connect with Wilber's integral philosophy will enjoy this book.

Teasdale recognizes that there is a mystic in each of us (a monk dwells in each of our depths, just below our everyday awareness," p. 215), and looks to other monks in the world including Thomas Merton, the Dalai Lama, Bede Griffiths, Thomas Keating, and Thich Nhat Hanh to exemplify just what a life of truly integral spirituality might mean to us. "For me," he writes in summary of his book, "the mystical path means awakening this monk within and nurturing its development in encountering the world. This path is reinforced by spiritual practice, with its breakthroughs and graces; supported by like-minded friends, with their love and challenges; empowered by thoughtful navigations through the limitations of time, work, and money. It means living with compassion and love in the concreteness of daily encounters, especially with the most vulnerable. It means taking risks for the sake of justice, which requires us to speak the truth boldly, clearly, and firmly to power in all its forms, especially the political, economic, and religious" (p. 215). This book will appeal to Christian and Buddhist readers alike, and anyone who aspires to live a life of values in the modern world.

G. Merritt

Extending the message of THE MYSTIC HEART, Teasdale articulates a challenge to all of us to live our spirituality by engaging the world and it's many problems through the lovingkindness, compassion, mercy and justice at the core of the great spiritual traditions. The challenge is an important one during this period of spiritual awakening that we are experiencing, particularly in the USA. Self-centered spirituality ignores the core teachings of Jesus, Buddha, and so many others regarding selfless love and service. His challenge is nothing less than to change the world, to create "a civilization with heart!"

In doing so, he describes a variety of spiritual practices and perspectives, punctuated with personal and other stories. He then articulates a number of critical social needs, focusing on some of his personal passions: homelessness, oppression of Tibet, and world violence.

He also critices the Catholic Church for its failures to fulfill the Christian message of compassion and service in the world, particularly for the poor and oppressed in Tibet, China, and elsewhere. In the end, Teasdale offers a challenge to the Church to be the "matrix" or model for the interfaith dialogue and "a new human order."

The book includes numerous suggestions for each of us to engage our spirituality in the world through compassionate action and service. It is an important message for the new millennium.

Teasdale, a Catholic lay monk, combines the spiritual traditions of Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism to describe how to live in a large hectic city like Chicago. He talks about the homeless of the city, a recent bout with cancer, the need to make a living, support for a free Tibet, and the constraints of working within a church he loves but with which he has publicly disagreed. Teasdale looks to other monks in the world including Thomas Merton, the Dalai Lama, Bede Griffiths, Thomas Keating, and Thich Nhat Hanh to exemplify just what a life of truly integral spirituality might mean to us.

I really enjoyed this book for its practical down-to-earth recommendations on how to help humanity, like helping homeless people, while living the busy life in a city.

Br. Wayne Teasdale inspires and encourages us to lead the mystic life, while living a life outside the walls of an abbey or convent. He is a loving revolutionist who entices us to be more than we thought we could be. His exemplary life is expressed beautifully within the confins of the book's covers. Br. Teasdale has chosen to walk in Christ's footsteps. I've walked next to him and was awed by the sincerity and kindness he shared with those in his 'neighborhood'. This world needs more men and women who want to incorporate his ideals into their lives. Teasdale has left us with his love and understanding of what we can aspire to. The book is a wonderful read.

BATU: The Transformation

Read this book if you hunger for more than just the daily grind. Teasdale will light the lampost to the formation of the interior silence. A great book by a man who is not afraid to share his vision and experience.

I'm buying another copy for my meditation teacher because I want to keep mine. It will go in the pile of my top 3% of all the many books I've read on spirituality. Brother Teasdale is a Catholic monk who defied tradition by opening up to all the spiritual traditions of the world. Mystics are open...and aware. He's a realized person who realized that all positive religions at their core are centered on God and working to transform souls from the self-centered life of ego based on greed to alturistic compassion and love for all beings and the world. He's a rare person who has been awakened...something that only those who see...can see. Hopefully some day there will be more people, and as more and more people become at peace so will the world. This book is ahead of it's time and shining light on the dawning of the spirituality age that is just starting to crack on the conciousness of humanity.

How does one cultivate a spiritual life in the modern world? In 1986 the author accepted an invitation to visit a Benedictine monk living in India: his third visit prompted an invitation to take an Indian monkhood. His experiences as a monk and mystic make for thought-provoking, important reading.

Has some good stuff in it, but it lost me in two ways:

1. Throughout there is a subtle sense of pride. A flavor that he thinks he is *cool* and better than others. This is very subtle but I can taste it.

2. But where he really lost me was what he says on page 45. Does he really believe that crap? He could cross the street without looking as a kid because *God* was protecting him. Uniquely him, not others, because obviously others get hit by cars, in accidents, death by war and drive by shootings. There are accidents, injury, death every day, but *God* wouldn't let anything happen to him! And as an adult *God* has also saved him. So, if you practice spiritual life according to his *God*, you won't get hurt, but *God* doesn't give a damn about people who don't practice, so they are the ones who get in all the accidents every minute of every day? So Mr. Teasdale, are you going to die from old age some day?

Reminds me of the sports figures who think *God* is specifically on their side. Yeah, *God* cares about the Giants but not the Dodgers. *He* has nothing better to do than watch you swing a bat!

I should have known after seeing that the forward was written by that pompous a** Ken Wilber.