MODERN SPIRITUAL MASTERS SERIES

Series Introduction

  • Robert Ellsberg, Series Editor

  • This series introduces the writings and vision of some of the great spiritual masters of the twentieth century.

  • Each volume features selections from the author's works and a comprehensive introduction presenting their lives and writings in context.

  • Highlights key concerns of contemporary spirituality, including:

    • Challenges of modern science

    • Religious pluralism

    • Secularism

    • Quest for social justice

  • Acknowledges authors recognized both within their lifetimes and posthumously, spanning both long-established traditions and new spiritual paths.

  • Authors serve as guides and companions for a new generation of seekers.

Already Published Volumes

  • Dietrich Bonhoeffer (edited by Robert Coles)

  • Simone Weil (edited by Eric O. Springsted)

  • Henri Nouwen (edited by Robert A. Jonas)

  • Charles de Foucauld (edited by Robert Ellsberg)

  • Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (edited by Ursula King)

Forthcoming Volumes

  • Karl Rahner

  • Oscar Romero

  • John Main

  • Flannery O'Connor

  • Brother Roger of Taizé

PIERRE TEILHARD DE CHARDIN

Introduction by Ursula King

  • Publication Information:

    • Fifth printing, September 2003

    • Copyright © 1999 by Orbis Books

    • ISBN 1-57075-248-6 (paper)

Contents Overview

  1. Introduction: The Heart of Teilhard de Chardin's Spirituality

  2. Discovering the Divine in the Depths of Blazing Matter

  3. Living in the Divine Milieu

  4. Christ in All Things

Discovering the Divine in the Depths of Blazing Matter

A Particular Way of Seeing Everything

  • Innate Passion for the Absolute: From childhood, Teilhard felt a fundamental need to grasp some enduring, stable reality, which served as the axis of his inner life.

    • Early experiences included finding beauty in both the tangible material world and in a higher spiritual essence.

  • Search for Plenitude:

    • His quest for the absolute has evolved over time, encompassing everything from metal and rocks in childhood to larger cosmic realities.

    • Reflects on the importance of matter as more than just a stage in evolution, but as a source of spiritual power.

A Sense of Plenitude

  • Describes a lifelong journey of discovery, culminating in recognizing a unity among the cosmic, human, and Christic dimensions of existence:

    • Cosmic Sense: Awareness of the interconnectedness of matter and spirit.

    • Emotional Journey: From simple material joy to deeper cosmic fulfillment.

    • Emphasizes a "pleromic sense": the joy found in seeking the essence of reality in all things.

Awakening to Cosmic Life

  • Geological Studies: Part of a broader awakening to the universe’s material dimensions.

  • Teilhard describes geology as not just scientific study but a communion with the universe, reflecting an innate desire to connect with the vastness of existence.

Discovery of Evolution

  • Influences:

    • The spark of understanding evolution as a divine process and a continuum of existence linked directly to Christ and the spiritual journey.

    • Recognizes evolution as a driving force for spiritual and material integration.

    • The natural world serves as a pathway toward understanding the divine, ultimately culminating in the realization of a shared cosmic purpose.

The Spiritual Power of Matter

  • Advocates for a deep immersion in the material world as essential for spiritual growth:

    • Matter is characterized as living, dynamic, and divine, intertwined with the essence of life and spirit.

    • Maternal Metaphor: Views matter as a nurturing mother essential for life, encouraging a deeper engagement with the world.

Communion with the Earth, the Great Mother

  • Reflects on humanity's relationship with the cosmos, proposing a return to respecting both matter and spirit.

  • Approaches material existence as sacred, emphasizing interconnectedness with all of creation.

  • Sees this communion as fundamental to discovering the divine will and purpose in the universe.

Living in the Divine Milieu

  • Pervasive Spirituality: Describes God as an omnipresent force throughout the cosmos, equating spiritual experience with all aspects of life.

  • Unity of Knowledge: Asserts that true understanding requires synthesizing science, philosophy, and spirituality.

  • Reflects on the noosphere as a collective consciousness arising from individual human interaction and thought.

Christ in All Things

Vision of Christ in the Universe

  • Expounds on individual perceptions of Christ intertwined with the cosmos, emphasizing unity and multiplicity within the divine.

  • Incorporates themes of human emotion, evolving consciousness, and the necessity of a robust and dynamic understanding of spiritual existence linking matter and spirit.

  • Highlights a fervent meditative relationship where Christ symbolizes the summation of all existence and the intertwining of humanity with divine purpose.

The provided text, focusing on the "MODERN SPIRITUAL MASTERS SERIES" and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, primarily illuminates the relationship between mystical experience, literature, and contemporary challenges to institutional authority and doctrine in the modern history of Christianity.

Mystical Experience and Literature:

The text highlights Pierre Teilhard de Chardin as a prime example of a modern spiritual master whose works represent a profound mystical experience translated into literature. His spirituality is characterized by an "Innate Passion for the Absolute" and a quest for "Plenitude" that culminates in recognizing a unity among "cosmic, human, and Christic dimensions of existence." Through his writings, he expresses a "pleromic sense"—joy in seeking the essence of reality in all things, advocating for a deep immersion in the material world as essential for spiritual growth. His "Vision of Christ in the Universe" and "Living in the Divine Milieu" further demonstrate how his mystical insights, which link the "evolving consciousness" and the "intertwining of humanity with divine purpose," are conveyed through his comprehensive literary output.

Institutional Authority and Doctrine in a Modern Context:

The "MODERN SPIRITUAL MASTERS SERIES" itself suggests an evolving relationship with institutional authority and doctrine, particularly by acknowledging authors whose work engages with "key concerns of contemporary spirituality," such as "Challenges of modern science," "Religious pluralism," and "Secularism." The series aims to introduce the "writings and vision of some of the great spiritual masters of the twentieth century," implying that their contributions, which sometimes represent "new spiritual paths," have either been integrated or are being presented for contemplation within broader Christian thought. Teilhard de Chardin's emphasis on "Discovering the Divine in the Depths of Blazing Matter" and his "Discovery of Evolution" as a "divine process" demonstrate how his mystical experience necessitated a synthesis of scientific understanding with spiritual insight. This approach, which asserts that "true understanding requires synthesizing science, philosophy, and spirituality," reflects a dynamic interaction with established doctrines, pushing them to accommodate modern scientific realities and broaden the scope of spiritual inquiry. The inclusion of such masters in this series suggests an institutional or publishing effort to recognize and disseminate these modern mystical expressions, even if they initially posed challenges to traditional interpretations.