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Christian Sannyasa
L.M.: How many are they?
W.T.: There are five or six at present.
L.M.: Men and women, both?
W.T.: Men and women; there are two Carmelite sannyasi priests in Arizona who have been living the life for over twenty-five years. They're following the teachings of Abishiktananda.
My thought has evolved a lot about sannyasa. I see sannyasa as a meeting place for the religions-a place of dialogue and encounter—and of transformation and spiritual friendships. All religions have the mystical dimension. Spirituality is the real religion of humanity, and the spiritual quest is the focus of the sannyasic calling. Sannyasa can also become a democratizing movement within the church and within all the religions. So we are talking about a universal order that can bring the religions together.
L.M.: So by democratizing, do you mean de hierarchizing; and getting beyond the top-down pyramid mode in the Catholic Church?
W.T.: We do have this top-down pyramid mode. But here's the thing about sannyasa. One can become a sannyasi, whether one is a Benedictine or Trappist monk, a priest, or nun, or a lay person. You can be a student, married, single, or whatever.
L.M.: Married sannyasis too?
W.T.: Married people can evolve in their marriage, as they do in India. In its universal form sannyasa is open to anyone who is ready for it.
L.M.: That's great. So you don't have to leave your wife or husband to do this.
W.T.: No, you don't.
L.M.: Your relationship is able to evolve.
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