This book review reprinted from the Ethical Culture Review of Books (http://www.ethicalculture.org/review). Single copies may be printed for personal use; for any other purpose, contact reviews@aeu.org for permission.
The Mystic Heart: Discovering a Universal Spirituality in the World's Religions
with Foreword by H. H. the Dalai Lama
Wayne Teasdale
New World Library, 1999, 292 pp. $23.95 (USA), $37.00 (Canada)
This book, although originally published in 1999, has recently "hit its stride" and become very influential. The number of people reading it, and passing it around, is phenomenal. Teasdale, a Roman Catholic lay monk residing at the Chicago Theological Union, is well known in international ecumenical circles and might aptly be described as the Vatican's "new Thomas Merton" when it comes to addressing the relationship of Christianity to the other religious experiences of the world. The book is important because it elucidates, in terms authentically representative of the Vatican's general position, where that major branch of Christianity sees the world's religious experience going in this new millenium. Teasdale articulates the belief that major steps in mankind's knowledge of himself and "God" will occur in this millenium—mostly from a wellspring of authentic friendships between spiritual people from many traditions. He calls this phenomenon "inter-spiritual dialogue".
The place of deep religious experience in modern culture, be it in a sectarian or secular context, is noted by Dr. Beatrice Bruteau (author of many books in Hindu-Christian dialogue) in her Introduction. Here she says: "Nothing is more practical for realizing our desire for a better world than mysticism. Better worlds have to be built on sure foundations; they must be able to withstand deep impediments to their development. What most of us now recognize as a ‘better' world is one in which we recognize that all people possess an incomparable value that we are morally obliged to respect. This respect originates in intelligence and feeling but eventually must be embodied in social, political, and economic terms…. re-arranging energy from within is what mysticism does".
This is precisely the frontier that Teasdale's book addresses, where he says of spirituality in this millenium: "We are at the dawn of a new consciousness, a radically fresh approach to our life as the human family in a fragile world. This birth into a new awareness, into a new set of historical circumstances, appears in a number of shifts in our understanding" [here he adds a list including: awareness of the ecological inter-relatedness of our biosphere, a sense of the fundamental rights of all species, recognition of the interdependence between all domains of life (including reality itself and how it is perceived), a depreciation of nationalism and militarism, and an evolving community between and among the religions through their individual members]. "Each of these shifts represents dramatic change; taken together, they will define the thought and culture of the third millenium. All these awarenesses are interrelated, and each is indispensable to clearly grasping the greater shift taking place, a shift that will sink roots deep into our lives and culture…. they are preparing the way for a civilization with a heart." Obviously, ethics is at the heart of Teasdale's treatment as well.
Along with elucidating this view of spirituality's directions in the new millenium, Teasdale provides a marvelous service in providing a "cook's tour" through the spirituality of many, or most, of the world's religious traditions. He does this based on knowledge not only of the religions themselves and their historical texts, but of major leaders within these religions with whom he has a personal relationship. His ability at this task it testified to by His Holiness The Dalai Lama in the Foreword to the book. Teasdale knows in great detail not only the organized aspects of the world's religions, but also the historical and contemporary undercurrents that have been, and are, bringing them all closer together. Few readers will find such a treasure trove of detail elsewhere regarding the contributions of many historical pioneers to what Teasdale now sees as the emerging "inter-spiritual dialogue".
The other great merit of this book is Teasdale's authenticity as a contemplative (or mystic) himself, one which he articulates informatively and with sensitivity not only with regard to religious contexts but also scientific ones—like the impacts and importance of modern psychology and quantum mechanics. In sum, Teasdale's vision is that the unifying undercurrent amid all the world's religious experiences is the various "unitive" or "non-dual" experiences that have sprung up among them. Of these he points specifically to Zen in Buddhism (Thomas Merton's great love), Advaita ["non-duality'] in India's Vedantic tradition (where Teasdale emphasizes the sage Ramana Maharshi and the tradition drawn on by Mohandis Gandhi), similar experiences in Sufism and Janeism and, in Christianity, the "infused contemplation" associated with John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Meister Eckhart, and modern Catholic contemplatives like Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating and Bede Griffiths. Teasdale is convinced that these "unitive" experiences hold the common ground not only among the religions, but also with regard to modern psychology and physics.
This book is truly marvelous and merits its popularity. One comes away from it not only with a comprehensive view of the status of modern "religious experience" but, most important to Ethical Culturists, how this fits in achieving that "world of heart".
Dr. Kurt Johnson, aside from his involvements in Ethical Culture and the scientific community also serves currently as secretary of Fellowship of the Heart, and international organization founded by Advaita teacher Pamela Wilson (in the tradition of Ramana Maharshi) which promotes inter-religious discussion. Kurt was formerly in the monastic religious life in the Christian (Anglican) community.
The Mystic Heart: Discovering a Universal Spirituality in the World's Religions
with Foreword by H. H. the Dalai Lama
Wayne Teasdale
New World Library, 1999, 292 pp. $23.95 (USA), $37.00 (Canada)
Powered by Coranto
© American Ethical Union 1998-2005. All Rights Reserved.
Ethical Culture Book Reviews
http://www.ethicalculture.org/review/
URL for this article:
http://www.ethicalculture.org/review/articles/mysticheart.html