Meister Eckhart: Listener Questions (Part 1)

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

How do you tell the story of your inner journey? Join James Finley for the Healing Stories Online Retreat, Saturday, August 26th, from 9 to 5 Pacific. Inspired by his memoir, The Healing Path, Jim offers guided reflections to help you become more conscious of the thread of your own sacred journey. The event will be recorded and all registered will have access to the replay.

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James Finley (0:49)

Greetings, I'm Jim Finley.

Kirsten Oates (0:52)

And I'm Kirsten Oates.

James Finley (0:54)

Welcome to Turning to the Mystics.

Kirsten Oates (1:04)

Welcome, everyone, to season seven of Turning to the Mystics, where we've been turning to the German mystic, Meister Eckhart.

And we've come to the time in our season where we turn to listener questions. And this season, we've had more listener questions than ever before, which has just been wonderful. And so we're going to have three episodes dedicated to listener questions. So this is the first of three.

But before we get started in looking at the questions, we have a little milestone to celebrate today. And so I'm here with Jim and with Corey to let you know that we have, today's episode will be our 100th episode, which is so exciting. Jim, I wonder if you have any reflections on reaching this milestone.

James Finley (2:00)

For me, when I graduated from high school and went to the monastery with Thomas Merton, it was all these life changing things.

And it was through Merton that I was introduced to the classical texts of these mystics we've been listening to in the series, John of the Cross, Teresa, Eckhart and so on. And so it's been like a lineage of mystical awakening down through the ages. And then I saw Thomas Merton as a living embodiment of that. I saw him as a living, he was a lineage holder in this mystical consciousness. And that kind of ageless wisdom of the contemplative way, it so touched me and enriched my life. Then when I started leading and sharing in retreats around the country, I picked up people's hunger for this, just longing these silent retreats and sitting in silence and listening to it. So when the providential opportunities come up for these podcasts like this, I really see the beautiful response to it as an expression of that hunger to pass on this ancient lineage, to make these mystical teachings as accessible, inviting as possible, without watering down the radicality, what we're looking for.

So that's why I find it so meaningful to see this ongoing response and we reach this point in our reflection. It's a grace.

Kirsten Oates (3:32)

Well, thank you for sharing that, Jim.

And I wanted to bring Corey on who's been with us from the very beginning, the person behind the curtain of this podcast. And so Corey, did you have anything you wanted to share?

Corey (3:45)

Yeah, I just, I find it fascinating to watch how the show has grown since we started in, well, for us, we started in 2019 The public started their journey with us in 2020, but it's been fascinating to watch the show grow and see all of the same names pop up season after season, asking questions and getting new names along the way. So for me, it's been fun just to watch the not only our trajectory of making the show, but the trajectory of our audience sticking with us and truly becoming what you all talk about as the Monastery Without Walls. So I've thoroughly enjoyed it.

Kirsten Oates (4:28)

Thank you so much, Corey.

And I feel like it's just beautiful that this milestone has landed on a Listener Question episode because really for all of us, I think we just so value the community that comes alongside this podcast. And yeah, it's the reason that it's gone so well, I think, is the support of the community and all the questions they've sent in and the feedback we've gotten. So thank you to everyone who's listening and we celebrate this milestone with you.

Corey (5:03)

Yes.

And thanks for letting me be here with the two of you on a recorded line. It's now recorded for all of history that we've done this together, so.

Kirsten Oates (5:14)

It's so fun, Kirsten.

Well, it's time for us to turn to our questions. But before we do that, I just need to let everyone know that we had another guest on our 100th episode and that was the leaf blower that comes and goes in Jim's yard sometimes. So in this episode, in a couple of spots, it's particularly noisy. I guess it's a nice chance for us to practice detachment. So, on to the questions.