Perceiving the Divine through the Human Body

Author Thomas Cattoi: Thomas Cattoi is Associate Professor in Christology and Cultures/Dwan Family Chair of Inter-religious Dialogue, Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University, USA.

'This collection of essays emerges from a lively collaborative project among scholars of mysticism who employ diverse critical approaches to explore the theme of embodied spirituality in various religious traditions both East and West, as well as some contemporary esoteric movements. Framed by the editors' own insightful analyses, these essays make a convincing argument that we must quite literally 'come to our senses' in order to understand humanity's persistent quest for knowledge of divine reality.' Arthur Holder, Dean, Graduate Theological Union 'Perceiving the Divine through the Human Body is an ambitious effort to reenergize the doctrine of the spiritual senses for the twenty-first century. By historical investigation, theological reflection across several religious traditions, and attention to the current frontiers of spiritual exploration, contributors team up to mend the rift between body and soul, narrow the gap between God and creation, and draw the academic and spiritual worlds back into conversation. A welcome contribution to the necessary new study of mysticism.' - Francis X. Clooney, SJ, Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions, Harvard University 'This volume brings together current research on the spiritual senses for the discipline of religious studies and theology. It provides an accessible, insightful analysis of spirituality and spiritual senses in different mystical traditions, and it forges the way for a new approach to the question of embodied spirituality.' - Patrizia Granziera, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca- Mexico 'Religious traditions throughout the world have taught that the body, the senses, and the emotions are not only bases of suffering, sin, or confusion but also potential vehicles of salvation, liberation, and enlightenment. Although the intellect's soteriological role is often seen as crucial, it is the totality of embodied existence that is the very substance of ultimate transformation and liberation in the history of religions. Modern theology and religious studies in the West lost sight of this. The richly developed studies in this volume provide an important corrective for our time.' - John Makransky, Associate Professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology, Boston College

• Introduction: Spiritual Body, Spiritual Senses: Past and Present; J.McDaniel PART I: SPIRITUAL SENSES AND DEIFIED BODIES A Hindu Monk's Appreciation of Eastern Orthodoxy's Jesus Prayer: The 'Inner Senses' of Hearing, Seeing and Feeling in Comparative Perspective; J.Molleur Indo-Tibetan Tantrism as 'Spirit Marriage'; S.R.Sarbacker Experiencing the Single Savior: Divinizing the Body and the Senses in Tantric Buddhist Meditation; D.Gray The Patristic Roots of John Smith's 'True Way or Method of Attaining to Divine Knowledge'; D.Michaud PART II: ASCETIC PRACTICE AND EMBODIED TRANSCENDENCE The Daoist Mystical Body; L.Komjathy Daoist Mysticism: Embodiment, 'Eudaimonia', and Flow; L.Weed Liminality and Ambiguity: the Role of Bodily Suffering in the Mysticism of Christian the Astonishing; C.Radler , Assistant Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University 'The Body Gains its Share': The Asceticism of Mechthild of Magdeburg; M.V.Roberts PART III: EMBODIED SPIRITUALITY AND MODERN MYSTICISM Map of Consciousness: New Paradigm for Mysticism and Healing; F.Grace The Diamond Approach: Towards an Embodied Spirituality for the Twenty-First Century; A.Gleig Reading Wisdom with Reich: Proverbs 8-9 as Interpreted through the Psychotherapy of Wilhelm Reich; N.Douglas-Klotz Conclusion: The Virtues of Form; T.Cattoi