A detailed study of the writings of Teilhard de Chardin, who attempted to reconcile the discoveries of modern science with Christian faith and Eastern mysticism
目次
Foreword by Dr J. Needham 7 Preface 13
I. UNITY OF LIFE AND THOUGHT 1. A FUNDAMENTAL VISION OF FAITH 21 Early mystical experiences - The maturing of a vision - The indispensable key for understanding Teilhard's work.
2. EARLY CONTACTS WITH THE EAST 37 Formative experience of Egypt - Reading on Eastern religious and mysticism - A mystical seer turns writer - Further reflections on mysticism.
3. EAST AND WEST: THE SPIRIT OF ONE EARTH 54 First impressions of China - Complementary riches of East and West - Encounters in Central Asia - Travels to India, Indonesia, Burma and Japan - Experiences in Peking and Shanghai
4. THE ONGOING QUEST 88 Contacts with the World Congress of Faiths - More reading on the East -Open religious quest.
II. EASTERN AND WESTERN RELIGIOUS IN A CONVERGING WORLD 5. THE SEARCH FOR UNITY: FROM MONISTIC PANTHESIM TO MYSTICISM 105 Teilhard's method - Monistic pantheism in the early writings - Pantheims prolonged and transcended - The spiritual power of matter and the true meaning of pantheism
6. TWO ROADS TO UNITY:'ROAD OF THE EAST' AND 'ROAD OF THE WEST' 123 Two fundamental orientations in mysticism - Early criticisms of the 'road of the East' - Meaning of the two 'roads' in relation to past and present.
7. THE CONVERGENCE OF ROADS 144 Summary evaluation of Eastern religions - World religions in a state of crisis - The contribution of Eastern spiritualities - The role of Christianity - Implications of covergence.
8. RELIGION AND EVOLUTION 167 Historical evolution of religions in the past - Evolutionary role of religion in the present and future - Further evolution of religion - Different understanding of evolution in Hinduism - A new dynamic: the evolution of mysticism.
9. A NEW MYSTICISM 192 What is its newness? Two types of mysticism - Can there be a third way? Love as unifying energy - Other approaches to mysticism - A new mysticism of action.
EPILOGUE CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUALITY AT THE CROSSROADS The need to go beyond Teilhard - Interreligious dialogue; the fruit of a new season - What can we learn from Eastern religious? - Spirituality and society.
