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The God Seed: Probing the Mystery of Spiritual Development
We believe many things but don't always know how to implement them. We believe that human beings can grow into Gods; we accept the importance of coming to Christ and also of awakening our divine attributes and powers -- but how to do that seems obscure. Likely a list of spiritual to-do's ceases to serve. So we may find ourselves seeking a more fulfilling path -- but where to set our foot? In recent years, studies in adult developmental psychology have cast unexpected light on the path to Godhood. They illustrate that human beings already possess the potent seeds for unfolding into more highly developed beings. We learn that spiritual practices can shape the mind into and instrument for facilitating spiritual growth and experience, that is, for continuing from "grace to grace." Along the way, venturing into the unknown, we shed false concepts about ourselves, about our reality, and about God Himself. The purpose of this book is to explore the path of spiritual development.
327 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
72 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 17, 2016
This book could not have come to me at a better time. It was as if she took a thousand pieces of a puzzle and finally put them all together and made sense of my life. A beautiful exploration into the gospel, the Mormon canon, adult development, psychology and meditation--all areas that happen to be of great interest to me. Not only is the content itself meaningful and engaging, my reading list expanded by about 15 books just from her footnotes. I feel that I have found my "tribe" within the Mormon community.
February 12, 2015
I am an unabashed M. Catherine Thomas groupie and love everything she has written. This one did not disappoint. So much awesomeness that I could probably read it five times and still go back for more.
October 23, 2016
A beautiful book from one of the most thoughtful of LDS writers. If meditation sounds new age to you, this might not be your favorite read, but if you enjoy analyzing and contemplating scriptures with a comparative religion approach and are looking for insights into personal spiritual development there is a lot of meat here to ponder. Catharine Thomas has spent years thinking about the meaning of scriptures and much of this text resonates.
Quote from Wordsworth: (The Prelude 1.340-50)
"Dust as we are, the mortal spirit grows Like harmony in music; . . . How strange, that all The terrors, pains, and early miseries, Regrets, vexations, lassitudes interfused Within my mind, should e're have borne a part, And that a needful part, in making up The calm existence that is mine when I Am worthy of myself."
Quote from Wordsworth: (The Prelude 1.340-50)
"Dust as we are, the mortal spirit grows Like harmony in music; . . . How strange, that all The terrors, pains, and early miseries, Regrets, vexations, lassitudes interfused Within my mind, should e're have borne a part, And that a needful part, in making up The calm existence that is mine when I Am worthy of myself."
April 8, 2016
I love this book..and every other book by this author. I am reading it for the third time and I still am learning new things..helpful things. This is a life changing, peace enhancing and thought provoking book!
August 9, 2020
I heard about this book a couple years ago, and though it sounded interesting, I wasn’t ready to read it until recently. Today I closed it filled with post-it notes and underlined parts.
As someone just beginning to learn about mindfulness and meditation, I am grateful for this author and how she brings it all together with scripture and LDS theology. I am finding I have much to learn about becoming one with my Savior and am grateful for this chance to grow closer to Him.
As someone just beginning to learn about mindfulness and meditation, I am grateful for this author and how she brings it all together with scripture and LDS theology. I am finding I have much to learn about becoming one with my Savior and am grateful for this chance to grow closer to Him.
March 4, 2018
I rarely re-read books but this one has so many ideas and insights to things spiritual that I will be reading it again. I love how she explains concepts and has actual exercises to increase spiritual growth and awareness. The new age ideas went along with other readings and attempts at meditation I have explored. I like her style of writing and will be reading her other books.
