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Living and working among the Thai people has been agreat reward for me these past four years. I have triedto be open to experiences that help me to get to know

the people and to be part of their lives and culture. My involvement in Buddhist meditation retreats has

been one such experience. At first I questioned whether or notI should attend—my spiritual prayer had always been myway of meditating. However, these retreats have become agift for which I am truly grateful.

Usually 15 to 20 people attend the three-day retreats inthe coastal town of Cha-Am, three hours’ drive outside ofBangkok. Tony, the retreat director, arranges for Zen Masters(monks) to come and teach us the ways of meditation. We dositting meditation and walking meditation. We begin bylearning mindfulness of breathing and the Master explainsand demonstrates each step, always welcoming our concernsor questions. After each meditation, we share how we feeland what we experience within ourselves.

The spiritual training specified in Buddhism is the train-ing in higher thoughts. There are different mental trainingsknown as Samadhi (concentration) and Vipassana (insight),and subjects of the Ultimate Truth.

Every three months or so, we gather together for lunchwith one of the Masters to share our experiences of the retreatand how it has helped us to be more peaceful.

The retreats have been a source of many blessings forme. I have met people of different religions and cultures fromall over the world—a wonderful opportunity for sharing,listening, and seeing the hand of God at work. This hasbrought me to a deeper understanding of my own faith andof God’s love. As well, the meditation training has enabledme to keep my mind more focused during prayer.

Now I have a greater understanding of the Thai peopleand their culture through the teachings of the Buddha. I havefound that many of the teachings are the same as those taughtin our Christian faith—giving love and kindness to all.

While on a Buddhist meditation retreat this year, Ireceived news of my brother’s death in Canada. I experiencedsuch a deep feeling of peace, and was overwhelmed by thesupport and love received from the group as we meditatedtogether. The monks held a beautiful service for my brotherin which we all told him we loved him and wished himhappiness on his journey. I could feel my brother’s presencethere with us. Even now, as I write about this experience, I fillup with tears of joy and thankfulness to God.∞

By Dorothy Novak

We are blessed to bepresent as Catholics andminorities in a Buddhist

country. We work in Rayong,Thailand, with Camillian FatherGiovanni Contarin at a Catholicrelief centre for adults andorphaned children living withHIV/AIDS.

The Centre is open to peoplefrom all walks of life and all reli-gions, and all are allowed toworship according to their ownbeliefs.

One morning, during my dailyvisits to the dying patients in thepalliative care unit, I saw that aBuddhist monk had been admit-ted. In the Thai Buddhist tradi-tion, monks are not permitted totouch women. As I approachedhis bed to talk to him, he instinc-tively pulled away for fear that Iwould hug him or hold his handas he had seen me do with theother patients. I quickly told himthat I knew I should not touchhim.

I visited him daily andrespected his tradition. Yet, I wassurprised and pleased to see thatat his deathbed he was accompa-nied by a Catholic priest and thenby a female nursing assistant whoheld his hand until the end. God’slove spans all faith traditions.

As Catholic Christians, myhusband Paddy and I know thatGod works in mysterious waysand we have experienced this in avery special way.

Outside the door to the pallia-tive care unit is a small alcove thathoused Mary, the Mother of Jesus.Since we had so few Catholics at

the Centre, Fr. Giovanni felt thatthe statue of Mary should bereplaced with a statue of theBuddha.

Fr. Giovanni consulted manypeople at the Centre as to whichBuddha would be suitable. Even-tually he found the right one andplaced it in the alcove. Thepatients and nursing assistantsimmediately began placing theappropriate cloth and flowersaround the Buddha and in thealcove. It was wonderful to see thehappiness this statue brought tothe people.

Respect for other people’sbeliefs has brought only good tothe Centre. Shortly after the

Buddha statue was put in place, afirst-time visitor was so impressedto see that a Catholic organizationwas open to his Buddhist religionand willing to help people of allfaith traditions, that he donated 25acres of land to be used for a chil-dren’s centre.

Living as Catholics in a countrythat is 95 percent Buddhist (and 98percent non-Christian) has givenus a much better understanding ofthe feelings of people who live asa minority all their lives. We praythat we will always be open topeople of all religions and do ourbest to accept everyone as a childof God.∞

By Georgina Phelan

A statue of the Buddha sits in the alcove outside the palliative care unit at theCatholic relief centre in Rayong, Thailand, for adults and children withHIV/AIDS. The statue is a sign of welcome and respect in this predominantlyBuddhist country.

Scarboro missioner Dorothy Novak and herBuddhist friend Bee renew their energies duringa day’s outing by standing barefoot and touchinga tree. Thailand.

“DIALOGUE WITH THE GREAT

RELIGIONS OF ASIA RECALLS FOR

US THE UNIVERSAL VALUE OF SELF-DISCIPLINE, SILENCE AND CONTEMPLA-TION IN DEVELOPING THE HUMAN

PERSON AND IN OPENING OUR HEARTS

TO GOD AND NEIGHBOUR.”Pope John Paul II speaking on the Church’s dialogue with Buddhists and Hindus. Rome, 1991.

Scarboro missioners in Thailand

Participants on the Buddhist meditation retreatwith Scarboro missioner Dorothy Novak whenshe received news of her brother’s death.

Thailand has a population of 67 million people, of whom95% are Buddhist. TheBuddhist religion is integral toThai life and culture. Six Scar-boro lay missioners work inThailand where they encounterand celebrate God’s presence inthe life and faith of the people.

Experiencing God in the land of the BuddhaAS PART OF BUDDHIST-CATHOLIC DIALOGUE AROUND THE WORLD, CATHOLICS

ARE NOW PARTICIPATING IN BUDDHIST MEDITATION

Opening to other faiths and culturesA LESSON IN ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE