A long-time friend of the monastery, Deva Magdalena, today brought a Catholic Father to visit us. This is Padre Enedir Moreira, from Bauru, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
He was very, very happy to meet Bodhinatha. “I need the blessings of a Guru to properly meditate,” he said. Bodhinatha put vibhuti on his forehead and shared wonderful advice. He explained that religions have different things to offer. The priest listened attentively. He said he wants to take one year of sabbatical to go to India, explaining, “I feel very close to the Siddha Yoga Saivites of North India.” He asked us to convey a message to TAKA readers: “God is one.”
He attended the puja and then had a nice chat with the monks. One of his many duties in the Catholic church is inter-faith dialogue, which led him to studying Hinduism and Buddhism in depth. After 25 years of priesthood, he longs for deeper experiences, and thought that meditation would help him with it, so he contacted the kriya Yoga group founded by Swami Hariharananda.
Padre Enedir explained, to our surprise, that the church is supportive of his efforts. “The Catholic church is much more advanced nowadays in talking to other faiths about God,” he said. One of our monks reminded us that Catholicism in South America is more liberal than the one practiced in the US. Padre Enedir even invited some Hindus to speak to the faithful at his diocese.
I am from the church of the Father Enedir Moreira in Brazil. We were very happy he’s visited Bodhinatha. By the way, I am catholic and the name of my older son is “Dhi”. Yes, only Dhi (related, devoted to God). What means Bodhinatha?
July 13th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
(Why am I crying?) This is wonderful. Thank you. Aum Namah Sivaya
July 14th, 2010 at 3:36 am
So much light in the Catholic Father’s face. This is very hopeful.
July 14th, 2010 at 11:13 am
Amazing…Siva is in all…
July 14th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
something reminds me of the Celestine Prophecies by James Redfield…
Aum
July 14th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
IT SHOWS: LOVE IS ALL THERE IS
July 15th, 2010 at 7:43 am
His warm smile shows it all :o)
Aum Namah Sivaya
July 15th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Guruve saranam.
January 30th, 2011 at 6:14 pm
I am from the church of the Father Enedir Moreira in Brazil. We were very happy he’s visited Bodhinatha. By the way, I am catholic and the name of my older son is “Dhi”. Yes, only Dhi (related, devoted to God). What means Bodhinatha?