Trauma, Mysticism, and the Nearness of God
Summary: This conversation explores contemplative Christianity through Thomas Merton, the healing of trauma, and the paradox of God as both transcendent and intimately present. It also touches on mystical consciousness, the Trinity, and how practice, teaching, and community support a whole spiritual life.
Questions This Interview Explores
- How can contemplative practice help heal trauma without bypassing psychological wounds?
- What did Thomas Merton reveal about solitude, mysticism, and the Christian path?
- How can God be both utterly beyond us and present in ordinary experience?
- What is the relationship between awakening, the body, and the slow work of transformation?
- How do practice, teaching, and community help stabilize a genuine spiritual path?
As a contemplative practitioner and clinical psychologist, James Finley helps seekers who desire to live a contemplative, whole life. Drawing from his experience as a former monk and spiritual directee of Thomas Merton, Jim offers trustworthy guidance for the spiritual journey through his website, online courses, occasional retreats, and the Center for Action and Contemplation where he serves as a core faculty member of The Living School for Action and Contemplation with Cynthia Bourgeault and Richard Rohr. Jim is the author of several books, including:
- Merton’s Palace of Nowhere
,
- The Contemplative Heart
, and
- Christian Meditation: Experiencing the Presence of God
.
,
, and
.James’s podcast, Turning to the Mystics is for people searching for something more meaningful, intimate, and richly present in the divine gift of their lives. A clinical psychologist, James offers a modern take on the historical contemplative practices of Christian mystics like Teresa of Avila and Thomas Merton. Leaning into their experiences can become a gateway to hope, healing, and oneness. In each episode, Jim reads an excerpt from a mystical text, unpacks the meaning and symbolism, and then concludes with meditation and prayer. Together with Kirsten Oates from the Center for Action and Contemplation, they explore listener questions and examine their own paths as modern contemplatives in this beautiful and broken world.
Transcript, summary, and key takeaways from this interview
Interview recorded August 1, 2020.
YouTube Video Chapters:
- 00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
- 00:04:41 – Thomas Merton: A Contemplative Life
- 00:09:00 – The Solitude of Thomas Merton
- 00:12:26 – Leaving the Monastery: Trauma and Abuse
- 00:15:25 – Unitive Experiences and Fragility in Spiritual Traditions
- 00:19:26 – Ascending to Higher States of Consciousness
- 00:22:53 – The Brokenness Within Oneself
- 00:26:45 – Abusive Relationships and Healing Processes
- 00:30:41 – Mystics and Enlightenment in Christianity
- 00:34:56 – Different Perspectives on Religion and Mysticism
- 00:38:44 – Awakening and the Path of Transformation
- 00:42:42 – The Endless Nature of Mysticism
- 00:46:53 – The Center for Action and Contemplation
- 00:50:28 – Finding a Healthy Balance
- 00:54:00 – God’s Transcendence and Presence
- 00:58:32 – The Ocean of Reality and the Religious Experience
- 01:02:12 – The Play and Display of Divine Intelligence
- 01:09:28 – The Deathless Beauty of the Beloved
- 01:13:27 – The Unexpected Nearness of God
- 01:17:21 – Respecting the Physiology and the Path to Awakening
- 01:20:49 – The Asceticism of Dying and Letting Go
- 01:24:37 – Understanding the Crucifixion and Resurrection
- 01:28:46 – The Mystery of Faith and Resurrection
- 01:32:24 – The Mystery of the Trinity and God’s Self-Expression
- 01:36:12 – Mystical Consciousness
- 01:40:05 – Sensitizing ourselves to the beating heart
- 01:44:18 – The Frustration of Spiritual Practice
- 01:48:18 – Teaching and Engagement Opportunities with James Finley
- 01:52:04 – Finding Your Practice and Community
- 01:55:44 – Farewell and Thanks
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