Maria Kannon as inspiration for Zen practice that cuts across traditional lines of demarcation between the Buddhist and Christian traditions.

I am Catholic. Can I practice Zen?

Christians are discovering that Zen meditation practices invigorate and deepen their prayer life and spiritual growth. Zen training is especially helpful to those seeking to integrate prayer with ministry or social action. The tensions which seem to exist between religious ideals and life "as it is" are dissolved by the practice of awareness both in sitting meditation and in daily life. Meister Eckhart described this process in two simple ways: "Just do the next thing" and "Let God be God in me."

A Zen perspective on religious practice is to see what is already so and to remove the barrier between ourselves and the fundamental nature of all things. Zen awareness practices provide concrete methods to work through the "barriers."

Zen@ND welcomes Christians, and people from any or no religious tradition, who wish to practice Zen. Zen teachers often point out that we all drink the same cup of tea, whether we call ourselves Christian or Buddhist. But from a Zen perspective, one notes that we seldom do actually drink our tea....we are lost in thought, doing several things at the same time, waiting for something more important or interesting to do! Our practice helps us to be "in the moment" and to experience fully, apart from words to describe its meaning.

(Adapted from Christians Practicing Zen , by Sister Virgie Luchsinger)