Edward Bastian: InterSpiritual Meditation

(Photo by Endurodoug)

If the term "interspirituality" seems somewhat nebulous, that's because it reaches beyond mind and matter.  Coined by Brother Wayne Teasdale, "a lay monk at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago," the term emphasizes a mystical unity which underlies all faith traditions.  The "Interspirituality Portal" of topia.net offers this explanatory quote from Mahatma Gandhi:  When you go to the heart of your own religion, you go to the heart of all others, too.

Having embraced this concept, Dr. Edward W. Bastian began the Spiritual Paths Foundation in 2002.  Its mission (training students in meditation, contemplation, positive social change and environmental sustainability) reflects Bastian's lifetime of philosophical and religious studies.  He holds a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and "was Executive Producer for six films on Asian religions for the BBC and PBS."  He has also authored the books Living Fully Dying Well and InterSpiritual Meditation.

InterSpiritual Meditation presents a seven-step process that lends itself especially well to an interfaith venue.  Going beyond the usual interfaith "curriculum" of learning about different faith practices, InterSpiritual Meditation encourages shared practices that transcend religious boundaries.  Its seven steps include Motivation (Health and Happiness), Gratitude, Transformation (Highest Ideals), Compassion, Mindfulness, Meditation, and Dedication (Service). 

Spirituality and Practice presents this quote from Bastian:   "InterSpirituality encourages contemplatives from different traditions to sit and meditate together, to enter into a deep dialogue of sound and silence, and to articulate the shared practices and experiences that are the foundations of their respective spiritual traditions.

Resources

http://www.topia.net/interspirituality.html

http://www.spiritualpaths.net/foundation/dr-edward-w-bastian/

http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/books.php?id=22114

Copyright November 19, 2012 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved