420. Cynthia Bourgeault - a podcast by Rick Archer

The Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, Ph.D., is an Episcopal priest, teacher, writer, and internationally acclaimed retreat leader. A student of Fr. Thomas Keating, Bruno Barnhart, Beatrice Bruteau, and the Gurdjieff Work, she has made her mark exploring Wisdom Christianity and the often overlooked lineage of Christian nonduality. Founding Director of the Contemplative Society in Victoria BC and the Aspen Wisdom School, she now serves as one of the core faculty, together with Richard Rohr, OFM, and James Finley, of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, NM. When not teaching internationally, she resides in her seaside hermitage on Eagle Island, Maine.

Websites:cynthiabourgeault.org
wisdomwayofknowing.orgBooks:

Eye of the Heart: A Spiritual Journey into the Imaginal RealmThe Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice
The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind--A New Perspective on Christ and His MessageThe Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity
Centering Prayer and Inner AwakeningThe Holy Trinity and the Law of Three: Discovering the Radical Truth at the Heart of ChristianityLove is Stronger than Death: The Mystical Union of Two Souls

Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group.Transcript of this interview.

2nd BatGap interview with Cynthia.Interview recorded Sept. 30, 2017

Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.Chapters:


00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump00:04:50 - Religious Thought and Spiritual Questions
00:09:22 - The Consciousness of Jesus and Its Distortion00:13:47 - Finding the Right Path and Listening to the Heart of Hearts
00:18:09 - A Journey Towards Self-Discovery00:23:02 - Three Centered Awareness and the Criticism of Divided Attention
00:27:25 - Witnessing and the Gurdjieff Work00:32:07 - The Origins of Centering Prayer00:36:46 - Origins of Centering Prayer00:41:14 - Understanding Katha Fatik and Apophatic Prayer
00:45:51 - Surrender into Silence00:50:06 - The Natural Process of Thoughts Emerging
00:54:28 - The Influence of a Book on Meditation00:58:39 - Deepening the Sense of Connectedness
01:03:29 - Deep inspiration and insight01:07:41 - The Importance of All Sacred Traditions
01:12:02 - Reincarnation and Remembering Past Lives01:17:01 - Thought-form climates and responsible manifestation
01:21:41 - The Purpose of Meditation01:26:00 - The Importance of a Healthy Neurophysiology and Overcoming Fear
01:30:48 - The Limitless Nature of Divine Love01:35:27 - Levels of Consciousness and Non-Duality
01:40:28 - The Non-dual Level of Christianity01:45:17 - Non-duality and the Living Experience
01:49:58 - Embracing Technology and Skillful Action01:54:42 - Devotion and the Heart
01:59:14 - The Embodied Heart02:04:12 - The Heart as Mediator between the Individual and the Universal
02:08:50 - Letting go and returning the heart to its pure state02:13:37 - The Fear of Falling and Being Human
02:17:49 - Concluding Remarks and Next GuestSave

Further episodes of Buddha at the Gas Pump

Further podcasts by Rick Archer

Website of Rick Archer