Podcasts about contemplative

What does it mean to have contemplative practices in college? Today we're joined by Evan Digman, a senior at UW-Madison, who's talking to us about his spirituality journey - from his first experience of guided meditation in middle school to now. Do you sometimes wonder how to manage the stresses of day-to-day life, feel the need to consider what sort of community could be meaningfully supportive to you, or ask yourself where you'd even get the time to have a meaningful spiritual practice? On this week's podcast, we talk about all of these things and more. We hope you'll join us.Additional ResourcesRestaurant: Spiro's Restaurant near St. Louis, MO#CollegeLife #YoungContemplatives #ChristianMystics #ContemplativeSpirituality #Buddhism #Christianity #Interspiritual #Meditation #ContemplativeSingingSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/connect/newsletter

Second Sunday after the Epiphany The Collect: Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament: Isaiah 49:1-7 1Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me. 2He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. 3And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” 4But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.” 5And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— 6he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” 7Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, “Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” Psalm: Psalm 40:1-12 1 I waited patiently upon the Lord; *        he stooped to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay; *        he set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth,   a song of praise to our God; *        many shall see, and stand in awe,        and put their trust in the Lord. 4 Happy are they who trust in the Lord! *        they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods. 5 Great things are they that you have done, O Lord my God!   how great your wonders and your plans for us! *        there is none who can be compared with you. 6 Oh, that I could make them known and tell them! *        but they are more than I can count. 7 In sacrifice and offering you take no pleasure *       (you have given me ears to hear you); 8 Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required, *        and so I said, “Behold, I come. 9 In the roll of the book it is written concerning me: *       ‘I love to do your will, O my God;        your law is deep in my heart.”‘ 10 I proclaimed righteousness in the great congregation; *        behold, I did not restrain my lips;        and that, O Lord, you know. 11 Your righteousness have I not hidden in my heart;    I have spoken of your faithfulness and your deliverance; *        I have not concealed your love and faithfulness from the great congregation. 12 You are the Lord;    do not withhold your compassion from me; *        let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever, Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 1Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.9God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Gospel: John 1:29-42 29The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' 31I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” 35The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” 37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. 40One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). 42He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

Feeling overwhelmed is unavoidable. On today's podcast, we talk about how to live in the midst of our overwhelm as well as what we can do to ease the pain of it. Have you ever felt yourself begin to spiral?  Maybe you had a physical reaction, like an upset stomach or a racing heart. Or perhaps your thoughts were the thing to start racing. For many of us, overwhelm is wrapped in imagining our worst-case scenarios or supposing we don't have what it takes to handle what's coming our way. Join us as we engage the collective wisdom available around this very important topic. Additional ResourcesPodcast: Ep 105 Engaging the Contemplative in College (releases Jan. 24, 2023)Book: The Trauma of Everyday Life by Mark EpsteinBook: Wild Mercy by Mirabai Starr#Overwhelm #Fear #Trauma #Rest #Retreat #ContemplativeSpirituality #BodyAwareness #MindAwarenessSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/connect/newsletter

In this episode, Marcia and I dig deeper into the key movers and shakers in this movement as well as explore some of the specific teachings of these individuals. Sponsors ALONGSIDE THEM: Get $5 off with code KINDLED5 Follow them: @alongsidethem --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kindledpodcast/support

