The Christ Principle: A Lay Cistercian reflects on six paradigm shifts that help to clarify how all reality fits together.

A Lay Cistercian reflects on six paradigm shifts that help to clarify how all reality fits together. My life has been a joyful experience, not that there were no hiccups or some minor detours along the way. For the most part, I have traveled this way for 80 years, probably better than some but not as good as others. Along the way, just as I have done with my home, I have accumulated lots of "stuff," most all of which I must throw away or give to the poor. Almost all of the things I cherish are not things at all but rather experiences from the past, the challenges of the future, relationships with family and friends, and those situations I will pack in my bag on the journey to Forever. I would imagine I will have to give an accounting of my stewardship by standing in the presence of pure Being and seeing how I measured up. Naturally, no one measures up to God, who is not measurable by any means humans have, except one, Jesus the Christ. By assuming Human nature, God gives us a human measurement, we can begin to describe but not define. Deuteronomy 6:5 and Matthew 22:36. Because God loved us so much that he gave His only Son, we are asked to do the same for those around us. The mastery of the Christ Principle is not that difficult to know, and it is complicated to do every day. This book is a series of Lectio Divina reflections that help me move from self to God. I use the Cistercian charisms and practices to keep me centered on seeking God daily. Philippians 2:5 has been my personal center. When I get to Heaven and stand before that which has no beginning nor end, I am going to ask, "How'd I do? How close did I come?" These six paradigm shifts are my answer to "How does it all fit together?" Did I get it right? We'll find out. Trying is almost as important as achieving. These six paradigm shifts are cosmic in that they don't depend upon human intervention. They are: What is powerful enough to bring that which has a beginning and an end into existence? This is the physical universe, the base on which humans find themselves moving through space and time. Why is there movement from animality to rationality? This is the mental universe. Why are humans the only ones to know that we know and also have the ability to choose what we reason? No other animal or living thing can do this. Why is that? What is the reason for a physical and mental universe? This is the spiritual universe, the Christ Principle. It is the missing part of the life equation, a theorem that is not solvable without this spiritual universe paradox. We could not appreciate this universe without God telling us about it. The most astounding thing is that each human has an invitation to live Forever, and Christ tells us how to do that. How do humans use the spiritual universe to fulfill what it means to be human and move beyond death? How can I use the School of Love to find why I am here and my future? How do I use the physical, mental, and spiritual universes and my human ability to reason and make unique choices based on that authentic reasoning to find meaning and love others as Christ loved me? How can I prepare to live in a pure energy condition that contains pure knowledge, pure love, and pure service? The Christ Principle allows me to prepare to live in a condition of love where humans cannot approach this pure energy without frying their neurons. Why does the approach that seems to be totally unbelievable become the sign of contradiction that actually compliments science, philosophy, and the search for what it means to be human? These six paradigm shifts help me put together parts of the puzzle of "How does one reality that contains three separate universes of physical, mental, plus spiritual, while being only one reality, fit together?" https://thecenterforcontemplativepractice.org