Encountering the Wisdom Jesus

by Cynthia Bourgeault

The early Christians, teaches the Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, were afire with the spirit of Jesus, inspired fully by his teaching of a total transformation of consciousness. How do we reclaim that fire today? On Encountering the Wisdom Jesus, this brilliant author and dynamic Episcopalian priest presents her first full-length audio course on rediscovering the "Master of Wisdom." 12 immersive sessions The parables as wisdom tools Jesus' teachings on kenosis (or "self-emptying"): a path as radical today as it was 2,000 years ago - Jesus as tantric master - "Centering Prayer"--an approach to meditation as Jesus lived it, and much more. Synopsis New teachings and insights on "the quintessential mystic," from bestselling author and Contemplative Society teacher Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault.

Genres: Spirituality, Christianity, Religion

Audio CD

First published June 1, 2004

About the author

Modern day mystic, Episcopal priest, writer, and internationally known retreat leader, Cynthia Bourgeault divides her time between solitude at her seaside hermitage in Maine, and a demanding schedule traveling globally to teach and spread the recovery of the Christian contemplative and Wisdom path.

She has been a long-time advocate of the meditative practice of Centering Prayer and has worked closely with fellow teachers and colleagues including Thomas Keating, Bruno Barnhart, and Richard Rohr. Cynthia has actively participated in numerous inter-spiritual dialogues and events with luminaries and leaders such as A.H. Almaas, Kabir Helminski, Swami Atmarupananda, and Rami Shapiro.

Cynthia is a member of the GPIW (Global Peace Initiative for Women) Contemplative Council and recipient of the 2014 Contemplative Voices award from Shalem Institute. She is a founding Director of both The Contemplative Society and the Aspen Wisdom School. She continues to contribute to The Contemplative Society in her role as Principal Teacher and advisor.

Cynthia is the author of eight books: The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three, The Meaning of Mary Magdalene, The Wisdom Jesus, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, Mystical Hope, The Wisdom Way of Knowing, Chanting the Psalms, and Love is Stronger than Death. She has also authored or contributed to numerous articles on the Christian Wisdom path in publications such as Parabola Magazine, Gnosis Magazine, and Sewanee Theological Review.

Cynthia Bourgeault is currently one of the core faculty members at The Living School for Action and Contemplation.

from http://www.contemplative.org/cynthia-...

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are so many things I really like about this book I think I'll begin with the things I don't like about it first just to get them out of the way.

First there is Bourgeault's (I will refer to her as B from here forward) voice. It is thin and twangy with a tendency toward monotony in its rhythms. I cranked the audio speed up to 2x normal to make my listening experience some­what bearable. I've listened to over 100 audio books by now and I can tell you it makes a huge difference to have a competent narrator. By that I mean someone whose voice does not get in the way of the message at the least and at best who narrates in a voice that brings the written word to life. B chose to narrate her book but she did not put in the time to become a competent narrator, that is to become well acquainted with the instrument she is using-its potential, its limitations and its need to be cultivated and cared for. While I can appreciate the fact that B is delivering a set of lectures, I would suggest that makes this matter and those named below of even more, not less, significance..

An additional weakness related to style is B's tendency to use hackneyed and often distracting figures of speech. To repeatedly tell the reader that Jesus was attempting to ''fry our circuits' in his use of parables is, well, a little sad. The metaphor left me feeling as though the obsession of this wisdom Jesus was to zombify his followers. C'mon, professor, take some time to consider the ways your metaphors do harm to your message. I'm not expecting high prose, just prose that does not leave me as a reader distracted by troubling, dead end visions of contemplative practice.

I was also put off by B's tendency to deliver a resounding affirmation of a key piece of orthodox doctrine then immediately undermine her assertion by stating that it doesn't matter if the doctrine is underpinned by historical fact. It matters to many of us who count ourselves as contemplative christians. We do not see this false choice between historicity and a deeper cosmic validity as particularly wise or useful. As a matter of fact I am inclined to strongly affirm the historicity of certain events precisely because they correspond to matters of cosmic significance.