February 19, 2016
M. Catherine Thomas is an orthodox Latter-day Saint and former ancient scriptures professor at Brigham Young University, who urges meditation practice as a means to become more centered, more at peace, and to live and more Christ-centered life. I heard her speak once at a stake meeting, and I was impressed with her statements that increased spirituality and closness to Jesus can result from a comprehensive and sincere practice of basic meditation, such as mindfulness and following the breath. This essay includes numerous scriptures, mostly from the New Testament, Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants as well as quotations from certain LDS leaders. She claims meditation is a basic tenet of Christianity, including Mormonism. Frankly, one does not hear too much about meditation in contemporary LDS doctrine. Yes, it is possible to quote LDS leaders on practicing meditation (and Thomas provides several tidbits from General Authorities’ talks). However, their statements are always rather vague—a basic “search, ponder, and pray” mantra –and they do not include any nitty-gritty specifics about how to get started on a meditation program when one has never attempted the concept before and how to keep practicing on an ongoing basis. The most practical part of Thomas’s book is Chapter 24: “’Abide in Me:’ Creating a Practice” in which she gives instructions on how to actually begin and persist with a personal quest of increased spirituality through traditional meditation techniques. She also quotes various modern-day meditation gurus such as the Dali Lama, John Kabat-Zinn, Eckert Tolle, and Thich Nhat Hahn and shares some of their specific instructors on how to start and maintain a process of one’s own that will lead to increased self-awareness and inner peace. In addition to daily “sitting” times dedicated to quiet reflection and attention to the breath, Thomas recommends the recollection of and/or and reciting of key scriptures. To tell you the truth, as I was reading the book, I found it easy to blow past most of the numerous scriptures and quotations she includes. But I realize that she has given readers a rich source of material to which each individual can return to enrich his/her particular meditation goals. I especially like Thomas’s assurance that medition isn’t easy and that it takes patience to train the mind to focus on that level of concentration. “We remember that we can at will choose high energies: fearlessness, gratitude, contentment, satisfaction, generosity, resting in lovingness. Or we can profitably rest in the peace of a silent mind” (291). She also reminds us to keep a light touch in our efforts. “One thing that helps prevent spiritual burn-out is not to take our practice too seriously, or ourselves either, remembering not to strive, not to try too hard, but to persist. It’s good to keep it light, happy, loving and effortless.” She adds that the rewards are spiritual comfort and the realization that “the solutions to our problems lie in awakening our own divinity, trusting it, and in allowing Christ in” (297).
January 6, 2018
This book is on my life changing shelf for a reason. More than any other book outside of sacred writings, this book has opened up my understanding and relationship with God. I love how she draws on sources from all over the world and history. We live so far beneath our privileges and she helps show how we can change that through mindful meditation, I Am statements, and personal growth.
June 11, 2017
This book is a possible life-changer.
I have already done a little exploring with mindfulness, so none of this felt 'woo-woo' to me. I am ready to explore a new path to deeper understanding and better communion with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
I appreciated Thomas's writing. This is the first book of hers that I have read. I noticed that she made it feel like we were sitting down and having a conversation, so that some of the initial ideas felt more accessible. While I found it all very fascinating and it all interested me, I think a little patience was required at the start as she lays the foundation for this work. And it was completely worthwhile to me.
The appendix Thomas included by Jacob Z. Hess was terrific. His words clarified and solidified all that Thomas had written before, given them a real and relatable rephrasing.
I have already done a little exploring with mindfulness, so none of this felt 'woo-woo' to me. I am ready to explore a new path to deeper understanding and better communion with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
I appreciated Thomas's writing. This is the first book of hers that I have read. I noticed that she made it feel like we were sitting down and having a conversation, so that some of the initial ideas felt more accessible. While I found it all very fascinating and it all interested me, I think a little patience was required at the start as she lays the foundation for this work. And it was completely worthwhile to me.
The appendix Thomas included by Jacob Z. Hess was terrific. His words clarified and solidified all that Thomas had written before, given them a real and relatable rephrasing.
October 17, 2015
For the most part I loved the book: Thomas is a deep thinker and her writing always challenges and enlightens me. Some of her ideas in this one were a little too new age for me--as with any writer that interprets the gospel, each reader must do their own work to discern which ideas are most important and which can be set aside.
May 21, 2024
A new approach
I liked the simple plan to approach God, to make myself available to Him. It also troubled me as unorthodox, eastern versus Christian. As I tried it I was surprised at how my moments with God deepened, became more often and real. I realize to a large extent I did not have the relationship with my God and His Christ I desired because I did not believe it possible at this point in my mortal life.
