Today we will look at the place of Deep Ecumenism in our walk along the Via Transformativa.

BUDDHA AND JESUS
Buddha lived a full life into his eighties and died a natural death. He knew midlife crisis and he knew serenity. Jesus, on the other hand, was a prophetic, angry, even impetuous Jew, and he was killed before his time when he was about thirty-three. What does this mean? Judaism and Christianity have a life force about them, a prophetic imperative, that is essential; but Buddhism has a serenity and a sense of longevity that the West can use. My conclusion? We need both. Buddhism needs the West and the West needs Buddhism.
Deep ecumenism is the movement
that will unleash the wisdom of all world religions—
Hinduism and Buddhism, Islam and Judaism, Taoism and Shintoism,
Christianity in all its forms,
and native religions
and goddess religions
throughout the world.
There is only one great underground river,
though there are numerous wells into it—
Buddhist wells and Taoist wells, Native American wells
and Christian wells, Islamic wells, and Judaic wells.

Mysticism will replace
Jesusolatry in religious circles,
and it will be an age of Deep Ecumenism,
wherein the wisdom
of Cosmic Christ traditions
of all world religions
will offer us ways to pray
and enter into the sacred mystery
of the universe and of our own souls.
Like all authentic ecumenism
the result will not be to abandon one’s tradition
but to demand more of it.
Native peoples teach
that the ultimate norm for morality
is the impact our choices have
on persons living seven generations from now:
If the results appear good for them,
then our choices are moral ones,
if not, they are
immoral.
See Matthew Fox, Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet, p. 254
Also see Fox, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ: The Healing of Mother Earth and the Birth of a Global Renaissance, pp. 228, 230, 236, 23
Also see Fox, The Reinvention of Work: A New Vision of Livelihood For Our Time, pp. 88-89
Banner Image: “Greenfaith – An interfaith delegation, including director Rev. Fletcher Harper, was arrested as they stood in front of BlackRock’s shareholder meeting to call on the multi-trillion-dollar asset manager to end its fossil fuel investments.” Photo by Felton Davis on Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/felton-nyc/52122236615
Queries for Contemplation
Is there an aspect of Deep Ecumenism that you incorporate into your spiritual practice?
Recommended Reading

Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet
Because creativity is the key to both our genius and beauty as a species but also to our capacity for evil, we need to teach creativity and to teach ways of steering this God-like power in directions that promote love of life (biophilia) and not love of death (necrophilia). Pushing well beyond the bounds of conventional Christian doctrine, Fox’s focus on creativity attempts nothing less than to shape a new ethic.
“Matt Fox is a pilgrim who seeks a path into the church of tomorrow. Countless numbers will be happy to follow his lead.” –Bishop John Shelby Spong, author, Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, Living in Sin

The Coming of the Cosmic Christ: The Healing of Mother Earth and the Birth of a Global Renaissance
In what may be considered the most comprehensive outline of the Christian paradigm shift of our Age, Matthew Fox eloquently foreshadows the manner in which the spirit of Christ resurrects in terms of the return to an earth-based mysticism, the expression of creativity, mystical sexuality, the respect due the young, the rebirth of effective forms of worship—all of these mirroring the ongoing blessings of Mother Earth and the recovery of Eros, the feminine aspect of the Divine.
“The eighth wonder of the world…convincing proof that our Western religious tradition does indeed have the depth of imagination to reinvent its faith.” — Brian Swimme, author of The Universe Story and Journey of the Universe.
“This book is a classic.” Thomas Berry, author of The Great Work and The Dream of the Earth.

