Jesuit Fr. Robert E. Kennedy is an American Catholic priest and a Zen master (Roshi). "I have never felt that I was a Buddhist. I have always felt that I am Catholic and a Jesuit," Kennedy tells Tom Fox. "But I wanted a faith that was deeper, that was rooted in my experience that was not a theory that could blown away with a change in culture." He explains: "Christianity is not a triumphal march to the Kingdom." It is an emptying of self. "This profound teaching of Christian life is very close to Buddhism. Buddhism tries to empty ourselves of a false identity and to come to the world as naked and as crucified as Christ was." http://ncrcafe.org 2007 National Catholic Reporter en-us Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:31:06 -0600 dcoday@ncronline.org Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:23:52 -0600 FeedForAll v2.0 (2.0.0.4) http://www.feedforall.com I wanted a faith that was deeper: Jesuit priest and Zen master Jesuit Fr. Robert E. Kennedy is an American Catholic priest and a Zen master (Roshi). "I have never felt that I was a Buddhist. I have always felt that I am Catholic and a Jesuit," Kennedy tells Tom Fox. "But I wanted a faith that was deeper, that was rooted in my experience that was not a theory that could blown away with a change in culture." He explains: "Christianity is not a triumphal march to the Kingdom." It is an emptying of self. "This profound teaching of Christian life is very close to Buddhism. Buddhism tries to empty ourselves of a false identity and to come to the world as naked and as crucified as Christ was." Tom Fox National Catholic Reporter dcoday@ncronline.org Zen, Buddhism, Catholicism, conversion, interfaith no no http://ncrnews.org/ncrpodcasts/graphics/rkennedy.jpg http://ncrcafe.org Jesuit Fr. Robert E. Kennedy 65 88 "I was talking with a Chinese Zen master once and he said one of the difficulties of dealing with Catholics is that they love their spiritualities ... as if it was a parallel life," Jesuit Fr. Robert E. Kennedy tells Tom Fox. Buddhists root us in this moment, he said. "Buddhists would say, 'If God isn't present in this moment, where is he? You meet God in doing the deed of this moment in front of you. Never withdraw from it.' " http://ncrnews.org/ncrpodcasts/rkennedy_episode1_highspeed_option.mp3 dcoday@ncronline.org Zen, Buddhism, Catholicism, conversion, interfaith http://ncrcafe.org E2304246-1146-4946-BC5F-0AE017E2A3E4 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:29:47 -0600 NCR Cafe When Jesuit Fr. Robert E. Kennedy went to study with a Japanese Zen master, the Buddhist told him: " 'I do not want to make you a Buddhist. I want to empty you in imitation of your Lord Jesus Christ who emptied himself and poured himself out.' This is at the heart of what it means to be Catholic. To follow Christ is to empty ourselves." He continues: "I remember thinking then, 'This Buddhist might make a Christian of me yet.' It was so profoundly Christian and beautiful." http://ncrnews.org/ncrpodcasts/rkennedy_episode2_highspeed_option.mp3 dcoday@ncronline.org Zen, Buddhism, Catholicism, conversion, interfaith http://ncrcafe.org DCC0C786-1705-4FBD-890C-087C8D732771 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:27:59 -0600 NCR Cafe