I liked the simple plan to approach God, to make myself available to Him. It also troubled me as unorthodox, eastern versus Christian. As I tried it I was surprised at how my moments with God deepened, became more often and real. I realize to a large extent I did not have the relationship with my God and His Christ I desired because I did not believe it possible at this point in my mortal life.
October 23, 2018
I gained so much perspective about soul and the indwelling of Christ in me from this book. I did not consume it at my usual pace, but instead chose to make this a part of my daily devotional reading for the past four months. I hope to continue to make the practices I learned from this book part of my life. Thank you so much, Sister Thomas! I plan on picking up another book by you soon.
June 24, 2018
This insightful book will be one I come back to many times. M. Catherine Thomas far exceeded my expectations for a religious book with restricted themes. She digs deep and by doing so, she reaches beyond the stars.
March 20, 2018
I am so grateful! This book beautifully illuminated gospel concepts. It felt at times that I was reading things meant just for me...familiar things I had already learned or felt or started to understand, but perhaps not yet put into words.
March 28, 2018
I think this book finds you when you are at a place that is open and ready to receive it. After hearing about it for years I was ready to read it and it was everything I was looking for and more. It is now a staple in my library.
March 6, 2022
This book is life changing. I’m ready to start again right after finishing it. The only other books I have felt this way about have been scripture. Her prose is beautiful and I am amazed by the variety in people she quotes from Tibetan monks to Catholic priests and everything in between.
August 1, 2022
This book was difficult to get into (I think it was an editing issue more than anything) but once I got rolling, I really loved the way in which she merged concepts from Christianity and Eastern spirituality. I loved her fundamental thesis that we are all Gods-in-embryo, and that everything we need to reach full spiritual consciousness is already within us--it's just a matter of accessing it via mindfullness and meditation.
May 10, 2017
This book was both inspiring and thought provoking. I look forward to reading more by Catherine Thomas.
May 23, 2017
Catherine Thomas never disappoints.
November 28, 2017
I loved the depth with which this book made me think. I will be reading this one many times over for added insights into my own divine potential and that if others.
December 30, 2019
This is not a quick read, but worth the time. A philosophical read about how mindfulness and meditation can strengthen our spirits and relationship with God.
December 31, 2023
Really good author. Very Insightful. Took months to finish as I studied & used it in reference with other books on spiritual development.
December 25, 2015
Here are the take-away's that I got from this book.
1. Here is an idea from the author that I do NOT agree with, and that is that our motivation for doing things, according to the author has to always be what she describes as the correct motivation. At least that is what I Understand her saying. For example, she quotes a person saying that if we do something we should do it for the right motivation or it is better that we do not do it all. What I have found, though, it that God sometimes has us start out by giving us a motivation to do something, but then later those motivations may change. For example, Christ says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." So because we love Christ, we love others, meaning we serve others. Some day we love others just because we are loving people. Our motivation has changed. Another example is fire and brimstone is our reward if we are bad. We learn through modern revelation that this is just a way to get people to do the right thing.
2. What I did agree with is that we need to progress from Grace to Grace. At some point we can stop watching the movies that are time-wasters, and that are not edifying. We need to recognize that we are at a new level and that we have left behind some habits and behaviors that drag us down.
3. Mindfulness. It is nice to just tell our minds to please shut up and listen to what God is teaching us. Just shut up the brain and listen. Be in the moment. Another mindfulness truth I think she may have mentioned is to create your self in your mind. Create your environment, decide your actions in your mind. There is a time for thinking and planning and creating in your mind. Then there is a time for doing, for executing the plan. While you are doing, it is not a time to re-think your decisions.
We may die, we have to deal with work, with sickness, and disabilities. But those who believe in Christ, who are continually progressing and growing in talent and character, will not die, but have the Spirit with them, and the love of Christ and never die spiritually.
