Several weeks ago I participated in a Buddhist/Catholic dialogue at the city of 10,000 Buddhas in Ukiah, Calif. This marked the ninth year that our group has gathered to discuss areas of mutual interest. This year we took up the theme of conversation and conversion. We looked at ways in which each of our religions helps people to deepen in their commitment to the truth or, for us Catholics, to Jesus Christ. We looked at the different ways that our religions call us to deepen in our awareness and how this in turn helps to deepen our knowledge of the truth and how it enlightens us as persons and as a community. We also discussed ways in which each of our religions may reach out to others to proclaim the truth as we know it. While neither religion proselytizes, Buddhism and Catholicism do proclaim, in word and action, the truth that we each hold dear.
Our time together helped to deepen the bonds of friendship between us and we all went home the better for our dialogue. As is usually the case in these types of dialogs, each of us was confirmed in our own faith, helping us to see the beauty in it.
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