The Mystic Heart chronicled Brother Wayne Teasdale’s journey into a multifaceted spirituality blending his traditional Catholic training and the Eastern way of sannyasa (Indian monkhood). A Monk in the World tells what that journey has meant for him — living as a monk outside the monastery, integrating teachings from the world’s religions with his own Catholic training, combining his vigorous spiritual practice with the necessities of making a living, and pursuing a course of social justice in a major American city. In telling his story, Teasdale shows how others can find their own “internal monastery” and bring spiritual practice into their busy lives.

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.

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:


Practical ideas on how to help humanity based on the spiritual traditions of Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism  Oct 02, 2009 By Jerome Ryan
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.

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:


Walking in Christ's footsteps  Jun 24, 2009 By Emil Toth
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

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Well Done  Jul 12, 2002 By TJ McGovern
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.

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Thank You Brother Teasdall  Jun 28, 2009 By Amy Brown
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.

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