"In the second half of the twentieth century global communications have evolved to the point where the Christian world can no longer be ignorant of Zen Buddhism. The meeting of these two international religions can bring needed light and compassion to many. Their encounter must not be allowed to degenerate because of prejudgments and misunderstanding. Let us Christians then pay attention to the gifts that are offered to us, and gratefully accept and integrate into our lives all that is possible. And if we deem that there is some part of the gift we cannot understand or accept, then let us wait with hope for another generation of Christians to be able to integrate what we could not. In the meantime, in our conversations with gift-bearing teachers of other traditions, let us with Stephen Spender
" ' . . .think continually of those who were truly great.
. . .Whose lovely ambition
Was that their lips, still touched with fire,
Should tell of the Spirit, clothed from head to foot in song.
"Fortunately there is a new generosity openness in the Christian world to non-Christian religions that can enrich us profoundly. The gifts Zen Buddhism offers cannot satisfy every personality and devotional orientation. Our scriptures and traditions will always completely nourish and develop many Christians. Yet there will be Christians who will be drawn to interfaith practice and will wish to enhance their faith with the Zen gifts depicted in these ox-herding pictures. The Zen Christian practice will not always be filled with light. We may experience that when we shift our devotional emphasis from the 'last word' that has given us security and certitude, we will open ourselves to the possibility of doubt, pain, and loneliness. Recall the experience of Stephen Dunn who said that the sacred cannot be found unless we give up some old version of it; and when we do, we will experience an emptiness that will take a lifetime to fill.
"Our reach must always extend beyond our grasp, and the mandate of the church to promote truths other than our own must be accepted and followed, for the goal is one of peace finally among religions.
"Ponder once more the words of Denise Levertov:
"Imagine two neighboring hills, and
your house, my house, looking across, friendly:
image ourselves
meeting each other
bringing gifts, bringing news."
