Jim Marion

What does it mean to follow the path of Christ today? For Jim Marion, former Catholic monk, mystic, and attorney, if you want to join the Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven, you must do so while living as a human on the Earth. It's not something that automatically happens to Christians after death, nor can the Church do it for you. Indeed, says Marion, inner spiritual growth has always been the true essence of Christian practice.

Putting on the Mind of Christ is the ardent expression of a modern mystic reporting his spiritual experiences within a 'Christ-focused' framework. Neither evengelist nor theorist, Marion is a Christian practitioner-he's simply done what the scriptures advise. For Christians who are disaffected with contemporary Christianity there is another way-Marion calls it the 'old original way'-to experience the true spirituality of Christianitiy.

Drawing upon his own rich mystical experience and deep understanding of scriptural models, Marion shows the reader how to emulate the developmental stages of the Christ-how to put on the mind of Christ to achieve spiritual illumniation and communion with the Christ. Provocative and pioneering, transcendent and grounded, Putting on the Mind of Christ may permanently alter the landscape of 21st century Christianity.

Jim Marion is a rare combination of Christian mystic and public policy lawyer. A contemporary American mystic who has followed hte Christian spiritual path since childhood, Mrion spent eight years studying for the priesthood and pursued divinity studies at Hartford Seminary Foundation. After leaving monastiaac life, he was active in political arenas and received a law degree from Boston University. Since then, Marin has pursued a public policy career in Wasingoton, D. C., where he now lives. Slince his pivotal mystical experience as an adolescent, Mrion has never ceased to explore the issues, requirements, and challenges of authentic Ckhristian spirituality and inner develoment. This is his frist book for Hampton Roads.

'A pioneering book, a truly inspired revelation, and a gentle guide to the deepest terrain of our own souls. A remarkable, often astonishing document...probably the first book to describe the overall path of consiousness development from a Christian perspective.'-Ken Wilber, from the Foreword

'In this era of spiritual books that promise their readers enlightenment and wealth in seven easy steps, it is encouraging to see a book that reminds us that true spiritual development is neither easy, safe, nor comfortable. No ego gets out of this alive, thank God.'-Bo Lozoff, author of It's a Meaningful Life-It Just Takes Practice

'Such thought offers the hope that we can, in the light of today's more subtle science, re-discover outselves as responsible beings in a meaningful world. Without such a reality, preaching values and morals can be but sound and fury.'-T. George Harris, cousulting editor for Psychology Today, founding editor of American Health and Spirituality & Health magazines and the PBS series Bodywatch

'A spiritual book about a simple path. When practice with courage and perseverance, it can bring one to the highest level of consciousness. I recommend Putting on the Mind of Christ to spiritual seekers everywhere.'-Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D., author of Love is Letting go of Fear

Contents

Foreword by Ken Wilber
Introduction
Book one
Part I-The kingdom of heaven
Chapter 1 What Jesus taught about the kingdom of heaven
Chapter 2 The kindom of heaven-the highest level of human cionsciousness
Chapter 3 Maping the path to the kingdom of heaven
Part II-The seven levels of consciousness of the human personality
Chapter 4 The archaic consciousness of infants-Individual conscioiuness development; Cultural consciousness development
Chapter 5 The magical consciousness of children-Individual conscioiuness development; Cultural consciousness development
Chapter 6 Mystic consciousness-Individual conscioiuness development; Cultural consciousness development
Chapter 7 Rational consciousness-Individual conscioiuness development; Cultural consciousness development
Chapter 8 Vision-logic consciousness-Individual conscioiuness development; Cultural consciousness development
Chapter 9 Psychic consciousness-Individual conscioiuness development; Cultural consciousness development
Chapter 10 The dark night of the senses
Chapter 11 Subtle consciousness
Part III-The dark night of the soulf
Chapter 12 The natrue of the dark night of the soul
Chapter 13 Prelude to teh dark night-breakthrough to the causal level
Chapter 14 Death on the cross of inner contradictions and the descent into hell
Chapter 15 Resurrection from the night
Part IV -The consciouiness of a human as a realized divinity
Chapter 16 Christ consciousness-The causal level
Chapter 17 Nondual consciousness-Ascension inot the kingdom of heaven
Book Two
Introduction to book two
Part V-Special problems facing the Christian on the path to the kingdom of heaven
Chapter 18 The problem of Jesus' last name
Chapter 19 the problem of good and evil
Chapter 20 the problem of Jesus' cross
Chapter 21 The problem of God's favorites
Part VI-Further reaches of the kingdom of heaven
Chapter 22 The kingdom of heaven after death
Chapter 23 The establishment of the kingdom of heaven on earth
Afterword
Where do we go from here?
Where do we go as church?
Where do we go as individuals?
Bibliography
Index… (altro)

Putting on the Mind of Christ
The Inner Work of Christian Spirituality
by Jim Marion

This 324 page spiritual stunner really got in there. The author's direct yet easy flowing style helped me to understand more about what the "Christ Consciousness" really is, and how you know you are attaining it. I loved Part II because it broke down our seven levels of consciousness from infancy on and I was extremely impressed with it. There are so many answers right here for the taking that this glorious giant has completely made it in to my spiritual toolbox. I would recommend this blessed way to enlightenment to anyone wanting a way to tie in what we have been taught with what the truth. Thanks Jim, it just makes so so much sense.

Love & Light,

Riki Frahmann… (altro)