Breathing Underwater

What's "Breathing Under Water" about?

• Integration of Spirituality and Twelve Steps: "Breathing Under Water" by Richard Rohr explores the connection between Christian spirituality and the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, suggesting that both paths offer similar transformational messages.
• Spiritual Growth and Healing: The book emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth and healing through surrender, acceptance, and the recognition of one's powerlessness over addiction or sin.
• Practical Guidance: Rohr provides practical guidance on how to apply the Twelve Steps to one's spiritual journey, encouraging readers to embrace vulnerability and seek a deeper relationship with God.

Why should I read "Breathing Under Water"?

• Holistic Approach: The book offers a holistic approach to spirituality, combining psychological insights with spiritual teachings to address addiction and personal transformation.
• Universal Application: While rooted in Christian teachings, the principles discussed are applicable to anyone seeking personal growth and healing, regardless of religious background.
• Insightful Reflections: Rohr's reflections provide deep insights into the human condition, encouraging readers to confront their own struggles and embrace a path of recovery and spiritual awakening.

What are the key takeaways of "Breathing Under Water"?

• Powerlessness and Surrender: Recognizing one's powerlessness is the first step towards spiritual growth, leading to a surrender to a higher power for healing and transformation.
• Integration of Spiritual Practices: The book emphasizes the importance of integrating prayer, meditation, and self-reflection into daily life to maintain conscious contact with God.
• Healing Through Community: Rohr highlights the significance of community and accountability in the healing process, encouraging readers to seek support and make amends with those they have harmed.

How does Richard Rohr connect spirituality with the Twelve Steps?

• Common Inspiration: Rohr argues that both the Gospel message and the Twelve Steps are inspired by the Holy Spirit, offering a common path to transformation and healing.
• Sin as Addiction: He suggests that addiction is a modern metaphor for sin, viewing both as diseases that require spiritual intervention and healing.
• Practical Application: The book provides practical steps for integrating the Twelve Steps into one's spiritual journey, emphasizing the need for surrender, accountability, and ongoing spiritual practice.

What is the significance of the title "Breathing Under Water"?

• Metaphor for Spiritual Journey: The title, inspired by a poem, symbolizes the spiritual journey of learning to navigate life's challenges and struggles with grace and resilience.
• Embracing Vulnerability: It suggests the need to embrace vulnerability and surrender to a higher power, allowing oneself to be transformed and supported by divine grace.
• Living in a Drowning Culture: Rohr uses the metaphor to describe living in a culture that often feels overwhelming, encouraging readers to find spiritual grounding and strength.

What are the best quotes from "Breathing Under Water" and what do they mean?

• "We suffer to get well." This quote emphasizes the transformative power of suffering, suggesting that through embracing and understanding our pain, we can achieve healing and growth.
• "We surrender to win." Rohr highlights the paradox of surrender, where letting go of control leads to true victory and spiritual freedom.
• "We die to live." This reflects the concept of dying to one's ego and false self to experience a fuller, more authentic life in alignment with spiritual truths.

How does Richard Rohr address the concept of powerlessness in "Breathing Under Water"?

• Foundation of Transformation: Rohr identifies powerlessness as the foundation for spiritual transformation, urging readers to acknowledge their limitations and surrender to a higher power.
• Ego and Control: He discusses the ego's resistance to change and the illusion of control, emphasizing the need to let go of self-reliance to experience true freedom.
• Spiritual Paradox: The book explores the paradox that strength is found in weakness, and that embracing powerlessness can lead to profound spiritual growth and healing.

What role does community play in the healing process according to "Breathing Under Water"?

• Accountability and Support: Rohr emphasizes the importance of community in providing accountability and support, helping individuals stay committed to their spiritual journey.
• Shared Experiences: He highlights the value of shared experiences and mutual understanding, which foster empathy and compassion among members of a healing community.
• Making Amends: The book encourages making amends and seeking reconciliation within the community, as a crucial step towards personal and collective healing.

How does "Breathing Under Water" redefine the concept of sin?

• Sin as Disease: Rohr redefines sin as a disease similar to addiction, viewing it as a condition that requires healing rather than punishment.
• Focus on Transformation: The book shifts the focus from moral judgment to personal transformation, emphasizing the need for spiritual practices that lead to healing and growth.
• Collective Responsibility: Rohr also addresses the concept of structural sin, highlighting the need for collective awareness and action to address societal and institutional injustices.

What is the role of prayer and meditation in "Breathing Under Water"?

• Conscious Contact with God: Prayer and meditation are presented as essential practices for maintaining conscious contact with God and aligning with divine will.
• Inner Transformation: Rohr emphasizes that these practices facilitate inner transformation, helping individuals move beyond ego-driven desires to a deeper spiritual awareness.
• Non-Dual Consciousness: The book encourages developing a non-dual consciousness through prayer and meditation, allowing for a more holistic and compassionate view of oneself and the world.

How does "Breathing Under Water" address the concept of suffering?

• Shared Suffering: Rohr suggests that suffering is a shared human experience that can lead to deeper compassion and connection with others.
• Divine Participation: He proposes that God participates in human suffering, offering solidarity and redemption through shared pain and struggle.
• Path to Love: The book views suffering as a path to love and spiritual growth, teaching individuals to embrace their vulnerabilities and find meaning in their struggles.

What is the ultimate goal of the spiritual journey in "Breathing Under Water"?

• Spiritual Awakening: The ultimate goal is a spiritual awakening, where individuals experience a profound transformation and connection with the divine.
• Living in Grace: Rohr encourages living in a state of grace, characterized by humility, compassion, and a deep sense of interconnectedness with all of creation.
• Service to Others: The journey culminates in service to others, as individuals are called to share their experiences and support others in their own paths to healing and growth.