Encountering the Wisdom Jesus: Quickening the Kingdom of Heaven Within [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Reverend Cynthia Bourgeault explores many aspects of Christ's ministry with an intriguing emphasis on Jesus being a teacher of inner transformation. Through her understanding of a full range of material on the life of Jesus, we gain a sense of a more sophisticated teacher, a man of his times. We gain an understanding of the Nag Hammadi Codex, the Qumran scrolls and the Syriac Studies. She also looks at God from a variety of cultural perspectives to bring about a more beautiful vision of the creator in regards to his love for the world.

What did Jesus teach?
How can we apply the teachings to our lives?
What is Divine Compassion?
What is putting on the mind of Christ?
What were the core practices of the earliest Christians?
How was Jesus perceived in the Aramaic community?

Cynthia Bourgeault's command of biblical knowledge and her awareness of religious and wisdom traditions encourages a complete expansion in our awareness. She infuses her teaching with subtle nuances of language and spiritual considerations. Some of the highlights include:

Jesus as a wisdom master
The cosmopolitan Jesus
The Beatitudes
The Parable of the good Samaritan
Nicodemus
Readings from the Gospel of Thomas
Self-emptying and Inner Transformation
The wheel of the Trinity
The Chastity of Jesus
Who was Mary Magdalene?
The Mystery of the Incarnation
The Passion: The heart of Christian Mystery
Crucifixion: the Ultimate Kenosis of Love
Dissolving the dualism of the World in love's embrace
The Resurrection Appearances
Practices for the Path - "Be still and know that I am God."

In a way, Cynthia Bourgeault transfers wisdom through a very contemporary outlook to the point where we start to understand Jesus' mission as almost an upgrading of our inner programming. Can we awaken to our own enlightenment through a deeper understanding of Jesus' life?

If you are seeking answers to lead you towards a more personal transformation of your consciousness, then this will lead you through ideas about Jesus as a Wisdom teacher. I especially enjoyed the discussion on the Beatitudes, which shed light on many aspects I had yet to consider. At times I felt as though I was finally understanding what Jesus was saying on entirely new levels. This CD set truly did allow me to tune into the mind of Christ and understand the parables and The Beatitudes much more clearly.

Through the years I have heard many people speaking about Jesus Christ, but until I heard this beautiful gift to the world, I never heard anyone talk about Jesus with such love and devotion to his enlightening mission in the world. Suddenly everything Jesus said, as recorded in the Bible, starts to make sense.

Cynthia Bourgeault has a beautiful poetic voice and I found her emphasis on speaking clearly helped to keep me focused on the topic and gave the teaching a classic appeal. She is an internationally known conference leader and addresses the topic of Jesus with great love and sensitivity. Her research is truly an eloquent gift to help us all to "walk the way of the heart."

~The Rebecca Review

Can I do this item justice? Probably not. This is a wonderful series- Cynthia has a definite love of Christianity and is able to pass that love on through her words and ideas. These cds are a pleasure to listen to, and Cynthia lets her love and knowledge shine through. She does incorporate the Gnostic gospels, but do not be afraid that is all- she does not exclude the canonical Gospels, but weaves them all together in a seamless fashion.

The discussion on Lectio Divina is short (about an hour), but the most complete explanation I have yet found. Very inspiring- I hope to incorporate Lectio Divina in my own life and form a regular practice. She explains it so very well, and makes it all so poetic and lovely.

Cynthia Bourgeault furnishes us with a new perspective of Jesus which screams truth at us. Far from negating more orthodox views, Cynthia's presentation and wisdom complements the Jesus we've come to know and love. It is incumbent upon us to seek truth at all cost. What we find in this series is a new unfolding and wholeness that delicately "pushes" us to embrace what we know, and happily seek what lies just beyond the horizon.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 12 reviews  4.8 out of 5 stars