This World

David Steindl-Rast was born in Austria in 1926 and came to the U.S. after receiving his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Vienna. As a Benedictine monk, he is known for pioneering dialogue between Christianity and Buddhism, teaching about gratefulness, and revitalizing contemplative prayer. For six decades, he has divided his time between a hermit’s life and lecture and retreat tours on five continents. He’s the author of many books including the classics of spirituality, Gratefulness: The Heart of Prayer and A Listening Heart, and co-founder of A Network for Grateful Living.