The Reinvention of Work: A New Vision of Livelihood For Our Time
Thomas Aquinas said, “To live well is to work well,” and in this bold call for the revitalization of daily work, Fox shares his vision of a world where our personal and professional lives are celebrated in harmony–a world where the self is not sacrificed for a job but is sanctified by authentic “soul work.”
“Fox approaches the level of poetry in describing the reciprocity that must be present between one’s inner and outer work…[A]n important road map to social change.” ~~ National Catholic Reporter
8 thoughts on “Deep Ecumenism and the Via Transformativa”
Deep Ecumenism is ‘Deep Spirit’ that resides in us all. We seek it to experience it within. We experience it and it manifests without. Deep Spirit, like the I AM is nameless, formless, is the alpha and omega. We do not define the ‘Deep Spirit’ in thoughts, but in active life, active consciousness. Together with ‘Deep Spirit’ we are then together, ‘One’ with all of creation. Deep Spirit does not have a name, so we are very little concerned if one of us, others of us, go by the name or label of a world or other religion. It is not a name or belief that enjoins us, rather the Deep Spirit within each of us operating Spirit to Spirit.
Coming into communion with Deep Spirit is a daily, personal practice. I follow ‘the Way, the Life and the Truth’ through acts of contemplation, prayer, lectio divina and service. My daily practice (continuously and uninterrupted since May 2017) includes performing the Shambhavi Mahamudra kriya (not meditation) as taught to me directly by Sadhguru of the Isha Foundation. Wisdom is gleaned from the teachings and intermediation of Paramahansa Yogananda and the lineage of Kriya Yoga Gurus. The wisdom and power of many ‘Christian Venerated Saints’, the host of Heavenly Angels as well as the Holy Mother are also listened to as ‘they whisper intermittently’ during times of prayer and meditation.
The Trinity Manifest –
“I AM because I AM.
‘You are’ because I AM.
I AM because you are.”
— BB.
I have nothing to add to this thought provoking, inspiring message which shakes me to my core, gratefully…
The format is compelling as well as the message. We get bombarded by so many daily writings—this one is so appealing I gladly read every word. Thank you.
AMEN and thank you, Rachel !!!
Spirit, the I am that I am, I will be what I will be; moves within, through and for… the whole inhabited world… the all and the everything of creation. This movement nurtures deep relationship with… reuniting all that which illusion tempts to seperate.
This movement of Spirit, cultivates harmonious co-creative cooperation with… through an awakened conscious mutual understanding and acceptance of the beauty and goodness of diversity not only within all religious and spiritual pathways; but also this same beauty and goodness of diversity within the all and the everything of creation… each a blessed gift contributing and giving of itself to the sacredness of the whole… which develops a greater sense of shared Oneness.
This movement of Spirit, involves the internal and external search for this visible unity, oneness and wholeness through deep heart to heart dialogue, holy communion and sacred companionship with… as well as co-creative collaboration; in working to overcome divisions.
This movement of Spirit, is the worshipful act that we are all called and invited to be and live; in vast and diverse ways, which manifests itself within, through and for… all that is.
This is the deep movement of Spirit that I practice being and living, in many authentic and diverse ways. “The SPIRIT moves as it wills, we know not where it comes from… this SPIRIT teaches us all things and we need no other.”
It is the Spirit of Deep Ecumenism that drew me to the spiritual tradition of Creation Spirituality, and they both include the Universal Mystical Spiritual traditions of humanity. I am very comfortable with these Wholistic understandings of our Beloved Co-Creator~Source’s LIVING PRESENCE and ONENESS within, through, among Us — immanent and transcendent, microcosm and macrocosm, human and Divine Natures, sacredness within our physical and non-physical spiritual dimensions of Our Evolving LOVING DIVERSE COSMOS….
I believe this in my soul and often mention it when people ask about my faith: “There is only one great underground river,
though there are numerous wells into it—”
What it takes though to find that river is delving deeply into one’s own chosen faith path.
It was a Christian theologian who said he had more in common with people from other faiths who have gone deep into their own religion than he had with other Christians who had not studied and practiced it deeply. Does anyone remember who said that? Was it Teilhard de Chardin?
Michele, You ask, “It was a Christian theologian who said he had more in common with people from other faiths who have gone deep into their own religion than he had with other Christians who had not studied and practiced it deeply. Does anyone remember who said that?” I’m not sure if it was Teilhard, but Matthew wrote much the same:
“Like all authentic ecumenism
the result will not be to abandon one’s tradition
but to demand more of it.”
I’ve also heard the Dalai Lama say much the same as well !!!
I love this reflection Matthew!! Thank you!! We have so much to learn from the many beautiful mystical traditions. I hold fond memories in my heart of meeting you [Matthew] at the Parliament of the World Religions in 2015 here in SLC.
Much love, gratitude and many Blessings!
ClareJulian Cabone