In Appreciation

Kirk Dennis

Christian Mysticism Lineage (in chronological order)

The following people, authors, organizations, and institutions have significantly influenced and helped foster the development of my soul up to 2003 when I founded Chalice Heart. In the last twenty years, the list has more than doubled and may be updated and shared in the future:

  • 1952 – Lutheran Church Baptism – Parental love and commitment
  • 1955 – Methodist Sunday School – Learned about the Holy Bible and Jesus Christ
  • 1956 – Mother Helen – Taught me how to properly pray (God rest her soul)
  • 1962 – Plato – Collected Dialogues
  • 1964 – Holy Bible – Carefully studied from cover to cover over 2 years
  • 1964 – Presbyterian Church – Confirmation
  • 1968 – Martin Buber – I and Thou
  • 1969 – Dr. Alan Wolf – Religion Department Professor; Wittenberg University
  • 1969 – Eugene Swanger – Chairman of Religion Department; Wittenberg University
  • 1969 – Vivaldis Klive – Philosophy Department Professor (Wittenberg University)
  • 1969 – Robert Long – Chairman of Philosophy Department (Wittenberg University)
  • 1969 – William James – Varieties of Religious Experience
  • 1970 – Stoicism – Epictetus, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius
  • 1970 – Western Philosophy – Completed history of philosophy
  • 1971 – Vinoba Bhave – Spiritual Teacher of India (meditated with him at Bodh Gaya Ashram)
  • 1971 – Dwarko Sundrani – Co-Founder, Chairman of Bodh Gaya Ashram
  • 1971 – Surrendra-Ji – Mahatma Gandhi’s Teacher (Exhorted me to learn about Jesus Christ)
  • 1971 – J. Krishnamurti – Studied with him for five years (Freedom from the Known)
  • 1972 – Paul Tillich – Systematic Theology
  • 1972 – Eastern Philosophy – Completed history of philosophy
  • 1972 – B. A. degree in philosophy from Wittenberg University – preeminent Lutheran college
  • 1972 – G.I. Gurdjieff – Studied all his teachings
  • 1973 – Ram Das – Read “Be Here Now” and all subsequent books
  • 1973 – Desert Fathers – Sayings of the Desert Fathers
  • 1974 – Gnostic Gospels – Acts of Thomas and John, Hymn of the Pearl, Pistis Sophia
  • 1974 – Saint Francis of Assisi – Stigmata, final days, and Sainthood
  • 1975 – A Course In Miracles – Taught class for eight years
  • 1975 – Paramahansa Yogananda – “Divine Breath” meditation (Self Realization Fellowship)
  • 1976 – Course In Miracles – Started/ taught a class for eight years
  • 1976 – Robert Gonzales Non Violent Communication Director; Living Compassion Founder; Spiritual Mentor and Confidant until his death in 2021 (45-year relationship)
  • 1976 – Meister Eckhart – The Complete Mystical Works
  • 1976 – Adi Da Samraj Studied with him for eight years
  • 1977 – St. John of the Cross – The Collected Works
  • 1978 – St. Teresa of Avila – The Collected Works Volumes I and II
  • 1979 – Evelyn Underwood – Mysticism, Concerning the Inner Life
  • 1979 – Manly P. Hall – Self-Unfoldment, Healing: Divine Art, The Secret Teaching of all Ages
  • 1980 – H. P. Blavatsky – The Secret Doctrine – Volumes I & II
  • 1980 – Jacob Needleman – Lost Christianity, The American Soul
  • 1980 – Carlos Castenada – Studied all of Don Juan’s teachings
  • 1981 – George Fox – Book of Miracles and Journal
  • 1981 – Thomas Merton – Seven Story Mountain, No Man is an Island, Seeds of Contemplation
  • 1982 – Anonymous – The Cloud of Unknowing
  • 1983 – St. Augustine – The Confessions, The Trinity, The City of God
  • 1984 – Catherine of Siena – The Life of St. Catherine of Siena and The Dialogues
  • 1985 – Brother Lawrence – The Practice of the Presence of God
  • 1985 – Bernadette Roberts – The Experience of No Self
  • 1986 – Thomas Aquinas – Summa Theologica (all five volumes)
  • 1986 – A. H. Almaas a.k.a. Hameed Ali – Studied with him for 18 years
  • 1986 – Ridhwan School for Spiritual Realization (became certified teacher in 1999)
  • 1999 – Ken Wilber – Collected Works (took two years to read all 19 books)
  • 1999 – Jean Gebser – The Ever-Present Origin
  • 1999 – Jurgen Habermas – Knowledge and Human Interests, Moral Consciousness
  • 2000 – Jim Marion – Putting on the Mind of Christ, The Death of the Mythic God
  • 2001 – Padre Pio – Man of Hope
  • 2002 – Alice Bailey – Collected Works – took an entire year
  • 2003 – Aziz Kristoff a.k.a. Aadi– In depth soul meditation and teaching to present (20 years)
  • 2003 – Chalice Heart Creator, Founder – Revitalizing the Precious Human Soul within the Judeo/ Christian Contemplative Tradition