Non-dualism in Eckhart, Julian of Norwich, and Traherne : a theopoetic reflection

The words 'me,' 'mine,' 'you,' 'yours,' can mislead us into feeling separate from other people. This book is an exhilarating contribution to the spirituality of non-duality or non-separation. Meister Eckhart, Mother Julian of Norwich and Thomas Traherne are interpreted as 'theopoets' of the body/soul who share a moderate non-dualism. Their work is brought within the ambit of non-dual Hinduism. Specifically, their passion for unitive spiritual experience is linked to construals of both 'the Self' and 'Awakening', as enunciated by Advaita Vedanta . Charlton draws on poetry, theology and philosophy to perceive fresh connections. A commonality of interest is proposed between the three Europeans and Ramana Maharshi. The concept of non-duality is basic to much of Asian religion. On the other hand, Christianity has usually ignored its own non-dual roots. This text contributes to a recovery, in the West, of the vital, unifying power of non-dual awareness and connectedness. Cover HalfTitle Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction 1 Thomas Traherne A devout humanist Imagination as a liberating power An ‘eternal correspondence’ All things in one A perichoretic cosmos 2 Meister Eckhart Letting-be A stripping of self-images Divine birth ‘Without a why and wherefore’ Entering the life divine One without boundaries 3 Mother Julian of Norwich Divine maternity Enfolded by the Infinite Popularity Three ‘mystics’ as connected presences 4 Losing and Finding the Self Influence of Ramana Maharshi Charles Taylor and the demise of Western Christian non-duality Simone Weil and attentiveness Andrei Rublev and Buddhist ‘emptiness’ Love’s work Derrida and the faith of the ‘mystics’ Shiva and the Spirit’s transformative power 5 Non-dual ‘Awakening’ Awakening to a redefinition of boundaries Raimon Panikkar and pluralism Parallel ways of relating ‘I am nothing; I am everything’ ‘Where our skin stops, our bodies do not stop’ A Way Forward Glossary Notes Bibliography Index The words 'me,' 'mine,' 'you,' 'yours,' can mislead us into feeling separate from other people. This book is an exhilarating contribution to the spirituality of non-duality or non-separation. Meister Eckhart, Mother Julian of Norwich and Thomas Traherne are interpreted as 'theopoets' of the body/soul who share a moderate non-dualism. Their work is brought within the ambit of non-dual Hinduism. Specifically, their passion for unitive spiritual experience is linked to construals of both 'the Self' and 'Awakening', as enunciated by Advaita Vedanta. Charlton draws on poetry, theology and philosophy to perceive fresh connections. A commonality of interest is proposed between the three Europeans and Ramana Maharshi. The concept of non-duality is basic to much of Asian religion. On the other hand, Christianity has usually ignored its own non-dual roots. This text contributes to a recovery, in the West, of the vital, unifying power of non-dual awareness and connectedness. Draws on philosophy, theology and poetry, and the writings of three European thinkers, to illuminate the place of non-dualism in the Western tradition