New Thinking Allowed Audio Podcast Mysticism with James Tunney
Feb 12, 2020
James Tunney, an Irish barrister, poet, visual artist, and author of The Mystical Accord, discusses mysticism as a search for meaning and the true self. He explores common threads across traditions, mystical events and initiation, the dark night and ego work, compassion as the core value, and tensions between mysticism and scientism. Short, thoughtful reflections on practice and spiritual power.
57:48
Near-Death Events Spark Lasting Spiritual Change
- Near-death experiences often spark spiritual transformation and shift priorities toward compassion and less materialism.
- Tunney notes survivors return with peace, duty to others, and reduced interest in material goods.
Work Your Own Tradition First
- Evolve spiritually within your own tradition before seeking exotic alternatives.
- Tunney and some Buddhist teachers advise exploring your birth tradition (e.g., Catholicism) fully to avoid ritual superficiality or cultural mismatch.
Hero's Journey Is Spiritual And Social
- The mystical quest is an individual hero's journey but returns knowledge to community as example.
- Tunney uses Jack and the Beanstalk and Joseph Campbell to show myth encodes spiritual evolution and recovery of 'gold' (spiritual value).
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Intro
00:00 • 1min
Defining Mysticism as a Search for Meaning
01:09 • 1min
Common Features Across Traditions
02:31 • 4min
Mystical Events and Their Effects
06:46 • 3min
Religion, Institution, and Individual Quest
09:39 • 6min
The Hero's Journey and Initiation
15:20 • 5min
Violence, Nonviolence, and Spiritual Power
20:09 • 5min
Dark Night, Ego Work, and Alchemical Distillation
25:34 • 4min
Powers, Distractions, and Magic vs. Mysticism
29:18 • 3min
Compassion at the Center of Mysticism
32:22 • 5min
Self-Compassion and Leading by Example
37:05 • 5min
Spirit, Insufflation, and Consciousness
42:20 • 4min
Law, Ethics, and Losing Higher Sources
46:10 • 6min
Science, Parapsychology, and Appropriation
51:45 • 5min
Outro
56:52 • 18sec
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The mystic way
a psychological study in Christian origins
Evelyn Underhill
Tim Langdell
The Mystic Way reviews the development of the mystical tradition within Christianity and defines the true character and origin of the Christian mystic.
The book examines how Christian mystics differ from mystics of other spiritual traditions and how Christian teachings enrich the mystical experience.
Originally published in 1913, it explores the phases and psychological dimensions of mystical life and spiritual development.
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The Mystical Accord
Sutras to Suit our Times, Lines for Spiritual Evolution
James Tunney
James Tunney's The Mystical Accord presents sutra-like poems and essays that examine perennial mystical themes in a modern context.
Drawing on diverse spiritual traditions, Tunney articulates a vision of spiritual evolution centered on compassion, inner transformation, and the recognition of the true self.
The work interweaves poetry, reflective prose, and philosophical observations to offer guidance for personal and collective spiritual development.
Tunney writes from his background as a legal scholar and artist, bringing a disciplined yet creative approach to mystical inquiry.
The book is aimed at readers seeking practical and poetic entry points into contemplative practice and perennial philosophy.
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Blue Lies September
James Tunney
Blue Lies September is a novel by James Tunney that presents a dystopian narrative engaging with themes of political manipulation, identity, and societal collapse.
Tunney draws on his legal background and literary sensibility to construct a cautionary tale about contemporary trajectories.
The book interrogates the moral and psychological consequences of living under oppressive or deceptive regimes.
Through character and plot, Tunney explores how individuals navigate compromised institutions and loss of trust.
The novel complements his other writings on mysticism by examining materialist and institutional failures in society.
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Ireland I Don't Recognize Who She Is
Not provided in transcript
James Tunney
Ireland I Don't Recognize Who She Is is James Tunney's dystopian novel that examines cultural and political shifts affecting Irish identity.
Using speculative fiction, Tunney critiques contemporary developments and their impact on community and memory.
The narrative explores themes of alienation, transformation, and the erosion of familiar social structures.
