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Thurman explores the complex relationship between prayer, the concept of a savior, and the nature of divinity, suggesting that making a savior a god removes them from manipulation and the risks of human power. He also reflects on the essence of prayer as a means of self-expression and transformation rather than simply petitioning for outcomes, emphasizing that meaningful engagement with life can occur even within challenging circumstances.

Thurman reflects on the complex nature of human self-awareness and identity, describing how societal conditioning and spiritual beliefs can make it difficult to trust and open up to God or others. He discusses the transformative power of awareness, non-violence, and social change, using historical figures like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. as examples, ultimately concluding that true change comes from recognizing and confronting injustice with love and unity rather than violence.

Thurman explores the concept of religious experience as moments when individuals are temporarily lifted out of their ordinary sense of self, often through an overwhelming or profound event. These experiences challenge personal boundaries, revealing a greater connection to the universe, but they are fleeting, requiring the individual to return to their familiar state, and sometimes struggle with the ambiguity of life and existence.

This recording is the tenth lecture in our collection of ten that Howard Thurman gave at the University of Redlands in 1973 on the topic of mysticism. Thurman indicates that this lecture functions as a means to point the listener towards practical approaches to mysticism through lenses of psychology, philosophy, and religious experience. In this recording, Howard Thurman is asking the question, "What do I have?" He poses this question in relation to the mystical traditions that strive to empty…