Jesus the Teacher Within

by Laurence Freeman, Dave Walker

While many people have problems with the church - including most churchgoers - the person of Jesus is an indispensable force in the achievement of any authentic spirituality. The conflict between faith and experience is eased in the rediscovery of the essential unity and simplicity at the heart of Jesus' teachings.

Embarking on this journey of rediscovery, this book takes as its starting point a question that Jesus himself asked his disciples, 'Who do you say I am?' For the many Christians who have never taken this question seriously, Laurence Freeman explores this question in the light of some of the big issues of religious historical reality of Jesus, the experiential reading of the Scriptures, personal conversion,the inner journey.

Genres: Spirituality, Meditation, Theology, Nonfiction, Christianity

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Laurence Freeman is a Benedictine monk of the Congregation of Monte Oliveto Maggiore in the Abbey of S Maria del Pilastrello, Lendinara Italy. With Irish and English roots, Laurence Freeman was educated by the Benedictines and studied English Literature at New College, Oxford University. Before entering monastic life, he worked with the United Nations in New York, in Banking and Journalism.

He is Director of The World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) a global, inclusive contemplative community. He now resides at Bonnevaux, the WCCM international home in France, and a centre for peace where meditation is practiced and taught as a way to personal and organisational transformation.

A writer, citizen of the world and international teacher, Fr Laurence is the author of many articles and books including: Light Within, The Selfless Self, Your Daily Practice, Jesus: The Teacher Within, First Sight: The Experience of Faith, Web of Silence, and his latest book Good Work Meditation for Personal and Organizational Transformation. He collaborated with the Dalai Lama on many dialogues and the groundbreaking book The Good Heart.

Freeman was awarded the Order of Canada in 2012 in recognition of his work for interfaith dialogue and the promotion of world peace.

Reviews

[Amos Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource with untold depths. I can tell when reading the book that Laurence Freeman is a long-term meditator and that his words come from the depths of his experience. I am glad that Freeman has thoroughly wrestled with the person of Jesus. I too have found Jesus the fulcrum of my faith journey. And Freeman is correct that when it comes to inquiry into the mystery of Jesus, the depth of our spirit and the quality of our questions are as important or more important than the so-called answers. The person of Jesus reflects our own deepest journey beyond ego into a larger participatory reality rooted in love. Highly recommended!
-Amos Smith (author of Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots)

[Laura L. Van Dam · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a former Catholic who embraced Orthodox Christianity in 2000, when i read the synopsis for this book i was expecting something in the line of the Russian Pilgrim or the Filokalia, a treatise on meditative techniques or similar topics.
Unfortunately I found the book uninspiring and of little practical value. Nothing of what i had expected.

[Rich Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book poses a most important question that Jesus asks each one of us, "Who do you say I am?" There are many gems scattered throughout this book. I will highlight those that sparkled for me.

"Sitting down to meditate for the first time is a decisive moment in your spiritual path." Laurence Freeman reminds us that Jesus' question to us is best answered in the silence of meditation. "Important questions create silence." Each time we meditate we are coming back to this very important question.

We are reminded that our response to this question is both a life long journey and a life long transformation. "If we choose to listen and to respond to this question of Jesus, the way we live, think and feel is transformed." Laurence Freeman highlights how Paul was transformed by his experience of the risen Christ. "Union with Christ, according to St Paul, initiates a new creation, a new way of seeing, knowing, living and feeling."

"His humanity shows us what we are capable of, what we essentially are." The human actions of Jesus are a signpost to the very actions that we too are capable of. Jesus shows us what we truly are capable of doing to best express our humanity and allow it to flourish. "Incarnation does not diminish God but shows that ‘flesh is capable of God’."

Laurence makes a key point. Even though we are all one, we are free to be ourselves. We are free to express our own unique humanity. "In the Spirit we experience that you and I are one, but that we are still free to be ourselves."

"The work of salvation heals the split in ourselves by making the inner and the outer dimensions of self one and the same." When we are in balance, we thrive!

"His continuing presence within the absence created by his death is the gospel’s essential message." The risen Christ is not absent. The risen Christ pervades all of life.

Read this book! You will not be disappointed.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what Jesus is about - I felt I had come home reading this. Practicing yoga and meditation led me to the conclusion there was more to Jesus than I was giving him credit for. This books brought me right straight back to taking another look at the Catholic Church and my roots - despite all the negative stuff in the past few years. This is the Jesus I have come to know and love. After many years of being away from and Christian organization, of my own choice, this really opened my eyes to what Jesus - not religion - tried to tell us.

[Anne McKeirnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An open minded liberal beautiful way of looking at Jesus and his question “but who do you say I am”. He emphasizes meditation and explores the value and commonality of Christianity and other religions, especially Buddhism. The foreword to the book is by the Dalai Lama. This book opened my eyes to the teachings of Christ and liberated me some from the simplistic and misguided learnings of my childhood. I was able to appreciate the love of the teachings and not the hate and separateness that is extolled by the perversions of Jesus’ words by much of formalized Christian religion.

[Elliott Fassbinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a book I keep returning to. Especially if I am feeling disconnected, or at a low ebb. It nourishes me.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The review is on Hubpages

http://hubpages.com/hub/Jesus-the-Tea....

Just random thoughts on the book on the blog::

Karma and Christianity

http://nursepastorfatherhusband.blogs...

The Jesus question

http://nursepastorfatherhusband.blogs...

Kundalini and Baptisim in the Holy Spirit

http://nursepastorfatherhusband.blogs...

Jesus the teacher within

http://nursepastorfatherhusband.blogs...

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book of Laurence Freeman's was primarily written from a John Main Seminar (on Christian Meditation), it would interest other readers. Hinged on the question of Jesus in the Gospels, "Who do you say I am?" this book is for anyone wanting to better appreciate the person of Jesus or refine the image they have of God. It draws on Christian sources, dialogues with other faiths, uses anecdotes and parables and packages theology in readable language. A good read. It bears slow and reflective reading. On sad note, this particular edition contains numerous typographical errors. Hopefully these have been corrected in subsequent editions.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book's jacket explains that the author shows how Jesus, 'as the guru within can only be seen in the light of self-knowledge' and so the book opens with a question by Jesus 'And you, who do you say I am?' The question continues to be asked throughout the book and helps the reader to consider their own faith. Each chapter opens with Fr Freeman's own personal spiritual journey and his relationship towards his mother's family who are originally from Bere Island in Bantry Bay, SW Ireland. A challenging book!

[Chris Spurrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Splendid exploration of contemplative practice within the Catholic tradition, via Main, Merton, Cassian, John Julius of Norwich et al. Ultimately the roots of this practice are to be found in Buddhism, and sadly this is where this former Catholic finds his path. Too little too late to save the Church.

[Craig Bergland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am on my second reading of this book. He is such a clear and compassionate writer. As a beginner meditator i find this book to be a great companion.

[Annette Broy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My most favorite spiritual book I've ever read. I love this book!