CULTIVATING THE SYNERGY & FULLNESS OF DIVINE BEING

Pneumism is founded on a flexible and expansive concept of divinity: pneuma, a nurturing, universal presence that is both an internal resource and an external entity beyond our comprehension. Pneumian experience of the divine has an aesthetic dimension in which oppositional qualities such as breath/spirit, human/divine, self/other, et al. merge into a synergistic whole, transforming spiritual practice into an art of divine being.

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Spiritual potential is rooted in an abundance of divine energy that fuels a state of holistic well-being called eupneumia. Deep experience of divinity, flowing both from within the depths of our own being and in the world around us, gives rise to a miraculous sense of blessedness, or philapneumia: a continuous spectrum of profound emotions, including serenity, wonder, and love, which relieves suffering and fosters flourishing.

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The art of divine being is rooted in a spiritual practice that integrates meditation, prayer, and mindfulness.  Meditation upon a divine presence, embodied in the breath, strengthens unity of heart, mind, body, and soul. We are more physically grounded, mentally calm, and emotionally balanced. Cultivating a breath-centered interconnection with a universal divine power naturally encompasses a state of prayer, through which we foster a personal connection to Pneuma as an external Presence that guides and nurtures us. Pleropneumontes, spiritual fullness of being--what is often called mindfulness--increases, and we are more deeply aware and more powerfully present in the here-and-now. The fertile middle ground between inner being and external existence expands: bridging the divide between practice and non-practice and generating a greater capacity for resilience, goodness, and happiness.

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Divine being is rooted in a creative process of dialectical unity, in which oppositional states and spheres of reality are nourished and preserved by each other and drawn together into a synergistic whole. Blessedness is rooted in spiritual feeling and wisdom, rather than objective mystical knowledge. We cultivate an open intellectual stance toward the contradictions and paradoxes of life and think less in terms of "either/or" and more in terms of "both/and." Open-mindedness helps us to develop mental, emotional, and behavioral patterns more conducive to divine being. Our understanding of ourselves, others, and the world deepens, as does our capacity for loving acceptance. A healing divine presence frees us from many of the challenges that block us from realizing our full potential for spiritual flourishing.

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Experiencing the divine dimensions of everyday reality imbues our lives with encouraging currents of transcendence and a strong sense of life's intrinsic worth. Our lives are rooted in wholesome, pragmatic values that help us establish a healthy balance between self-care and service to others. Acceptance, positivity, and freedom shape our attitudes, while loving-kindness, wisdom, and gratitude guide our manner of living.