Who We Are

We are a few people who have known Bernadette Roberts for many years, having first met her at talks and retreats in the early eighties. In the years since, we have spent much time talking with her about the Christian spiritual journey. Bernadette does not use the Internet, nor does she have access to it. She asked us to set up this site as a place for those interested in her writings and retreats.


From Bernadette Roberts

Dear Friend,

Thank you for your interest in my books and taking the time to visit this site. Please understand that apart from meeting people at the annual retreat I offer, I do not see people individually, talk on the phone, or carry on correspondences. I am not a spiritual director, counselor or teacher—have never had any talent or interest in this area. Apart from this, however, my busy family life would make it impossible to accommodate all the good people who would like to visit, talk or correspond. I recommend, however, that you find some group or persons with whom you can share your contemplative journey. For this, you might inquire at some monastery, retreat center or church. With this note comes a prayer God will send you whatever help, grace or insight you might need at this time.

Thank you again. God Bless!

Those who are looking for spiritual direction are welcome to contact Brother Bede Healey at the Camaldolese Hermitage, Highway 1, Big Sur, California. A monk for 30 years and a Ph.D. in Analytical Psychology, he welcomes all who are seeking a deeper life with God.

AVAILABLE UNPUBLISHED WORKS 
AND UPCOMING RETREATS

NEW BOOK - The Real Christ

This book is now available. Bernadette has requested that no one order the book until they have read the "WARNING" below.

The Real Christ is a 400 page spiral bound manuscript. Cost for the book is $50 for orders in the U.S.; the books are sent by media mail. Due to high shipping costs, the charge for the book is $75 for most orders outside of the U.S , or $65 in Canada and Mexico. For those who live in Hawaii, sending the book by media mail means that it can take at least 2 months to arrive. Anyone in the continental US or Hawaii can also request quicker shipping by adding $10 to the costs of the book = $60 total.
(For more information on how to order, scroll down to the "ORDERING INFORMATION" section at the end of this blog.)

WARNING
Those who believe the man Jesus who walked this earth 2000 years ago was God, should read no further. Since I hold no human being is God, those who disagree will only find this book upsetting and disagreeable.  This writing is not for those convinced they have the last word on Christ, but those searching for the real Christ. While I believe all Christians have the right Faith, I do not think all Christians have the right beliefs, right understanding or right view of Christ. Given all the Jesus-talk these days, Christianity comes across as a personality cult, the worship of a human being, which has nothing to do with Christ, it even turns people away.  The reason for this writing is my perception that the real Christ has been all but lost to Christianity.

Of first importance is to define the major terms used in this book, namely “Logos”, “Christ”, and “Jesus”.  Those who think these terms are interchangeable, synonymous, or refer to the same Reality, will never understand a thing in this book.  Indiscriminate use of these terms has already thrown people off the track, thus it is of the utmost importance to define these terms from the outset.  Those who disagree with these definitions will only become addled or irate and should read no further.

Because God is not a being, but Infinite Existence, we must be careful not to anthropomorphize God’s Triune essence or Trinity as three beings or three entities – three gods, in other words.  Also, because God transcends all gender, we have to be careful not to get caught up in the metaphors used for the Trinity as “Father and Son”.  Since God is neither mother, father, son or daughter, these metaphors must not be taken literally or understood as God ad intra (God-in-Itself).  To avoid this pitfall, this book refers to God’s Triune essence as “Transcendent-Logos-Spirit”.

The Incarnation was the Logos creating Its own human nature, creating man’s one common human nature eternally one with Itself, and this oneness of God’s divine nature and man’s human nature we know and call “Christ”. The term, word, or title “Christ” is not the name of any human being, but refers solely to God’s eternal oneness with Man.  The Incarnation was not God uniting Itself to any particular human being or person.  Christ is not the oneness of two persons, two individuals or two beings, nor is Christ a divine being or a human being, rather, Christ is the eternal oneness of two natures, divine and human.  Thus the Incarnation was the revelation of Man (Universal Man) and God’s Plan for all mankind, and this Truth, this revelation, is everything we know and call “Christ”.

The purpose of the Incarnation was not to reveal the man Jesus – give us another god for the pantheon – but to reveal Man, God’s eternal plan for his eternal oneness with God.  Prior to the Incarnation, Christ did not exist, nor did the man Jesus exist, only the divine Logos, God, eternally existed.  Thus neither as a human being or a human person was the man Jesus, divine, or even Christ.  It is solely the oneness of the divine Logos with Its own human nature that is Christ, and it is this mystery of God’s indivisible oneness with the essence of mankind we call the “Real Christ”.

Since there is only one common human nature – not many, different kinds, or particular human natures, one can count heads, but not human natures.  As the “instrument” of revealing Christ, the singular man born into this world was given the common Jewish name “Jesus”.  It was not this individual person or particular man, however, that was Christ, rather, Christ is solely God’s own human nature and not the human nature of any particular human being or person.  So where the term “Christ” is a reference to the indivisible oneness of two natures, the name “Jesus” is solely a reference to a particular human being or person.