For the vast majority of contemplative christians throughout history belief in the historical validity of the gospel events has been an important dimension of our experience of Jesus. We affirm the historical revelations as foundational to our faith and as essential to the ascetical and mystical revelation. In fact, it is this commitment to the historicity of biblical claims about Christ that drive us to know that Jesus cannot be confined to our current cultural and purely personal imaginings about him.

Closely related to this tendency is B's much repeated encouragement to the reader to let go of judgments followed by a troubling tendency to lay down superficial judgments about whole epochs of church history and large populations of gospel believers. It undermines her central project to use broad brush and straw man strategies to define other understandings of the gospel even as she preaches a spiritual stance that has deep commitment to wisdom as its highest value.

I understand that the author is living a commitment that eschews biblical literalism. However, in this series of lectures I do not think she practices honest respect for the long traditions of transformed and transformational contemplatives whose work she coopts at many points. At its best it was sloppy history, at it's worst it was disrespectful caricaturing of other devoted points of view.

By now you may be asking,"Why should I read this book, with its less than stellar narrative voice, its clumsy use of illustration and metaphor and its intellectually lazy caricatures of other points of view?"

There are two principle reasons from my perspective. First is the fact that, at least for me, B succeeds in her primary goal of making the Wisdom Jesus historically and biblically plausible. This Jesus is believable and B solidly connects him to the Wisdom practice of his time. B rescues our ideas about Jesus from seeking to make him over into a cultural mascot or a religious fetish. The focus on Jesus' wisdom ministry gives us a richer understanding of the Christ we worship.

Second, B succeeded in helping me to reevaluate my perspective of the so-called gnostic literature as valid extra biblical sources that corroborate Jesus' sophiological intent, one that is every bit as important as his soteriological mission.

Jesus took up the wisdom practices of his time and carried them forward as he invited us to follow him without reserve. He challenged and still challenges us to lay down our old lives so that we might be born anew through a complete renovation of our way of perceiving, thinking about, desiring, acting and even feeling emotively in this world by casting off our old "mind" and putting on the "mind" of christ.

As B so ably puts it, there is no heresy ot heterodoxy in this understanding of Christ. It is the very heart of the orthodox teaching, if sadly not the practice of institutional church. In Encountering the Wisdom Jesus, B invites us to view the so-called gnostic gospels through the teaching wisdom we find in the canonical gospels to see a remarkable accord between their messages.

[Suzie Shatarevyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 12 session lecture series on encountering the Wisdom Jesus. Cynthia Bourgeault, an Episcopal priest, will lead you down a path of discovery as she retraces the practices of the early church, including meditation and contemplative prayer. The Wisdom Jesus is Christianity without the trappings of doctrine and institutionalized religion. Bourgeault invites you to a "a deeper way of knowing." Transformational.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thought provoking, has already changed my prayer practice for the better, and I only look forward in my relationship with the Wisdom Jesus growing from here on out. I listened to this on audible during long trips alone for Thanksgiving. I can thank Cynthia Bourgeault for a lot because of this book, and I will read/listen to all the works of hers I can get my hands on. Refreshing to hear a fellow Episcopalian who accepts gnostic texts and zen traditions. Reminds me a lot of Thomas Merton, one of my favorites.

[Gwynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty great. Almost finished. In 5 days... I'm Dragging through the end.

done and i liked it

[Con · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always inspirational and insightful, Cynthia Bourgeault does not disappoint. She gives the reader an understanding of Jesus' messages in action and word, what was meant at the day & time, and how it might translate into our world.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting perspective. And life changing practices for prayer and contemplation with scripture. I will likely use this resource often.

[Ann Debaldo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it and highly recommend reading it!

[Shawn Cardinal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so interesting. I love her research and writings.

[Steve Stegman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and certainly not orthodox but still some good nuggets.

[Emunah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Total game changer.