Monthly Archives: January 2011

AN EXPERIENCE OF CLARITY

Posted on January 29, 2011 by nancyjfinleysd

  AN EXPERIENCE OF CLARITY           In January of 1990, when my late husband and I were in Kyoto visiting the Golden Pavilion gardens, I had an extraordinary experience that I now understand might qualify as “mystical.”  Below is an excerpt … Continue reading →

Posted in mind, MYSTICISM, spirit, Spirituality | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Agape

Posted on January 29, 2011 by nancyjfinleysd

Agape is regarded as a kind of love that’s transpersonal, self-sacrificing, and genuine.  My understanding of the Cosmic Christ is that which serves as the doorway to the Divine realm with which each human psyche is graced.  Given this understanding, … Continue reading →

Posted in Love, spirit, Spirituality | Tagged , | 1 Comment

SYNERGY OF SCIENCE AND RELIGION

Posted on January 14, 2011 by nancyjfinleysd

I often think about how the perceived dualism of science and religion is silly and unnecessary. Each has something to contribute to the Celtic knot of being in Creation.  They can remain distinct but interact in synergistic ways to better … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion, Science, Spirituality | Tagged , | 3 Comments

ARTISTS CAN ILLUMINATE THE PATH TO PARADISE

Posted on January 14, 2011 by nancyjfinleysd

                 To yearn for transcendence is part of the human experience.  No matter how satisfied we are with the here and now, many of us feel like something’s missing. It’s almost like we have dim and fleeting memories of another … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Spirituality | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Kenosis, God, and the Tao

Posted on January 8, 2011 by nancyjfinleysd

I love this idea of self emptying (from the Greek kenosis).  Not only does it feel really good to gently let go of grasping, it creates a spaciousness out of which flow some surprises regarding God and my relationship with God.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Kenosis, Spirituality, Taoism | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

My body is a koan, Part 2

Posted on January 8, 2011 by nancyjfinleysd

A few more thoughts:  My body is an imperfect and leaky container for the divine.  Sometimes I feel trapped, inconsolable, and called to share in God’s suffering about the pain of embodiment and sin.  My joints ache and my mind is … Continue reading →

Posted in Kenosis, Spirituality, Taoism | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Breathing and images

Posted on January 8, 2011 by nancyjfinleysd

As mindfulness walks the tightrope between distraction and focus, I’m finding that sitting still and simply watching the breath is turning out to be an interesting spiritual discipline.  Allowing images to form and point the way is also helping to … Continue reading →

Posted in Spirituality | Tagged | 2 Comments