I was having a nose round looking at Contemplative Spirituality the other day, this sounds pretty general, but is more used in Christian terms and was once known as “Christian Mysticism”. To my eyes, it seems that it’s more about getting a direct experience with the eternal, or the divine if you’d prefer. Meditation is a major tool, but the scriptures and the general apparatus of the mainstream church seem to have a less exalted place there, the emphasis is on direct experience.
This sounds quite a lot like Zen and Taoism, which I find welcome, I’ve always considered it necessary to decide for yourself what you believe, scripture has it’s place, but your spiritual practice in the moment should have the emphasis and you should always examine everything you’re told critically.
I see that Contemplative Spirituality has been condemned by some as dangerous, as it takes the focus away from scripture and more to your own experience, well I suppose if you’ve got a lot invested in the idea of a spiritual middle man or you are the middle man then contemplative traditions of all kinds are a definite threat.
It seems to me that a lot of religion can be focussed to much on the ends, not the journey. I think we lose a lot that way, the journey is enormously rewarding, and when you do spiritual practice with an aim in mind you lose something from it.
Angela says:
I support you in this; my whole thing I guess IS contemplative and personal experience, vs what others have written throughout the centuries for various reasons. Thanks for this.
13 June 2007, 8:30 pm