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In this eighth lecture on "The Men Who've Walked with God," Thurman illustrates the mystical life of St. Francis of Assisi. Thurman describes St. Francis as an "uncomplicated mystic," not so much interested in metaphysics and theological problems. Rather, all that St. Francis knows is that there is a song in his heart which is an expression of the love of God. With the love of God, St. Francis is able to live from a place of harmony and satisfaction in God. Ultimately, we must be careful to not…

In this sixth lecture on "The Men Who've Walked with God," Thurman examines St. Augustine as a source of mystical insight. Thurman describes Augustine's search for God through the senses, the mind, the feelings, until finally finding "that which is" inside the soul. Thurman says that this is a union with God that is beyond thought, analysis, and spelled-out feelings. This mystical experience releases energy for the undertakings of life in which we might deal with our various difficulties and…

In this fourth lecture on "The Men Who've Walked with God," Thurman talks about the Buddha and his wrestling with human existence. Thurman says that the Buddha saw the aging and hunger in the world and equated life with suffering. The Buddha's response to this was to root out desire, to renounce attachment to the self. Thurman says that the insight here is that the self is not so much important as much as the act and the deed of the self. The ethical insight of the Buddha is in the purification…

In this first sermon on "The Men Who've Walked with God," Thurman explores the dynamics of mysticism. Mystical experience is deeply personal, and yet always urging one out towards life. The mystic cannot be lost in transcendence, because the mystic must test their insights in the outer world. Mysticism is better experienced than it is explained. In this experience, there is direct contact with the Spirit of God. For this reason, as Thurman says, the mystic goes against the grain of institutions…