Elizabeth Burnsed
Professor Alexander
World Religions
Book Report
The Mystic Heart The Mystic Heart by Wayne Teasdale is a well written, informative novel that shares a glimpse into greater truths of the universe. This lucid book pursues towards the unearthing of spirituality found at the heart of the world’s religions. The Mystic Heart was first published in 1999 and printed in 2001. Teasdale’s book was published through New World Library. This novel could be considered to be in the genres of theology, philosophy, spirituality, and mysticism. This book is a major breakthrough for all those who are seeking to appreciate mysticism and the connection to all world religions, as well as what is happening in terms of spiritual growth within their …show more content…
It is necessary for us to have these mystical certainties in order to renovate our culture and endure through the challenges of the 21st century. Teasdale wisely states in the first chapter that, “We have become spiritually illiterate: ignorant of the realization that life is a spiritual journey, that everything is sacred or a manifestation of the ultimate mystery. We are morally confused, precisely because of this illiteracy. And this illiteracy and confusion have led directly to psychological dysfunction.” To me this stood out immediately and definitely makes you think about where we are heading as a spiritual universe in the future.
Teasdale points out that because all of our major problems are global, we need to find collective global solution. A possible solution is a worldwide development with a core which draws its motivation from the recurrent wisdom found in spiritual traditions. Every religion has a similar origin: a spiritual awakening experienced by its founders. This is the mystic heart and the foundation for a new universal religion. In talking about a universal religion, Wayne doesn’t mean all religions will blend into one simple idea. He advocates a multipath alliance constructed on reciprocated reverence and a collective …show more content…
Whatever your chosen tradition, whether you identify yourself as a mystic or not, this book is an excellent place to start developing a deeper understanding of the variety of faiths we share and find the common values on which we can build a future worth living for. Teasdale expresses that “Each of us is called to be a mystic. To be a human being means that we are invited into the possibility of transcendental life and experience. We are not here simply to pursue a profane existence spent plotting the course of our human happiness. That is what seems to happen to so many of us, but it needn’t be that way. We are meant for greater things… Such a possibility, however, takes perspective, work, and discipline; it doesn’t come easily, nor in most cases does it just happen. Understanding the mystical dimension of life takes great effort, but it is not
Professor Alexander
World Religions
Book Report
The Mystic Heart The Mystic Heart by Wayne Teasdale is a well written, informative novel that shares a glimpse into greater truths of the universe. This lucid book pursues towards the unearthing of spirituality found at the heart of the world’s religions. The Mystic Heart was first published in 1999 and printed in 2001. Teasdale’s book was published through New World Library. This novel could be considered to be in the genres of theology, philosophy, spirituality, and mysticism. This book is a major breakthrough for all those who are seeking to appreciate mysticism and the connection to all world religions, as well as what is happening in terms of spiritual growth within their …show more content…
It is necessary for us to have these mystical certainties in order to renovate our culture and endure through the challenges of the 21st century. Teasdale wisely states in the first chapter that, “We have become spiritually illiterate: ignorant of the realization that life is a spiritual journey, that everything is sacred or a manifestation of the ultimate mystery. We are morally confused, precisely because of this illiteracy. And this illiteracy and confusion have led directly to psychological dysfunction.” To me this stood out immediately and definitely makes you think about where we are heading as a spiritual universe in the future.
Teasdale points out that because all of our major problems are global, we need to find collective global solution. A possible solution is a worldwide development with a core which draws its motivation from the recurrent wisdom found in spiritual traditions. Every religion has a similar origin: a spiritual awakening experienced by its founders. This is the mystic heart and the foundation for a new universal religion. In talking about a universal religion, Wayne doesn’t mean all religions will blend into one simple idea. He advocates a multipath alliance constructed on reciprocated reverence and a collective …show more content…
Whatever your chosen tradition, whether you identify yourself as a mystic or not, this book is an excellent place to start developing a deeper understanding of the variety of faiths we share and find the common values on which we can build a future worth living for. Teasdale expresses that “Each of us is called to be a mystic. To be a human being means that we are invited into the possibility of transcendental life and experience. We are not here simply to pursue a profane existence spent plotting the course of our human happiness. That is what seems to happen to so many of us, but it needn’t be that way. We are meant for greater things… Such a possibility, however, takes perspective, work, and discipline; it doesn’t come easily, nor in most cases does it just happen. Understanding the mystical dimension of life takes great effort, but it is not