Catherine of Siena pondered
two most important
human states: being and non-being
and thought: God reveals God
by revealing humans to humans
no one understood that
but she died at 33
Doctor of Church.
In Christ reside
all treasures and wisdom,
primary model of universe’s design
God’s plan: evolutionary unfolding of Cosmic Christ
Divine Love, the heart
of evolutionary universe
constantly giving birth.
Every human relationship a birth, a search
for love, love of self and God
the summum bonum, greatest good
Love the focal energy
giving meaning to all.
With Jesus Law is written
on hearts not stone tablets
outer authority: scripture and tradition
balanced with Inner Authority: True Self.
Each stage: egocentric-ethnocentric-worldcentric
involving greater care and compassion
hierarchy of love not power.
A Buddhist hierarchy:
In first watch of night
Buddha experienced previous incarnations
In second watch
Buddha received divine eye of omniscient vision
In third watch
Buddha understood Chain of Causation
At dawn
Buddha reached perfect enlightenment.
Macquarrie versus Rahner:
Buddha no “anonymous Christian”
Buddha teaches Christians
everything holy:
frogs, poison ivy, enemies
so only one God, one truth
one human and natural community.
Becoming a child
really hearing bird sing
really seeing blue sky
makes real touch of Holy Spirit.
Splitting things
spiritual/secular
led Church to “contemptus mundi”
world-contempt.
Church sinned against Truth
when suppressed
science as secular
science is search
for God’s Truth.
Polarity-thinking misses much
prayer-thinking takes in:
ownership of my failings
compassion for others’ failings.
Enneagram Five’s
greatest gift and sin:
detachment
essence of Buddhism.
Relativists assume
one interpretation of life
good as any other.
If true
dogmas become dazzling mysteries
koans
for pondering
over and over.
Bruce Tallman
May 20, 2021
Intelligent Christian Spirituality 