Tag Archives: union
Knowing that We Don’t Know
Unknowing: Week 2 Knowing that We Don’t Know Monday, October 8, 2018 I encourage you, then, to make experience, not knowledge, your aim. Knowledge often leads to arrogance, but this humble feeling never lies to you. —Anonymous, Book of Privy Counsel [1] In meditation, we move beyond doctrines and dogmas to inner experience. When we move… Continue Reading Knowing that We Don’t Know
Dying Before We Die
Islam Dying Before We Die Friday, September 28, 2018 Ironic, but one of the most intimate acts of our body is death. So beautiful appeared my death—knowing who then I would kiss, I died a thousand times before I died. “Die before you die,” said the Prophet Muhammad. Have wings that feared ever touched the… Continue Reading Dying Before We Die
The Soul’s Objective Union with God
Western Christianity The Soul’s Objective Union with God Wednesday, September 19, 2018 The Genesis story of the Judeo-Christian tradition is really quite extraordinary. It says that we were created in the very “image and likeness” of God, proceeding from free and overflowing love (Genesis 1:26). This flow is rediscovered and re-experienced by various imperfect people… Continue Reading The Soul’s Objective Union with God
Hasidism
Judaism Hasidism Friday, August 31, 2018 The Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760)—Master of the Good Name—was the founder of a Jewish religious movement called Hasidism that began in the eighteenth century. The “Besht” (acronym for Baal Shem Tov) was ecstatically in love with God. He reminds me a bit of my own spiritual father, St. Francis… Continue Reading Hasidism
Ways of Praying and Knowing
Hinduism Ways of Praying and Knowing Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Hinduism emphasizes concrete practices (yogas) which allow practitioners to know things for themselves. I often wonder if conservative Christians are afraid of the word yoga because they are in fact afraid of concrete orthopraxy! They prefer to strongly believe things but have very few daily practices… Continue Reading Ways of Praying and Knowing
Infinite Forms
Hinduism Infinite Forms Monday, August 13, 2018 If you have ever traveled to India, you realize that Hinduism is less a religion and more a 5,000-year-old culture, formed by such ancient sources as the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita, and communicated in thousands of other ways. Hinduism is the product of millennia of deep self-observation, human history,… Continue Reading Infinite Forms
Finding the One in the Many
Primal and Indigenous Spirituality Finding the One in the Many Sunday, August 5, 2018 Over the next several weeks, I will explore the divine image and likeness in many spiritual streams throughout history and around the world. I can’t even attempt to give an exhaustive study—there are so many wonderful examples from the Perennial Tradition.… Continue Reading Finding the One in the Many
Knowing Our Source and Ground
Perennial Tradition Knowing Our Source and Ground Thursday, August 2, 2018 David Benner, a friend and wise teacher, has been a part of several Christian traditions over the years, including fundamentalism, evangelicalism, and now contemplative Anglicanism. He reflects on universal truths across denominations and religions: All wisdom traditions have something to say about four important matters:… Continue Reading Knowing Our Source and Ground
Awakening to Our True Self
Perennial Tradition Awakening to Our True Self Tuesday, July 31, 2018 The term “perennial philosophy” . . . refers to a fourfold realization: (1) there is only one Reality (call it, among other names, God, Mother, Tao, Allah, Dharmakaya, Brahman, or Great Spirit) that is the source and substance of all creation; (2) that while… Continue Reading Awakening to Our True Self
