G K Chesterton famously said,
Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.”
This is cute – but not quite true. Jesus’ deep teaching has been lived out very faithfully in every generation, from Mary Magdalene, Thecla, Claire of Assisi Meister Ekhart, , the Teresas’, Margite Poerete, Claire of Liseux, so many more as well as the countless unnamed saints who have walked the path. Is is not rare. The issue is that the institution has never gone along with them, allowing them to flow freely. They have, at best, been kept at the margins in ignominy, or enclosed themselves , their way of life made to look unattainably holy, or, saddest of all, they have been murdered and tortured though bitter, cruel persecutions.
At the grass roots level, the church as an institution is very often run by true-of-heart Jesus-people. However, at the higher levels it is dominated by apparatchiks who benefit from the operation of power and wealth available to through the institution. Inevitably this has led to corruption – in our age and in every age. It sadly is also true of all other religions.
We believe the hope for the world’s people, creatures, and all living and all created things lies in the Wisdom traditions . The greatest teacher of this way is Jesus who lived with a full humanity and a full Divinity.
We share a devotion to him and his teaching – available through the written accounts, both those sanctioned by church powers and those which have been suppressed.
We are grateful for all sages and ancient wisdom texts
Particularly we look to:
- the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ teaching (canonical and non-Biblical)
- the Hebrew Scriptures, the Christian Aramaic scriptures
Communities around Wisdom teachings in every ancient tradition. These tend to be non-hierarchical and can be found in Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist and Hindu, Islamic, shamanistic and pantheistic traditions.
We offer instruction in the Direct path to awakening for those who have reached a point of opening and we offer beginners practices. In Zen, the beginner’s mind is venerated as the ultimate way to “be” in relation to Truth. In the Christian tradition Jesus says that to be like a child – be a beginner –is how to know the serenity of the Divine. This is not second best or subordinate to the more advanced practitioners.
There are many many seekers who are not from Christian backgounds. You are very welcome here.
Help and guidance is available for any who are feeling “stuck” or confused, and we offer a warm welcome to all people, and a place for all who love God.
Everything we do is encouraging direct experience and the call Jesus made to live life abundantly.