S3 E20: Daniel Wolpert: Looking Inward, Living Outward Liminal Living

Rev. Daniel Wolpert, is a Presbyterian minister, research scientist, psychologist, spiritual director, farmer, teacher, and construction worker. He earned his Masters of Divinity degree at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Since then he has authored or co-authored 8 books, interim pastored many churches, led retreats, given talks, and co-founded the Minnesota Institute of Contemplation and Healing. Today we are talking about how contemplation helps alleviate suffering by freeing individuals from habits and patterns that cause suffering and promoting compassion and care. It also emphasizes the importance of communal practice. Contemplative psychology explores the concept of the human person as a bundle of habits and activities that create our sense of self and the world. The individual and communal practice of contemplation can dissolve ego habits and projections, leading to more humane and loving relationships. The book 'Looking Inward, Living Outward' explores the integration of contemplation and action for social transformation. In this conversation, Daniel Wolpert and Tom Rundel discuss the concept of the ego and its role in shaping our perception of reality. They explore how the ego constructs a sense of self and how this construction can lead to suffering. They also delve into the practice of contemplation and how it can help unravel the ego and open us up to a deeper spiritual realm. The conversation touches on themes of powerful presence, embracing powerlessness, and our relationship with money and wealth. They discuss the distortion of teachings in Christianity and the need for a more contemplative approach to spirituality. The conversation ends with a reflection on hope and the potential for transformation in the world.