Father Mark Serna OSB, president of MID and chair of its board of directors, visited Shasta Abbey, a contemplative monastic Soto Zen Community in California, to give a series of talks on the Rule of St. Benedict. In addition to readings and discussions focused on various aspects of the Rule, Fr. Mark also spoke about the monastic journey, monastic relationships, prayer, and love. The week was filled with much sharing and many conversations exploring the similarities and differences between Catholic and Buddhist monastics.

During his week (March 2-6) at Shasta, Fr. Mark participated in the full schedule of the monastery and was the beneficiary of the hospitality, friendship, and generosity of Abbot Eko Little and the community. The Venerable Ayya Tathaaloka, abbess of Dhammadharini Vihara, a women's monastic residence in the Theravadan Buddhist tradition, accompanied Fr. Mark to Shasta Abbey from San Francisco. She presented Abbot Little and the Shasta community with a gift of relics of the Buddha, which were ceremoniously enshrined in the monastery's Founders' Shrine.