A study published in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization in 2021, found that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, prayer Google searches “rose on all continents, at all levels of income, inequality, and insecurity, and for all types of religion, except Buddhism.”The researchers concluded that the global rise in religiosity or spirituality happened because “people pray to cope with adversity.”“Our culture is increasingly abandoning anything that resembles orthodox Christianity in favor of a generic or sentimental kind of spirituality. This has caused many, including those within the church, to embrace a distorted vision of prayer. They seem to think that prayer is little more than a form of self-therapy but with a spiritual facade. In some places it's seen as a self-improvement practice that any health-obsessed person should do, like working out or eating quinoa.” – Skye JethaniChristian prayer should be concerned with relationship not results. To whom we pray is more important than how we pray.LUKE 11This prayer for Jesus followers has become both a pattern and a script for those in the Christian tradition. It is a guideline for prayer AND simultaneously, a prayer we regularly recite. It is the place in scripture we go to when we ourselves wonder, “Jesus, how do we pray?”This is why for the next several weeks leading up to lent, we will be unpacking each line of the Lord's prayer in a teaching series entitled “Teach Us to Pray.” Each week we will focus on a different aspect of prayer as reflected in the Lord's prayer.Week 1: CommunionWeek 2: ContendingWeek 3: PetitionWeek 4: ConfessionWeek 5: MissionGOD AS FATHERJesus begins the Lord's prayer reminding us that our communion with God as father is the foundation for all of prayer- it is the starting place- it's everything. The who of prayer is God our Father.The opening line of this prayer, “Our Father in heaven” would have been shocking even scandalous to the ears of Jesus' 1st-century audience for a few reasons:As aforementioned, God was never referred to in an intimate way but always in a formal and reverent one.Prayers in the 1st century for both Jews and non-Jews were generally formulaic in approach using words to compel a reluctant God to act.Our Father in heaven, these four words changed the way we relate to God and thus the entire nature of prayer. In defining the who, Jesus changes the why, when, where, what, and how of prayer.BREAD FOR A NEIGHBOR“And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” – Luke 11:5-8“Ancient Israel was an honor-based culture and highly communal. A person's reputation was of paramount importance, and their reputation was inexorably linked to their extended family and community. Failing to provide bread to an unexpected visitor, which is the core problem in Jesus' story, would not only bring shame upon an individual but also upon the entire village.” – Skye JethaniThe point is remarkable simply: God does not answer prayers because of our reputation but because of his.In one simple story, Jesus takes the focus of prayer off of our own righteousness or even our dedication to God. And he places the focus of prayer on God's desire to retain his reputation as a good loving father who gives his sons and daughters what they ask regardless of the quality of the asker.God answers prayers not because of our reputation but because of his reputation. And he is known as a good father.To whom we pray is more important than how we pray.GIVER OF GOOD GIFTS“What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”' –Luke 11:11-13As mentioned beforehand, the betrayal of God as a good and loving father was a scandalous idea for Jesus' first-century context. God was rarely referred to in an intimate way. He was almost always referred to formally and reverently.“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?” –Genesis 3:1Interestingly enough, in Genesis 2, God is referred to over and over again as Yahweh Elohim or Lord God. But when the serpent comes onto the scene in Genesis 3:1, twisting God's words and creating half-truths, he refers to God by only using the word Elohim. Scholars call this keeping the abstract but dropping the personal. It would be like calling someone by their title and not their name.RESTORATION OF FATHERAccording to theologian N.T. Wright, there are nearly half a million words in the Hebrew Bible yet God is only portrayed as father 15 times.But then we turn to the New Testament. Gone are the days of reserve or distance. There is a new tone, a new familiarity, a new narrative. Jesus calls God father 65 times by the time you finish the gospel of Luke and over 170 times by the time you reach the end of John.It is only in proximity to the Father God of love that we “grasp how wide and long and high and deep” God's love is for usWe must stop thinking of prayer as simply communicating with God and start communing with God.SPIRITUAL PRACTICEWe do this through a practice commonly known as contemplative prayer.Contemplative prayer, as defined in the Handbook of Spiritual Disciplines, is a way of being with God without wordiness relying on God to initiate communion and communication.“Let your heart rate decrease. Know that you're already bathed in the Father's love, and ask simply for what you need, in the assurance that the One to whom you're speaking is already cupping His ear in your direction.”– Wesley Hill“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” – Matthew 6:7-8

First Sunday after the Epiphany The Baptism of our Lord The Collect: Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. First Lesson: Isaiah 42:1-9 1Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. 5Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations,7to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. 9See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them. Psalm: Psalm 29 1 Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, *        ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his Name; *        worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;   the God of glory thunders; *        the Lord is upon the mighty waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice; *        the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendor. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; *        the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon; 6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *        and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire;   the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; *        the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 8 The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe *        and strips the forests bare. 9 And in the temple of the Lord *        all are crying, “Glory!” 10 The Lord sits enthroned above the flood; *        the Lord sits enthroned as King for evermore. 11 The Lord shall give strength to his people; *        the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace. Second Lesson: Acts 10:34-43 34Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

From contemplative prayer to spiritual directors and spiritual formation programs at churches, "contemplative spirituality" is deeply embedded in many churches across the world.... only, many Christians don't even realize what is happening or know how to identify the movement has arrived in their church. Marcia Montenegro joins us to explain the many facets of the movement and helps explain where they come from - and where they are ultimately leading. Topics discussed: Jackie Hill Perry rejecting the Enneagram Practicing the Way by Jon Mark Comer Spiritual directors, Spiritual formation Eastern Mysticism, contemplative spirituality, The New Age Part 2 will be released 1/16/23. Sponsors ALONGSIDE THEM: Get $5 off with code KINDLED5 Follow them: @alongsidethem --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kindledpodcast/support

As we age, we face more and more life circumstances that can seem lose/lose. Take care of our aging parent and lose any margin in our lives. Start a needed side hustle that has a substantial chance of failing. The Bible encourages us to trust God enough to ask for all the things we want, but it then pivots to a different, contemplative approach that might grow our faith through these tough challenges. Dave Schmelzer looks at the ins and outs of that important flexibility while bringing in a vivid picture of what that might look like from another great world tradition.Mentioned on this podcast:Proverbs 16:9; Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 46:10 The MahabharataStephen Cope's The Great Work of Your LifeA quote from Thomas Merton to a young activist: “Do not depend on the hope of results. You may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you start more and more to concentrate not on the results, but on the value, the rightness, the truth of the work itself.”