Tunney's background in law and the arts informs his portrayal of bureaucratic and institutional forces shaping lives.
The novel serves as a literary counterpart to his contemplative and mystical writings, showing concerns about materialism and cultural disconnection.
#1394
• Mentioned in 29 episodes
Gospel of Thomas
Richard Valantasis
The Gospel of Thomas is a non-canonical gospel, meaning it's not included in the Bible.
It's a collection of sayings attributed to Jesus, differing significantly in style and content from the canonical gospels.
It's considered Gnostic in origin, emphasizing secret knowledge and spiritual enlightenment.
Scholars debate its historical accuracy and relationship to the canonical gospels.
Its unique perspective offers insights into early Christian thought and diversity.
The Gospel of Thomas's focus on spiritual understanding rather than historical narrative sets it apart from the canonical texts.
#2238
• Mentioned in 20 episodes
The Dark Knight of the Soul
Kirk Thompson
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Anticipations of the reaction of mechanical and scientific progress upon human life and thought
H.G. Wells
H. G.
Wells' "Anticipations" is a non-fiction work exploring the potential impact of technological advancements on society.
Published in 1901, it offers a forward-looking perspective on various aspects of life, including transportation, warfare, and social structures.
The book showcases Wells' visionary thinking and his concern about the potential consequences of rapid technological change.
It's a significant work in understanding Wells' broader intellectual framework and his engagement with social and political issues.
The book's predictions, while not always accurate, demonstrate his insightful observations about the trajectory of modern society.
#13557
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Roots of Jewish Consciousness
Volume One: Revelation and Apocalypse
Erich Neumann
The Roots of Jewish Consciousness, Volume One: Revelation and Apocalypse, is an unpublished work by Erich Neumann, written between 1934 and 1940.
It explores the psychological and spiritual survival of Jewish consciousness, arguing that modern Jews must relearn the capacity to meet the sacred directly.
Neumann interprets scriptural and apocalyptic literature using Jung's teachings, supplemented by references to Buber, Rosenzweig, and Auerbach.
#15931
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
The PK Man
Jeffrey Mishlove
#10685
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
The Uses of Enchantment
The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales
Bruno Bettelheim
In this book, Bruno Bettelheim analyzes fairy tales through the lens of Freudian psychoanalysis.
He argues that these stories, despite their violent and fantastical content, are crucial for helping children navigate their inner lives, cope with emotional and psychological challenges, and achieve developmental milestones.
Bettelheim contends that fairy tales address issues such as separation anxiety, oedipal conflict, and sibling rivalries, providing children with a safe and symbolic way to process these complex emotions.
The book is divided into two main sections, one outlining the value of fairy tales and the other presenting detailed psychoanalytical readings of several well-known fairy tales.
#3863
• Mentioned in 12 episodes
The perennial philosophy
Aldous Huxley
The Perennial Philosophy, by Aldous Huxley, is a seminal work exploring the common ground between various mystical and religious traditions.
Huxley argues for the existence of a universal mystical experience that transcends cultural and religious differences.
The book draws on a wide range of sources, including ancient scriptures, philosophical texts, and mystical writings.
It explores themes of unity, consciousness, and the nature of reality.
Huxley's insightful analysis and eloquent prose have made this book a classic in the field of comparative religion and philosophy.
James Tunney, LLM, is an Irish Barrister who has lectured on legal matters throughout the world. He is a poet, a visual artist, and also author of The Mystical Accord: Sutras to Suit Our Times, Lines for Spiritual Evolution. In addition, he has written two dystopian novels — Blue Lies September, and Ireland I Don’t Recognize Who She Is. His website is http://www.jamestunney.com.
Here he describes mysticism as a quest for understanding the meaning of life and the nature of the true self. He agrees with the Perennial Philosophy tradition that the core of mysticism is, essentially, the same in all cultures. He maintains that all mystics understand that they are spiritual beings and that this awareness unites people of all cultures. He sees scientism as a cultural force that is antagonistic to mysticism.
New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in “parapsychology” ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980).
(Recorded on January 16, 2020)
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