Christian Mysticism ...A Spirit of Light

By Reverend Rachel Gonzalez

When Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is inside you," and, "You are the light of the world," He actually meant it! Two thousand years ago Jesus came with such a radical message that it still continues to disturb people today. The heart of this message is that inside us there is a light that is the realm (or kingdom) where God resides, not in a symbolic way but truly and literally.

Over time, mystics have been the ones who have taken the teachings of Jesus and lived them in an experiential manner through relationship with God.

Mystics are the devoted who practice the inner paths of the major world religions – like Zen is to Buddhism, Sufi is to Islam, and Christian Mysticism is to Christianity. Joan of Arc, Teresa of Avila, Francis of Assisi, and Hildegard von Bingham are all Christian mystics who lived radically during their time; their experience, knowing, and relationship with God was the cornerstone of their lives and faith.

Traditionally, regardless of what religion the mystic is, the seeker has gone into a hermitage, ashram, monastery or mountaintop to be taught by the teacher, secluding him/herself to a life of renunciation and isolation. Yet, the question always remained, how does one, then, who is living in the world, holding a job, raising a family, or in a relationship also experience the reality of a true and dynamic relationship with God? Is life in God only for those who leave the world – what about the rest of us?

At the Centers of Light, we embody, practice, and live what we refer to as a "modern monastic" life. We are women and men, professionals, students, parents, teen-agers, spouses with one very essential thing in common: a deep, intimate, and real relationship with God at the center of our beings as the most important thing in our lives.

The Bay Area's Center of Light is in Oakland. We offer daily meditation and communion, in addition to a wide variety of offerings specially suited for the spiritual seeker looking for more than just nice ideas about a spiritual life or a quick fix to the doldrums of the day. The Center of Light is a place where real people make real changes in their lives, guided by real spiritual teachers who have been there and continue to walk the path before you, wanting you to make it too.

At the Centers of Light seekers are taught to quiet their minds, still their bodies, use spiritual tools to examine themselves, heal emotional wounds, develop authenticity, heal their bodies, strengthen their spiritual sight, and develop an ongoing conversation with the God-being within.

The mark of true transformation is peace and consistency. At the Center of Light seekers find both these qualities, in the teachers and community members. The result is a dynamic and eventful life rooted in a peace that passes understanding.

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