Practical Spirituality  -  Part I  -  Spring 2010

Distinction religion/spirituality

Where and why religion might have failed us

Touching on the 'real self'

Basis for this Spirituality

  Quantum theory

   Cosmology - Creation spirituality

   Universe Story - our story

Practical Spirituality

  Getting to know 'the real self' 

   The Self and 'being'

   Learning to be in the 'now

The ego prevents finding the now and the Self

   How the ego shows itself

   Learning to observe the ego

Opposing the ego is practical spirituality 

Finding the 'divine presence' in the now

  Fowler's story            

   Being in the now is salvation

Practical spirituality and the wisdom of old masters

Jesus and practical spirituality

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SYLLABUS - PRACTICAL SPIRITUALITY - Part II

Introduction 

   Distinction between religion and spirituality         

   Where or why religion might have failed us              

   Truth relative or absolute                       

God-related means self-related 

    Arising of a new consciousness                                                

The true identity beyond the 'ego'           

   Identification                                                     

From Descartes to Sartre

    Peace that passes all understanding 

   True happiness proof of immortality       

The joy of 'being' 

    Being in the now is salvation 

Outer space, 'inner space', 'being'

   Discovery of 'inner space' 

   Recognizing 'inner space'                                    

   Inner space and 'gnosis' 

   Inner space and the divine 

   Where to find the 'divine' 

Who/what is 'God'? 

God-connection of the Ancients

    Kenosis - Knowledge - Suffering  

   Empathy - Concern for everybody 

God-connection

   in traditional theology

   in cosmic/evolution theology

The 'spiritual aspect' of God  

   in Judaism - Jesus, Golden Rule - Kaballah.

   in gnosticism of early Christian writings 

   Jesus a gnostic? 

   in Celtic spirituality 

   in Islam - Sufism  

   in forms of mysticism 

Application to Practical Spirituality                          

   Truth - relative or absolute 

   Finding divine presence in the 'now 

   A Parable - and the inner body 

   Inner body, inner space, doorway to the 'divine' 

Union that is 'universe connected' 

     Breakthrough - Meister Eckhart + Fowler 

   The joy of 'being' - Entrances to the 'divine' 

   Other entrances to the 'divine' 

   Why women are more open for 'enlightenment'  

   Searching for vs Finding the divine                  

   How practical spirituality is ‘salvation’ 

Contemporary thoughts about God/divine

   Tolle, Kingsland, Geering, Borg, Tillich, 
   John Robinson (Eckhart),

   Spong, Fowels, Wilber, Kushner

And so: A New Earth is not an Utopia