The Positive Unconscious

Journey to Oneness are wisdom words from Fr. Thomas Keating spoken during the filming of his last DVD series That We May Be One in July 2016. Some are included in the series; others are from footage published here for the first time. A new word will be posed every Monday throughout the year. May they serve to inspire hope and lift your heart.

View Transcript

Video Archive

English Transcript

As contemplative prayer develops, you are purified of the emotional negative attitudes of trauma that was suppressed for many years, but still affects our judgments, unconsciously, and you cannot do that unless you are reassured that you are not totally bad. In other words, this basic distrust of ourselves, even our good selves, is so deeply immersed, unfortunately, in the Christian tradition that it is very hard to get it out, and I think God is trying to do something dramatic to shake us out of that mistake. Fear will destroy the capacity of growing trust in God that would be present if we emphasized the positive unconscious with all those capacities for good and union with God and kindness to others, and all those things.

Semana del 20 de mayo – El Inconsciente Positivo

A medida que se desarrolla la oración contemplativa somos purificados de las actitudes emocionales negativas que provienen de los traumas que hemos reprimido durante muchos años, pero que aún influyen en nuestros juicios de forma inconsciente. Esto no puede suceder a menos que confiemos en que no solos totalmente malos. En otras palabras, esta desconfianza básica en nosotros mismos, aún en nuestras partes buenas, está tan profundamente arraigada desafortunadamente en la tradición cristiana que es muy difícil de erradicar, y creo que Dios está tratando de hacer algo impresionante para sacudirnos y hacer que nos demos cuenta de ese error. El miedo destruye la capacidad de tener cada vez más confianza en Dios, que estaría presente si enfatizáramos en el inconsciente positivo todas esas capacidades para el bien y la unión con Dios, y la bondad hacia los demás, y ese tipo de cosas.