California Buddhists and Catholics Launch First Formal Dialogue

March 20, 2003

Source: Religion News Service

http://www.Beliefnet.com/story/124/story_12435_1.html

On March 20, 2003 Religion News Service reported that "Buddhists and Roman Catholic bishops sat down at a California retreat center recently for their first round of official dialogue... The March 20-23 talks were the first for the two sides, organized by the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, the San Francisco Zen Center and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The 14 Buddhists and 14 Catholics spoke about what it means to follow the way of Bodhisattvas (enlightened beings) and the way of Jesus Christ. The group reflected on the writings of everyone from the Dalai Lama to St. Ignatius. 'Several times participants discussed their understanding of terms such as transformation, grace, the incarnation and the passion of Jesus, discernment of spirits, prayer, Buddha-nature and related terms,' a church news release said."