In the last fifty years Buddhists and Christians have come together in inter-monastic exchange
joint meditation retreats dialogues concerning the relationship between meditation and social
action cross-tradition pupil teacher relationships and joint academic explorations into the
parallels between Buddhist and Christian spiritual practice. The practice of meditation has
been important in all of these encounters and has become one of the most significant 'grounds
for meeting' within contemporary Buddhist-Christian relationships. This book critically
analyses the role in Buddhist-Christian encounter of the variety of practices embraced by the
term 'meditation'. The contributors use the academic tools of historical inquiry sociology
cultural studies philosophy and comparative textual study. The result is an interdisciplinary
contribution which takes the religious experience of those involved in Buddhist-Christian
encounter seriously without reifying it above its cultural and socio-political contexts.With
contributions by: Ursula Baatz Karl Baier Thomas Cattoi Elise DeVido Sybille
Fritsch-Oppermann Elizabeth Harris Leo Lefebure John Makransky Andreas Nehring Thao Nyugen
Robert Sharf Sarah Shaw Elizabete Taivane Nicholas Alan Worssam.
