Hi Bill, Again the writing is gorgeous, evocative of your experience, easily understood by other people, directly relatable to them, and crystal clear. Bravo!
"I was no longer interested in studying things “out there,” but in exploring the interior life of the Spirit."
I find it refreshing that you instinctively turned inward to find your deep connection to the Tao or Spirit. It is the connection of the human body and senses to spirituality that keeps Buddhism and other Eastern philosophies humane and compassionate. Thank you for your compass point for our spiritual journey.
Thanks, John. I've told the briefest version of this story and left out much of the context. The whole experience was deeply rooted in religion for me and there was a lot of overtly "religious" content in the experience, including a connection with Jesus that felt very intimate and enlivening. So it was clear to me that this was a spiritual experience, and that it was calling me to explore my own inner depths.
I am very suspicious of dualistic Abrahamic religious philosophies. I understand your Jesus archetype, but even Jesus would be aghast at what has been made of his teachings. You might find my article on Zoroaster interesting. https://johnhardman.substack.com/p/the-curse-of-zoroaster
I heartily agree that most contemporary expressions of Christianity are not true to the Gospel, but I think it's important to feed the movements within Christianity that embrace a more complex view of Christianity. In the developmental model I use in my work, there are half a dozen or more ways to interpret Jesus and Christianity. A child is only capable of a literal understanding until age 12 or so, so there will always be a need for a literalist understanding....
The psychologist in me would argue just the opposite. Children have to be taught to be literal and are naturally allegorical and drawn to fantasy. My friend’s three children aged from 4-10 are all into Star Wars, super heroes, and dinosaurs. The prefrontal cortex - the seat of reason - does not mature until after puberty (if at all). We are natural mystics until forced otherwise. There was a reason Jesus spoke in parables. Thomas Moore in his series of books on Care of the Soul, argues that there is always a need for the mystical and poetic to balance out the despair of literalism. 🙏
In my view, and this might require a longer conversation than I'm up for at the moment, there is childish imagination and magic and later, post-rational mystical knowing. The two can look alike but they are quite different. I agree with Moore's statement and feel it's true for adults, though not all adults are able to access that mystical/poetic consciousness.
I find your term “post-rational mystic knowing” intriguing. Are you saying that one has to take the step into becoming rational before they can move beyond to some grander state of mysticism? I am a fan of Philip Shepherd and his book “Radical Wholeness” where he describes two “brains” or consciousness centers - rational head-mind and sensual, intuitive gut-mind linked by the vagus nerve. He advocates a healthy balance or synergy of the two consciousness. Is this along the lines of what you are referring to?
Hi Bill, Again the writing is gorgeous, evocative of your experience, easily understood by other people, directly relatable to them, and crystal clear. Bravo!
Thank you, Jon. I'm just beginning to think about this week's post, which will likely take a different direction than these first three.
Whatever inspires you when you sit down...at least that's what happens when I write "Wise Guy." Enjoy the process!
"I was no longer interested in studying things “out there,” but in exploring the interior life of the Spirit."
I find it refreshing that you instinctively turned inward to find your deep connection to the Tao or Spirit. It is the connection of the human body and senses to spirituality that keeps Buddhism and other Eastern philosophies humane and compassionate. Thank you for your compass point for our spiritual journey.
Thanks, John. I've told the briefest version of this story and left out much of the context. The whole experience was deeply rooted in religion for me and there was a lot of overtly "religious" content in the experience, including a connection with Jesus that felt very intimate and enlivening. So it was clear to me that this was a spiritual experience, and that it was calling me to explore my own inner depths.
I am very suspicious of dualistic Abrahamic religious philosophies. I understand your Jesus archetype, but even Jesus would be aghast at what has been made of his teachings. You might find my article on Zoroaster interesting. https://johnhardman.substack.com/p/the-curse-of-zoroaster
I heartily agree that most contemporary expressions of Christianity are not true to the Gospel, but I think it's important to feed the movements within Christianity that embrace a more complex view of Christianity. In the developmental model I use in my work, there are half a dozen or more ways to interpret Jesus and Christianity. A child is only capable of a literal understanding until age 12 or so, so there will always be a need for a literalist understanding....
The psychologist in me would argue just the opposite. Children have to be taught to be literal and are naturally allegorical and drawn to fantasy. My friend’s three children aged from 4-10 are all into Star Wars, super heroes, and dinosaurs. The prefrontal cortex - the seat of reason - does not mature until after puberty (if at all). We are natural mystics until forced otherwise. There was a reason Jesus spoke in parables. Thomas Moore in his series of books on Care of the Soul, argues that there is always a need for the mystical and poetic to balance out the despair of literalism. 🙏
In my view, and this might require a longer conversation than I'm up for at the moment, there is childish imagination and magic and later, post-rational mystical knowing. The two can look alike but they are quite different. I agree with Moore's statement and feel it's true for adults, though not all adults are able to access that mystical/poetic consciousness.
I find your term “post-rational mystic knowing” intriguing. Are you saying that one has to take the step into becoming rational before they can move beyond to some grander state of mysticism? I am a fan of Philip Shepherd and his book “Radical Wholeness” where he describes two “brains” or consciousness centers - rational head-mind and sensual, intuitive gut-mind linked by the vagus nerve. He advocates a healthy balance or synergy of the two consciousness. Is this along the lines of what you are referring to?
I completely agree about Br David. A living saint, he is, and his view is truly universal.