Description
The guiding theme of psychotherapist Karlfried Durckheim's work is that one can become transparent to transcendence. An early Western authority on Zen, he was one of the first to bring its methods to Europe. Incorporating Zen and depth psychology into his practice, Durckheim was also one of the earliest transpersonal psychologists. His spiritual practice of combining Jung, Meister Eckhart, and Zazen proved to lead to moments of higher consciousness, which he described as privileged moments. In The Way of Transformation, one of his most concise and profound works, Durckheim shows that once readers scrape away personal barriers and free the divine spark within, these radiant, life-altering occasions can occur at any time. His meditative approach to daily activities turns simple tasks such as making tea, posting a letter, or washing dishes into moments of new awareness: everyday life as a spiritual practice.… (more)
Library's review
With insights from depth psychology, Christian mysticism, and Zen, Durckheim invites us to become tansparent to transcendence and to express the divine spark which is within each of us. The first and most vital practice in everyday life is to learn
from The Way of Transformation-
In everything we do it is possible to foster and maintain a state of being which reflects our true destiny. When this possibility is actualized, the ordinary day is no longer ordinary. It can even become an adventure of the spirit. In such a case the eternal repetitions in the exterior world are transformed into an endlessly flowing and circulating inner fountain.
There is nothing-no event, no activity-that cannot provide a motive for establising contact with inner being, nothing that cannot be used to bear withness to it. Any situation in life may be the means of furthering the bringing to birth of the 'true person.'
Contents
Note on terminology
Everyday life as practice
Healing power and gesture
The wheel f transformation
Part 1 Critical awareness
Part 2 Letting go
Part 3 Becoming one with the ground
Part 4 New becoming
Part 5 Proof and practice in daily life