An indepth conversation with Cynthia Bourgeault (Episcopal priest, author, mystic, and Professor Emeritus at the Centre for Action and Contemplation).

We discuss mysticism, centering prayer, nonliteral interpretations of Jesus and the Bible, Thomas Keating, how to process the genocide in Gaza, Donald Trump, and more!

For more go to: https://whatiwannaknow.com/cynthiabo...

00:00 Intro
00:51 Bonnevaux
02:27 Are you a mystic?
05:16 Are you a Christian?
06:16 Other wisdom paths Bourgeault taps into
07:24 Defining God & Divine Reality
11:52 Centering prayer & explaining its impact and value
20:48 Drugs & Spirituality
28:00 Our Inner Sanctuary
31:08 What Bourgeault does in solitude at her hermitage & the goals
36:06 Jesus Christ as mystic and practitioner of centering prayer
38:45 Dangers of reading the Bible as literal
42:40 Bourgeault's favorite mystic texts in the Bible
46:27 Interpreting "I am the way, the truth, and the life"
51:53 Importance of taking spiritual risks
53:51 Interpreting "Blessed Are the Pure in Heart"
56:12 Humility
58:15 Discernment
01:02:30 Listening to your body during meditation
01:04:53 Origins of suffering, G.I. Gurdjieff, & Satan
01:13:02 Gaza & processing genocide
01:23:03 Donald Trump and his impact in the spiritual realm
01:29:17 Thomas Keating
01:32:13 Richard Rohr & James Finley
01:36:31 What to do in times of doubt & spiritual discouragement