Proof of Heaven

From DmesWiki

Proof of Heaven: Christian and Buddhist Roadmaps to the Same Place

A Christian and Buddhist Dialogue about Heaven, Angels, and God

with Father Brian Baker, Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally

April 12th & 13th, 2008

Given at Broadway Presbyterian Church, New York, NY,

in conjunction with the release of Geshe Michael and Lama Christie's book, The Eastern Path to Heaven.

April 12th 2008, talk one (http://www.dmes.org/audiofiles/Christian-GMLCBB-NY-01.mp3)

April 12th 2008, talk two (http://www.dmes.org/audiofiles/Christian-GMLCBB-NY-02.mp3)

Reading for the first night (http://www.dmes.org/pdfs/Heaven-01-01-reading.pdf)

Reading for the second night (http://www.dmes.org/pdfs/Heaven-01-02-reading.pdf)

The True Love


by David Whyte (as quoted by Father Brian)

There's a faith in loving fiercely the one who is rightfully yours


especially if you have waited years and especially if part of you never


believed you could deserve this loved and beckoning hand held


out to you this way.



I am thinking of faith now and the testaments of loneliness


and what we feel we are worthy of in this world.


Years ago in the Hebrides I remember an old man


who would walk every morning on the gray stones


to the shore of baying seals, who would press his 


hat to his chest in the blustering salt wind and say his


prayer to the turbulent Jesus hidden in the waters.



And I think of the story of the storm and the people


waking and seeing the distant, yet familiar figure, 


far across the water calling to them.


And how we are all preparing for that abrupt waking


and that calling and that moment when we have to say yes!

Except it will not come so grandly, so biblically,


but more subtly, and intimately in the face


of the one you know you have to love.


So that when we finally step out of the boat


toward them we find, everything holds us,


and everything confirms our courage.



And if you wanted to drown, you could,


But you don't, because finally, after all


this struggle and all these years,


you don't want to anymore.


You've simply had enough of drowning


and you want to live, and you want to love.


And you'll walk across any territory,


and any darkness, however fluid,


and however dangerous to take the one


hand and the one life, you know belongs in yours