The Tao of Christ is a podcast which explores the mystical roots of Christianity, which Jesus called the Kingdom of God, which church historian Evelyn Underhill called the Unitive Life, which Richard Rohr calls the Universal Christ, and which I refer to as Christian nonduality, unitive awareness, or union with God. This is the Tao of Christ.
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The Pointlessness of Nondual Pointing
Nonduality is about pointing. We cannot describe Ultimate Reality, but we can point to it. This idea is repeated often. You have undoubtedly heard many times the Zen proverb about not mistaking the finger pointing to the moon for the moon itself. And this is helpful. It helps us look beyond ideas, words, doctrines, and beliefs to know Reality directly. What is not often mentioned is that pointing…
Today I am recording on another topic, one that has been coming up recently in correspondence and conversations. I think it may be helpful if it were addressed. The topic is Spiritual FOMO. FOMO is, of course, the acronym meaning Fear Of Missing Out. I notice Spiritual FOMO both in Christian circles and among people interested in nondual spirituality. In nonduality it comes in the form of…
The Rarity of Nondual Christian Teaching (The Gospel of Thomas)
In this episode I am exploring sayings 38 and 39 in the Gospel of Thomas. Both have parallels in the canonical gospels, but not exactly. Once again context – or more exactly lack of context – is an important factor in the interpretation of these sayings of Jesus. I will read the sayings in Thomas for you. J esus said, "Often you have desired to hear these sayings that I am speaking to you, and you…
In this episode I am looking at two sayings in the Gospel of Thomas, sayings 36 and 37. Both have to do with clothing. Here they are: Jesus said, "Do not be concerned from morning until evening and from evening until morning about what you will wear." His disciples said, "When will you become revealed to us and when shall we see you?" Jesus said, "When you disrobe without being ashamed and take up…
Today I am covering two sayings in the Gospel of Thomas. Sayings 34 and 35. I am doing this because they are short, and they are making the same point. They are also very similar to sayings that we find in the New Testament gospels. For that reason, the difference in interpretation of these sayings really is a matter of context. Here are the two sayings as found in the Gospel of Thomas: Jesus…
Today I am going to cover two sayings in the Gospel of Thomas, sayings 32 and 33. There are actually three sayings in these two verses. One about being built on a mountaintop, one about shouting from a housetop, and one about shining from a tabletop. I am grouping them together because they have the same theme and in the canonical gospels they are found together. And they are all about how the…
In Search of Prophets and Physicians (The Gospel of Thomas)
Today we look at the 31st saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas. Jesus said, “No prophet is accepted in his own village. No physician heals those who know him.” There are slightly different translations. "No prophet is welcome on his home turf; doctors don't cure those who know them." “A prophet is not accepted in the hometown. A doctor does not heal those who know the doctor.” “No prophet is…
The Trinity According to Thomas (Gospel of Thomas)
In the 30th saying in the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus deals with the topic of the Trinity. At least it seems like he is referring to the Trinity. He may be talking about tritheism or even polytheism. He is certainly talking about duality and nonduality. See also the episode entitled “Trinity and Nonduality.” at this link: https://youtu.be/PvRbrosAhtU View Marshall's books here:…
This episode explores the 29th saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas. Jesus said, "If the body came into being because of spirit, that is a marvel, but if spirit came into being because of the body, that is a marvel of marvels. Yet I marvel at how this great wealth has come to dwell in this poverty." In this saying Jesus is leading people beyond metaphysical and philosophical questions in order…
This episode explores the twenty-eighth saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas. Jesus said, "I took my stand in the midst of the world, and in flesh I appeared to them. I found them all drunk, and I did not find any of them thirsty. My soul ached for the children of humanity, because they are blind in their hearts and do not see, for they came into the world empty, and they also seek to depart…