The divine milieu : insights of Teilhard De Chardin to spiritual direction

Abstract

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) is a French traveller, priest, scientist, and mystic of the twentieth century whose numerous works are still hardly well-known in both the scientific and theological circles. Unlike his contemporary scientists, he envisaged the universal dimension of the human being, and the spiritual one, too. For this, he deserves to be called a genius, and a mystic of our contemporary era. Teilhard wrote profusely about the findings of his scientific research. They are beyond the scope of this work. Nevertheless, these scientific projects laid the groundwork for his insights on spirituality. This work is in no way a treatise on his life and writings. The main aim of this study is to show that Teilhard, through self-reflection and centredness in his life, had an objective view of the human, the psychological, and the spiritual development of the individual. The insights of Teilhard on the universal dynamics of energy have been intriguing to science and theology. They are equally an unchartered territory to the area of spiritual direction which is taken to be a discrete and humble practice in today's world. Here, spiritual direction is studied beyond the beginner's stage. The dynamics of the interpersonal relationship of in-depth spiritual direction are explored, and the themes of cosmic and Divine Energy are studied in this dimension. This study shows that the spiritual director, by his or her psychological and spiritual maturity, can be the medium of the Divine Energy to the person who is genuinely and profoundly seeking to journey in the deep spiritual life. Aspects from the early Christian and the Eastern Church tradition have been integrated throughout this study. Teilhard's life and his vision have been considered in the perspective of the Christian spirituality, and also, of the social and theological developments of his contemporary time. Hence, terms which have appeared for long in the writings of spirituality in the history of the Catholic Church are replaced by new scientific terms, and because of this it facilitates inter-dialogue on the subject world-wide. This study is presented on the eve of the hundred thirtieth anniversary of the birth of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.