ASIAN AMERICAN SPIRITUALITY: A Quest for Self/Community

TransformationThe Rev. Dr. Winfred B. VergaraMissioner for Asiamerica Ministry

The Episcopal Church Center815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017

1212-922-5344wvergara@episcopalchurch.org

www.episcopalchurch.org/asian.htm

What is “Spirituality”?• Augustine in Confessions. “I know perfectly well what

time is until someone asks me to define it; then I am at a loss.”

• Duke Wellington, a famous jazz musician on ‘rhythm’ “If you get it, you don’t need no definition; if you don’t have it, ai’nt no definition gon’na help.” Spirituality is like that.

• To define spirituality, we must start on the root word. Hebrew “ruach” and Greek “pneuma” as well as Latin spiritus ---all suggest an image not a theological concept. The image is that of a breath that vitalizes whatever it touches.

Biblical images of spirit• Genesis 1:2 – spirit is a creative force.• John 3:8 –spirit is a mysterious force• Acts 2:2 the spirit is a revival force.

Basis for QS/CT: Man is incarnate spirit.• “We are not material beings with spirit; we are spiritual

beings with body.” –Teilhard de Chardin

• “You have nothing to do but save souls…and bring them up to holiness, without which they can not see the Lord.” –John Wesley

• “Now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know fully.” – St. Paul

Episcopalian in a mirror

Ignatian Spirituality: Seeing God Everywhere

This spirituality teaches us that while we live in a world of much darkness and brokenness, God is passionately involved with all creation, working to bring healing and reconciliation, justice and hope, forgiveness and love to everyone. Ignatius taught that God could be found at work in every situation, every relationship and every experience of human life---in the daily stuff of working, raising children, caring for neighbors, seeking justice in civic life, protecting the earth, and building the human community, as well as in experiences of friendship, of solidarity in a common cause, in times of rejoicing and great happiness, times of sorrow and grieving, and times of loneliness and fear.

I saw God in the (3) trees

Under the tree with God

Nature of Asian spirituality?

• Filipino: “split-level” and “pliant like the bamboo.”

• China: Pragmatism• India: Wisdom• Japan: Bamboo shoots up

Seeing God in Asian Culture

• The (5) Elements:

• Fire – 火 fo• Water – 水 sui• Earth – 地 tei• Wood – 木

muk• Metal - 鐵 thit

Five Elements of Yin-Yang Philosophy

The Five Elements theory posits wood, fire, earth, metal, and water as the basic elements of the material world. These elements are in constant movement and change. Moreover, the complex connections between material objects are explained through the relationship of interdependence and mutual restraint that governs the five elements.

Five elements in Spiritual LifeEARTH/PRAYER: the nurturing environment that

enables seeds to germinate and grow.WATER /WORSHIP: the flowing river that touches

and nourishes everything.WOOD/STUDY: A walking stick that can guide or a spear that can kill.FIRE/ACTION: Can bring light or warmth;

or it can explode or erupt.METAL/REFLECTION: solidity and ability

to contain objects.

Christ-centered Spirituality

PRAYERSTUDY

REFLECTIONWORSHIP

WITNESS

3 Steps to Quest for Spirituality• Seek your deepest desire from your inner self. Let this

desire unfold, the way God wants it to unfold. God initiates and you respond. Each and everyday, seek God’s graces. What do you want?

• Long for each day to unfold your deepest desires. Share the prayer; be affective, yearning and longing and feeling for God like a deer that pants for the water, let your spirit longs for God.

• Listen to the movement of God in your heart; feel the rhythm; in the heart and pray to God in your heart language then pause to hear the still small voice.