This book permits no anthropomorphic view of God, the Trinity, or Christ.  Reference to the man Jesus is always to a particular human being and never to God.  “Jesus” is the particular man of the Gospels, the historical person no longer with us.  With his resurrection and ascension his human nature was totally changed, transfigured and glorified, thus he is no longer the historical figure of the past, but remains the example (or icon) of everyman’s journey and eternal oneness with God.  We must never, then, mix our terms – the Logos is solely God, Jesus is solely a distinct human person, and Christ – the eternal oneness of God and man.

Those who disagree with these definitions should read no further, it would only confuse and upset them.  Also, it would be useless to argue any of this since I’ve done my homework, am aware of all opposing views, and regard them as misconceived or wrong.  Given the same Christian background and history as those who object, I already know where they are coming from, it is they, however, who do not know where I am coming from, and therein lies the difference.



DVD: "A Passage Through Self"

An Overview of the Spiritual Journey in Terms of Consciousness
Recorded in 1987 (3 hours, NTSC)


This talk uses a series of circles to illustrate the journey in terms of consciousness--defined as the whole self-experience and medium of the Divine’s revelation to man. Particular emphasis is given to the journey’s major milestones: first, transcendence of the ego-self and revelation of the True Self in its oneness with God (the Unitive State). Second, the further movement into the marketplace that ultimately ends with the falling away of the True-self and the Unitive State. An overview of this passage reveals how and in what way the ultimate fulfillment of self or consciousness is no-Self or no-Consciousness.

COST (including shipping) is:
$35: within the United States
$45: outside the United States




(See "ORDERING INFORMATION" below.)


BOOK: "Contemplative: Autobiography of the Early Years"

Unpublished, 2004: 200 page spiral-bound manuscript
(Available here)





Bernadette has written an account of her early contemplative life. Here is a brief description of the book taken from the introduction:
"This book is an account of my spiritual journey from birth to seventeen. Since my book The Path to No-Self, begins at age seventeen, the present book covers the earlier years and my initial steps in the contemplative path. The purpose of this writing is both to give this background and give witness to God’s work in a single soul. Since God is at work in every soul, it is up to each of us to give our own account, no one else can do this for us."
COST (including shipping) is:
$45 within the United States
$55 for mailing outside the United States 


(See "ORDERING INFORMATION" below)

BOOK: "Essays on the Christian Contemplative Journey"

Unpublished, 2007: 170 pages, spiral bound manuscript(Available here)





Essays include:The Spiritual Journey Recapitulates the History of Religion; Cessation of Self; Nonduality; Mystical Theology and No-Self; Image and Likeness; Apatheia; Means-End; An Interview; Women and Mysticism; The Eucharist, A Christian Path
COST (including shipping) is:
$35 for regular media mail
$45 outside the U.S.


(See "ORDERING INFORMATION" below.)

NEW ESSAY: "Forcing-The-Fit"

Unpublished, 2008: 116 page spiral-bound manuscript

Bernadette disagrees with and comments on the interpretations of her work by three authors: A.H. Almaas, James Marion and Jim Arraj. The commentary is available as a 116 page, spiral bound manuscript.

COST (including shipping) is:
$25 within the U.S.
$35 outside the U.S
(Scroll down to "ORDERING INFORMATION" below.)

A Christian Commentary on the Ten Ox Herding Pictures

This is a brief commentary on the Ten Ox Herding Pictures, as requested by Bernadette's friend, Jeff Shore. The cost, including postage and handling, is $8 for those in the U.S., and $10 for those outside this country.

Special Ordering Information for the Ten Ox Herding Pictures booklet: If you are ordering this booklet only, make the check out to Pat Masters (not to Bernadette). See ORDERING INFORMATION below.




NEW CD Available: Recorded interview of Bernadette

Bernadette was interviewed by Michael Toms of New Dimension Radio in 1987. The interview is now available on CD. It is about 1 hour in length and is a lively discussion between Michael and Bernadette, regarding her own life with God, her writing work and the Christian path.

If you are interested in purchasing this recording, the cost is $12 (which includes postage and handling) for those in the U.S., and $15 for those outside this country.


To purchase the CD see ORDERING INFORMATION below.

RETREATS

Bernadette's next retreat - The Essence of Christian Mysticism October 11-13, 2013


Fall 2013 retreat, October 11-13, Fullerton, California

The retreat is held at a Catholic retreat center in Fullerton, California. 
This retreat is geared to practicing Christian contemplatives as a time to deepen and share their spiritual journey. It is intended for those who have read Bernadette's first three books (Experience, Path, and What is Self?) and seen the DVD, A Passage Through Self
Occupancy is limited to 13 people and the cost is $350. The full amount is due with registration.

For more information and to register, scroll down to "ORDERING INFORMATION" at the end of this blog.


ORDERING INFORMATION


To receive information and registration instructions for upcoming retreats, send your request to Pat Masters at either the mailing or email address below.

To order books, the DVD or CD available here, please send a check made out to Bernadette Roberts, for the amount specified (in U.S. currency ONLY) to:

Pat Masters
1101 Prospect Avenue #40
Santa Rosa,
California 95409, USA

 or email her at pmasters@sonic.net


If you include an e-mail address, we will send confirmation of the order having been received and shipped.

You may also pay through PayPal at: pmasters@sonic.net . If you do pay through PayPal add 4.5% to cover their fees or 6.5% if you are ordering from outside the U.S.  Email your shipping address to Pat at pmasters@sonic.net.