States, Stages, and Nervous-System Training

Cynthia Bourgeault is a modern day mystic, Episcopal priest, and theologian. For thirty years she worked closely with Fr. Thomas Keating as a student, editor, and colleague and has taught and written extensively on Centering Prayer. She is a core faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation and founding director of an international network of Wisdom Schools. In addition to her work on Centering Prayer, she is the author of numerous other books on the Christian Mystical and Wisdom tradition, including The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind--A New Perspective on Christ and His Message, The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity, and her most recent, Eye of the Heart: A Spiritual Journey into the Imaginal Realm. Websites: cynthiabourgeault.org wisdomwayofknowing.org Other Books: The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three: Discovering the Radical Truth at the Heart of Christianity Love is Stronger than Death: The Mystical Union of Two Souls Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview Interview recorded February 6, 2021 First BatGap interview with Cynthia. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:04:41 - The Subtler Dimensions of Reality 00:08:41 - Heaven and Hell in the Christian Tradition 00:12:55 - Two Different Experiences of Theophane's Presence 00:16:51 - Being a Cosmic Servant 00:20:58 - Receiving and Transplanting Spiritual Virtues 00:25:24 - Seeing the Whole Picture 00:29:47 - Surrendering to the Field of Moral Coherence 00:33:50 - Spiritual Discernment and the Hazards of Misinterpretation 00:37:50 - The Importance of Risk-Taking in Spiritual Growth 00:42:28 - The Science of Love and the Divine Heart 00:46:44 - The Anti-Entropic Force 00:50:54 - The Turning and Kicking  00:54:24 - The School of Hard Knocks and Spiritual Evolution 00:58:07 - The Mystery of Life's Unfolding 01:02:19 - Sensation and the Gurjief work 01:06:16 - The Energetic Signature of Psychosis 01:10:41 - The Shift in the Subtle Realms 01:15:27 - The Great Chain of Being and Collective Repentance 01:20:05 - Climate Change and Cataclysms 01:24:23 - Cultivating Goodness in Consciousness 01:33:06 - The Burden and Joy of Parenthood 01:36:53 - The Denying Force and Necessary Friction 01:40:57 - The Spiritual Womb Center 01:45:10 - Moving Sensation to the Chakras 01:49:54 - The Necessary Darkness for Transformation 01:54:15 - The Misinterpretation of "There's only God" 01:58:30 - Cynthia Bourgeault Library and Other Websites 02:02:21 - New Voices in the CAC 02:05:32 - Introductory Music