1. Here is an idea from the author that I do NOT agree with, and that is that our motivation for doing things, according to the author has to always be what she describes as the correct motivation. At least that is what I Understand her saying. For example, she quotes a person saying that if we do something we should do it for the right motivation or it is better that we do not do it all. What I have found, though, it that God sometimes has us start out by giving us a motivation to do something, but then later those motivations may change. For example, Christ says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." So because we love Christ, we love others, meaning we serve others. Some day we love others just because we are loving people. Our motivation has changed. Another example is fire and brimstone is our reward if we are bad. We learn through modern revelation that this is just a way to get people to do the right thing.
2. What I did agree with is that we need to progress from Grace to Grace. At some point we can stop watching the movies that are time-wasters, and that are not edifying. We need to recognize that we are at a new level and that we have left behind some habits and behaviors that drag us down.
3. Mindfulness. It is nice to just tell our minds to please shut up and listen to what God is teaching us. Just shut up the brain and listen. Be in the moment. Another mindfulness truth I think she may have mentioned is to create your self in your mind. Create your environment, decide your actions in your mind. There is a time for thinking and planning and creating in your mind. Then there is a time for doing, for executing the plan. While you are doing, it is not a time to re-think your decisions.
We may die, we have to deal with work, with sickness, and disabilities. But those who believe in Christ, who are continually progressing and growing in talent and character, will not die, but have the Spirit with them, and the love of Christ and never die spiritually.
March 30, 2016
Filled with quotes from scripture and various spiritual leaders from various times and places, The God Seed is thought-provoking. I am definitely interested in reading more about "mindfullness," and developing greater spirituality.
My three-star rating reflects my inability to get past the author's descriptions of the levels of spirituality--the most spiritual person living on such a high plane that she is feeling the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, to the point of crying several times a day...Maybe I missed the point, but this is not a practical way to live!
Or maybe I just need to be patient. I decided to try to practice mindfullness in church last Sunday. I intended to listen intently to the speakers and the prayers, to really take it all in. But every other second, my youngest child was tapping me on the shoulder, talking in my ear, grabbing my hands, twitching, and chatting with the kids in the pew behind us. She was acting her age, just like I am acting my age.
Overall, there is some very good advice about refocusing our attention away from modern-day busy-ness and centering our thoughts on eternal matters.
My three-star rating reflects my inability to get past the author's descriptions of the levels of spirituality--the most spiritual person living on such a high plane that she is feeling the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, to the point of crying several times a day...Maybe I missed the point, but this is not a practical way to live!
Or maybe I just need to be patient. I decided to try to practice mindfullness in church last Sunday. I intended to listen intently to the speakers and the prayers, to really take it all in. But every other second, my youngest child was tapping me on the shoulder, talking in my ear, grabbing my hands, twitching, and chatting with the kids in the pew behind us. She was acting her age, just like I am acting my age.
Overall, there is some very good advice about refocusing our attention away from modern-day busy-ness and centering our thoughts on eternal matters.
June 18, 2016
Beautiful. I genuinely appreciate the way the author expresses her thoughts and makes the connections between so many sources to get at the deeper message - the stuff that transcends mortality. I also found it tremendously helpful; she put words to things I had been feeling but hadn't yet been able to nail down in language. And if I didn't already have a meditation practice, the suggestions she makes in the later chapters of the book would be especially useful, too; as it stands, there were still things I gained from her ideas. I can't recommend this one highly enough for those (especially LDS) seeking growth and understanding of our nature as children of God. LOVE it.
September 12, 2020
I read this a few years ago and gave it 4 stars. It was a little dreamy for my taste back then. This time through, though, I was highlighting and moving slowly because it was too much insight to absorb quickly. I feel like starting over tomorrow to catch some of what I missed.
May 22, 2016
Amazing. Highly recommend to all.
January 7, 2016
The best handbook on personal transformation outside of the scriptures. Worth reading and rereading.
February 23, 2016
Mormon mindfulness and meditation. Superb.
April 24, 2019
I read it twice. My favourite is the last chapter
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews