CYNTHIA BOURGEAULT on centering prayer, mystics, Thomas Keating, suffering in Gaza, Trump, and more!

An in-depth conversation with Cynthia Bourgeault (Episcopal priest, author, mystic, and Professor Emeritus at the Centre for Action and Contemplation).

We discuss mysticism, centering prayer, non-literal interpretations of Jesus and the Bible, Thomas Keating, how to process the genocide in Gaza, Donald Trump, and more!

For more go to: https://whatiwannaknow.com/cynthia-bo...

00:00 - Intro
00:51 - Bonnevaux
02:27 - Are you a mystic?
05:16 - Are you a Christian?
06:16 - Other wisdom paths Bourgeault taps into
07:24 - Defining God & Divine Reality
11:52 - Centering prayer & explaining its impact and value
20:48 - Drugs & Spirituality
28:00 - Our Inner Sanctuary
31:08 - What Bourgeault does in solitude at her hermitage & the goals
36:06 - Jesus Christ as mystic and practitioner of centering prayer
38:45 - Dangers of reading the Bible as literal
42:40 - Bourgeault's favorite mystic texts in the Bible
46:27 - Interpreting "I am the way, the truth, and the life"
51:53 - Importance of taking spiritual risks
53:51 - Interpreting "Blessed Are the Pure in Heart"
56:12 - Humility
58:15 - Discernment
01:02:30 - Listening to your body during meditation
01:04:53 - Origins of suffering, G.I. Gurdjieff, & Satan
01:13:02 - Gaza & processing genocide
01:23:03 - Donald Trump and his impact in the spiritual realm
01:29:17 - Thomas Keating
01:32:13 - Richard Rohr & James Finley
01:36:31 - What to do in times of doubt & spiritual discouragement