191. At-One-Ment — A Conversation with Thomas McConkie
Nov 18, 2023
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Thomas McConkie, an author, developmental researcher, and meditation teacher, discusses transformative spiritual practices and challenges traditional beliefs in his new book 'At-One-Ment'. Topics include embracing the present moment, recognizing vulnerabilities, falling as a metaphor for faith, and trusting wholeness and opportunities for growth.
Thomas Mcconkie's book, At One Mint, redirects the conversation from what to believe to the practices that awaken us to the sacred in the present moment.
At One Mint encourages readers to move away from the paradigm of self-improvement and instead embrace intuitive transformation by acknowledging their inherent wholeness in the present moment and living from a place of wholeness and overflow.
Deep dives
The message of At One Mint: Embodying the Fullness of Human Divinity
Thomas Mcconkie's book, At One Mint, redirects the conversation from what to believe to the practices that awaken us to the sacred in the present moment. It emphasizes the spiritual experience of becoming one with all aspects of ourselves, others, and the divine, allowing for transformative encounters. Mcconkie highlights that this oneness is not a distant goal or exclusive to a select few, but a reality accessible to all. The book aims to deepen faith and develop a language for recognizing our inherent unity and potential as a worshipping community.
The power of intuitive transformation
At One Mint encourages readers to move away from the paradigm of self-improvement and instead embrace intuitive transformation. Instead of striving to fix perceived flaws, the book invites readers to acknowledge their inherent wholeness in the present moment. Cultivating awareness and embracing the feeling of now allows for a shift in perspective, a change of heart, and a greater capacity for growth and expansion. It suggests that living from a place of wholeness and overflow, rather than lack, leads to a more fulfilling and transformative spiritual journey.
A deeper understanding of knowing
The podcast explores the idea that knowing extends beyond rational thinking and logic. It suggests that there are other ways of knowing through the body, heart, and spirit. By opening ourselves to these different modes of knowing, we can cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves, others, and divine realities. The book invites readers to tap into the wisdom and intelligence of these different energy centers, allowing for a more holistic and integrated approach to spiritual growth and transformation.
The journey of development
At One Mint delves into the concept of human development and the stages of growth we undergo throughout our lives. It acknowledges the natural curiosity about what comes next and what stage we are in. However, it emphasizes that at every stage, there are virtues and gifts to cultivate and embody. The book encourages readers to focus on the present moment, embracing the virtues available to them now, rather than solely aiming for future stages. It highlights the power of embodying virtues and how they can positively impact our lives and relationships.
Our guest today is a long-time friend and collaborator, and an incredibly unique voice in the Latter-day Saint tradition: Thomas McConkie. Thomas is an author, developmental researcher and meditation teacher who has been practicing under masters in the traditions of Sufism, Buddhism and Christian contemplation, among others for over 25 years. Thomas is the founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom, and is is currently researching and writing on transformative spiritual practice at Harvard Divinity School.
He’s also the author of a brand new book published by Faith Matters Publishing called At-One-Ment: Embodying the Fullness of Human-Divinity. This is, in our opinion, a monumentally important work, and one that has the capacity to powerfully change the way we see the world.
The book reminds us that much of Christianity has spent centuries focusing on what to believe. Thomas redirects this conversation to the simple but potent practices we can engage in body, heart, mind and spirit to awaken us to a greater measure of the Sacred right here and now. “At-one-ment” becomes a spiritual reality in which we can all participate, not just a historical event in which a select few believe.
In our conversation, we covered some important themes of the book, including how we can all at once seek transformation and already feel whole; how we are both individuals and yet deeply connected to everything and everyone around us, and how the mind, while indispensable and so prominent in our modern society, is far from the only way of knowing.
We really encourage you to pick up this book — it’s available now on Amazon and we think it makes a great gift as well.
And, as a note for those interested: Thomas will also be leading a 3-day retreat in Salt Lake City in May 2024, diving deeper into the concepts of At-one-ment. Additional details can be found here: