"Every one of us is a mystic. We may or may not realize it, we may not even like it. But whether we know it or not, whether we accept it or not, mystical experience is always there, inviting us on a journey of ultimate discovery. We have been given the gift of life in this perplexing world to become who we ultimately are: creatures of boundless love, caring compassion, and wisdom. Existence is a summons to the eternal journey of the sage - the sage we all are, if only we could see." —Brother Wayne Teasdale, The Mystic Heart

Brother Wayne Teasdale (1945 - 2004)

Brother Wayne Teasdale was a lay monk who combined the traditions of Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism in the way of the Christian sannyasa. A teacher and activist in building common ground among the world's religions, he served on the board of trustees of the Parliament of the World's Religions. As a member of the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue, he helped draft their Universal Declaration of Nonviolence. He was also committed to the cause of a free Tibet.

Brother Wayne was an adjunct professor at DePaul University, Columbia College, and the Catholic Theological Union, and co-ordinator of the Bede Griffiths Trust. He held an M.A. in philosophy from St. Joseph University and a Ph. D. in theology from Fordham University. He lived at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.