Wayne Teasdale calls this "the interspiritual age" and predicts that interspirituality will become "the religion of the third millennium." The author, who grew up in Windsor (CT) and now lives in Chicago as a Catholic lay monk, offers an inspiring vision of a world where people draw from the wisdom of all the great spiritual traditions.

He begins with the assertion that" every one of us is a mystic" capable of "direct contact with the divine, or ultimate mystery." As well as any recent writer, Teasdale draws on the insights of Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism to shed light on the spiritual journey. He sketches a vision that is at once practical and uplifting. He discusses social action, solitude, nature, solidarity with all living beings, nonviolence, simplicity, and other attributes of the spiritual quest.

The goal of any spiritual journey is to "prepare ourselves to be receptive and sensitive to the divine presence by slowly awakening our spiritual senses." This is a landmark book in the field of interreligious dialogue, written with sensitivity and deep respect for all the great traditions.

8 of 8 found the following review helpful:


In Memoriam  Nov 01, 2004 By Steven Byrne
Wayne Teasdale passed away unexpectedly a few days ago.

The Mystic Heart is not heavy reading, but somewhat of a mysticism/interspirituality primer, more descriptive than prescriptive. It is certainly comprehensive and good for familiarizing oneself with the basic elements of mysticism and interspirituality, but it does not contain much practical guidance. The glossary is is fair. The recommended reading list is great.

8 of 8 found the following review helpful:


An Inspiring Book!  May 06, 2002 By Everardo Pedraza
Brother Wayne Teasdale's book is an inspiration for all readers
interested in learning about the commonalities between religions,
in an attempt to find a common ground on which to build fruitful
inter-religious dialogue and appreciate the mystic core of all the major religious traditions. This book is affirming and helpful because it points to a future possibility and present reality in which cooperation, love, respect, and understanding of the mystic heart of all spiritual traditions is one and the same.
Most wars that have been fought throughout history have been religious wars. If the human family can begin to nurture its spiritual and religious commonalities, then I believe that we will have less war and more peace. The Mystic Heart eloquently and optimistically speaks of the infinite spiritual potential of the human family that can be realized. This book is so critically important for readers to ponder, read, and pray--especially in this post September 11 world we inhabit. A member of the Parliament of the World's Religions, Teasdale offers readers a glimpse into a new understanding of the enormous potential of the human family to transcend religious devisions and strive toward higher levels of spiritual awareness. As the old adage says, "There are no fences in heaven," Mystic Heart speaks about the possibility of having no fences on earth between religions, but rather gates where there is potential for mutual understanding, sharing, and living, in harmony with one another and the cosmos. I highly recommend this book for all readers interested in cultivating their mystic heart of understanding!

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