Mystical Journey

William Johnston, an Irish-born Jesuit and a famous pioneer of East-West dialogue, tells his fascinating story of spiritual adventure. After his upbringing in a staunch Catholic family in Belfast and his rigorous formation in the Jesuits, Johnston faced a turning point with his assignment to Japan in 1951. There his exposure to Asian culture and Zen practice led to his rediscovery of the mystical traditions of Christianity, transforming his spiritual practice. His story is enlivened by encounters with such figures as Pedro Arrupe, the saintly Jesuit Superior General, Thomas Merton, novelist Shusaku Endo, Takashi Nagai, the mystic of Nagasaki, and the Dalai Lama.