Highlights from the conference on The New Cosmology

Dr. Brian Swimme spoke at the Oblate School of Theology's Summer Institute in San Antonio, TX on June 18-21:

• We're in the middle of a change of human consciousness. Our last cosmological view is exemplified by the painting in the Sistine Chapel of God reaching out to touch Adam's hand. Human kind thinks that creation occurs through "hands"--as in "take hold of the idea."
• The next galaxy of comparable size from our (Milky Way) galaxy is the Andromeda Galaxy, which is the furthest we can see with the naked eye. It is 2 1/2 million light years away from us. Back then there was homo habilis starting to use stone tools, but now we are beginning to see and understand galactic spaciousness--which also shows us the time dimension of human consciousness.
• We were not "placed" on a planet, but are emerging. Life is a deep expression of what was already here. [This goes along with Ken Wilber's thoughts in his book "Up From Eden."]
• Dr. Swimme talked about extinction and that about 20,000 species are eliminated each year in our current era. ["Based on a total of 10 million species, the current annual loss has been calculated to be 20,000 to 30,000 species."] http://www.grinningplanet.com/2004/07-13-2x/endangered-species-conservation-article.htm
• He said that the present moment is the worst in 65 million years, since the demise of the dinosaurs. Thus, he proposes this as the end of the cenozoic era and we're entering a new one.
• Swimme quoted Thomas Berry in suggesting that we need to learn how to live in a way that is "mutually enhancing"--which is moving from a world view of "hardware orientation" (earth is our "resource bin") to living in community/communion orientation.
• BIRTH OF A NEW ERA OF IMAGINATION: Do we have enough imagination to invent a new religion? [That's something to ponder. . . . .)
• REALIZE that the universe exists to display its beauty. (And we are IN the universe; thus a part of it.)
  
• EACH moment is the ultimate moment of fulfillment of the universe.
• Just to be what he/she is meant to be is fulfillment of the universe!

Also, go to http://www.viewfromthecenter.com/ to download a 6 minute viewing of the universe, which is spectacular. It brought tears to my eyes and realization of God's magnificence.

Growing? Growing!

At the Oblate Institute, which was Monday through Wednesday, I met a woman who is a pediatrician and has her last child at home, who is my daughter MJ's age--who will be a senior and gone to college in a year. This person rents a hermitage at Lebh Shomea, something I never imagined a lay person doing! She plans to live there for long periods after her daughter graduates from high school. But what drew me most was her description of her prayer life in the past year. She gets up at 3 am to pray and prays and prays. This I learned--when I asked if she could maintain the 4-5 hours of daily prayer they urge of residents at Lebh Shomea--and she said she could and wants to sit with God more and more.

How I want that. I yearn for God, but can't sit more than 30-60 minutes, depending upon the day and time. I yearn to be in prayer like that. When I'm not praying, I'm yearning for that. (Now I would tell someone I was spiritually directing, that that is also prayer--but do I think that for myself??) In my little way, maybe I'm moving there.

She struck me so much that I approached Fr. Kelly when he was getting a dish of melon at the salad bar at lunch. I told him about meeting this woman, whom he directs, and how I wanted to be like her in prayer. I told him I wanted God to grow me into prayer like this and how will it happen!! Fr. Kelly smiled at me, and said reassuringly, "You are growing now; you are growing."

Thank you. Live in the moment. Don't anticipate. Don't get spiritually greedy. Trust God. All will be well.

At OST 2007 Summer Institute

I'm sitting in the Oblate's school library, just like I so often did when attending classes here in the past seven years. I am grateful that I came to this summer institute held here, which is entitled "Preserving the Integrity of Creation: Eco-Spirituality and Eco-ethics." The keynote speaker is Dr. Brian Swimme http://www.brianswimme.org/ whose website title is "The New Cosmology."

Last night he gave an amazing talk, with pictures included of aspects of the universe, which may appear on his website, that brought forth a little understanding about quantum physics, but a greater feeling of awe and wonder at the ever-expanding universe. Creation continues within and without! Brian started off by talking about the change of human consciousness and that we are in the middle of it--what synchronicity, since I've been reading books by Ken Wilber (Up From Eden, especially) and Beatrice Bruteau (The Grand Option) in which they postulate the evolving universe and humanity with the next leap of consciousness imminent--and that this can only be accomplished through greater awareness of the Divine, so both urge people to meditate/pray daily. It is so comforting to me, as I look at the dreadful ways humans are treating each other and the earth, to be shown hope that God is continuing to grow all of creation, which we are an infinitesimal part--but still a part. Minds are becoming aware of the Unity of All and urging us to SEE.

Two more talks by Dr. Swimme this afternoon and tonight. If I'm as overwhelmed as I was last night, sometimes even with tears, who knows when I'll be able to write about any of it??