Emerging Forms Committee Asks, ‘What is Emerging?’
Posted on November 1, 2019, by Loretto Community
(Editor’s Note: Reflections from the Emerging Forms Committee)
A question people often ask and wonder about is, “What is really meant by evolutionary consciousness?” We invite you to ponder with us as we reflect on what a few mystics have to say.
Teilhard de Chardin speculated that all of nature has two principal dimensions — the visible realm and the invisible, conscious realm. This psychic or conscious energy increases with complexity (as in humanity) as we continue to evolve. Does this not describe consciousness as a part of all of creation? Yes, even rocks and rivers, and spiders and … “Yes, it is this consciousness that is the core of evolution!” says de Chardin.
And Jesus, definitely an enlightened mystic, did not use the word evolution or consciousness. He spoke of unity and oneness: “The Father and I are One,” and “The Father is in me and I am in the Father, and you in me and I in you.”
Perhaps the greatest need of humanity today is to ‘wake up,’ to deepen our consciousness, to strive for unity and really accept who we are.
Today’s mystics like Ilia Delio and Thomas Merton, among many others, speak of this evolutionary consciousness as not something we become, but what we already are — our true nature, our higher selves. They tell us that we access this awakening through meditation, being in the present moment. Awakened consciousness is when we are peaceful, content, non-grasping, non-resistant, more loving, caring, have a deeper knowing, live a deeper life, when we are connected with, one with, all of creation.
Thomas Merton’s wondering went something like this: We are already one. But we imagine that we are not. And what we have to recover is our original unity.
Perhaps the greatest need of humanity today is to “wake up,” to deepen our consciousness, to strive for unity and really accept who we are. On the Emerging Forms Committee we ponder what that might mean as consciousness evolves and expresses itself through Loretto and in the context around us. What wonderings do you have? Or questions? Concerns? Please contact us. We would be delighted to hear from you as we continue with these conversations!
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