Spirit, Soul, Body: Toward an Integral Christian Spirituality

by Cyprian Consiglio OSB

A perennial problem for spiritual traditions of all sorts is dualism-either a positing of a false distance between the Divine and the created or a rejection of creation and the human body. Many contemporary spiritual seekers have sensed this problem and sought to remedy it through myriad solutions drawn from various spiritual traditions and secular wisdom, both Eastern and Western. Cyprian Consiglio, OSB Cam, explores Christianity's contribution to the discussion. He offers a revisioning and rearticulation of this teaching, based on the prophetic seminal work of Bede Griffiths, toward a practical and integral spirituality that reverences all aspects of our being human-spirit, soul, and body.

Genres: Spirituality

216 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2014

Reviews

[Mary Helene · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting book for those who are interested in the intersections of Christian, Hindu and Buddhist theological thought. It is founded on the thought of Bede Griffiths and Teilhard de Chardin and an emerging sense of the Cosmic Christ. All of this is most carefully researched, BUT if you’d like to pick the fruit without planting the tree, read the second to last chapter titled “Spirit: the Fine Point of the Soul”. Even more to the point: pages 167-176. (You’re welcome.)
One insightful take-away: The care of our bodies (exercise, healthy eating and more) is a spiritual practice.
A second insight: Spiritual practice is relational. Amen.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up because I've seen the author, who is the Prior of New Camaldoli Hermitage in California, on several YouTube videos which I have found really helpful. I'm glad I did, although I have to admit that this has not been an easy read by any stretch of the imagination. However, it has been worthwhile, I think.

So, this book's main focus is to set out the case for a non-dualist understanding of the Christian faith- one that sees no division between body and soul, and, for that matter, spirit. The author uses Christian texts, to be sure, but also weaves in his extensive knowledge of Eastern, especially Hindu and Buddhist, thinking, often mediated through the work of Bede Griffiths. If that sounds like a lot, it is. I was drawn to this approach because I'm not especially acquainted with the Eastern sources or Bede Griffiths, but was interested to see how they might intersect. I'm not sure I actually understand all that I've read about these traditions because my lack of a background meant that some of the denser passages were rather heavy going.

I'm not sure that I have especially incisive things to say beyond this. I really struggled with understanding large parts of this book, but I put that down to lack of exposure to many of the ideas and concepts discussed therein. I know I had to go back and re-read chapters to make sure I actually understood that. That was particularly true of the passages dealing with Eastern ideas, but really I found the overall vision enticing. I still would recommend the book because its vision of combined contemplation and action, body, soul and spirit is something that I think Christians need to take head of.