Joshua Hren is founder of Wiseblood Books and co-founder of the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of St. Thomas, Houston. His essays and poems have appeared in such venues as First Things, Catholic World Report, New Oxford Review, and LOGOS. His books include the novel Infinite Regress and a volume of poems titled Last Things, First Things, and Other …

Contemplative worship for January 8, 2023

1983…the year before the infamous 1984. Seems lifetimes ago, doesn't it? But that was the year that a syndicated music program called Hearts of Space began to appear on public radio stations around the U.S. And that means that 2023 is the 40th anniversary of the national program! I'm STEPHEN HILL, producer of Hearts of Space, and I was taught that if something was worth doing, not only was it worth doing well, it was worth doing for a long time. That, and the support of my colleagues, hundreds of stations, thousands of artists, and millions of listeners like you—has kept us going all this time. To mark our 40th year, we're rebroadcasting program number One, 'FIRST FLIGHT' from January 1983. It's a perfect example of the open-minded, multi-genre, multi-cultural sonic integration of contemporary Ambient, Space, and Contemplative music. On our premiere program we featured music by a group of artists who became familiar names in the Hearts of Space pantheon of composers: KITARO, VANGELIS & IRENE PAPPAS, THOMAS DE HARTMANN, MICHAEL STEARNS, DEUTER, PAUL LLOYD WARNER & STEVEN KINDLER, CHARLES LLOYD, and DAVID DARLING. It's a journey across time...and space. FIRST FLIGHT...on this hour...of HEARTS OF SPACE. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

- JOAN CHITTISTER: "The Monastic Heart: 50 Simple Practices for a Contemplative and Fulfilling Life" - Oberlin College FORCED to Pay $36 MILLION to a Local Business it Slandered. What Lessons Can the CHURCH Learn from this Situation?" - GLENN DORSEY: "The Bulletproof Leader: Revealing, Realigning, and Restoring the Heart of a Leader" - "A Minnesota Church Hired a Youth Pastor Who Wound Up Abusing One of His Students. What are Some of the Warning Signs to Keep this from Happening at YOUR Church?"

Scrif stares in horror as a stricken Ysoki violently throws itself against the tram window of the Red Rails, mouthing the word "Pons." They seemed to know the eccentric Contemplative, but how? If only that were the only shocking event in this chapter! But it's not. Not by a long shot. Be sure to join us on Discord! https://discord.gg/9PgpmhnhuG

In this gentle practice, Youheum, an emotional healing coach, guides you through Centering Prayer following the teachings of Thomas Keating on Contemplative practices. Includes a short guide with a 20-minute silent prayer and Lectio Divinia at the end. YouTube Instagram Course Group Classes & 1:1 Coaching Donate --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/youheum/support

On this week's podcast, each of us shares a bit about our deep love and appreciation for retreats - and in a variety of ways! Join us as we talk about best practices for preparing, what to do if you don't feel like you have the time, and why different seasons of your life may call for a different sort of retreat. Additional ResourcesWebsite: Foundry Spiritual Center - Tailor-Made RetreatsWater Filtration: Spring Well Water Filtration Systems#SpiritualPractice #Retreats #SilentRetreat #CreativePlay #Contemplative #Burnout #WisdomSeeking #MiniRetreat #DiscernmentSign up for our newsletter here: https://foundrysc.com/connect/newsletter

This episode of Spotlights features Sam Mickey and Kimberly Carfore in conversation with a topic Sam has been researching recently: contemplative posthuman design, which is a way of bringing design thinking into dialogue with contemplative studies and the ecological sensibilities of posthumanism. It is a design approach that works with contemplative practices to envision ways of harmoniously integrating humans with the more-than-human world. Sam draws connections between these ideas and the work of the contemporary German philosopher, Peter Sloterdijk.

Click here for link to Sermon handout Christmas I Isaiah 61:10-62:3  10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.   62:1  For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. 2 The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. 3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.     Psalm 147    1 Praise the LORD! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. 2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. 4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. 6 The LORD lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground.   7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre. 8 He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills. 9 He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry. 10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; 11 but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. 14 He grants peacea within your borders; he fills you with the finest of wheat. 15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down hail like crumbs— who can stand before his cold? 18 He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow. 19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel. 20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the LORD!     Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7    23 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.      John 1:1-18   1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.   6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.   10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.   14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.

Contemplative Worship for January 1, 2023

No matter if you're coming to the end of the year in celebration or in grief, let's come to the Lord to reflect on 2022 so that we can intentionally move into the new year.

In this episode we speak with East-West Psychology chair Debashish Banerji to discuss the foundations of a new concentration in the EWP department titled Asian Contemplative and Transcultural Studies (ACTS). Debashish shares his vision of a postcolonial pedagogy in which to ground this discourse, and we discuss how this concentration can situate academic and creative approaches to posthuman world-making. He shares the importance of understanding Asian contemplative traditions in critical relationships to the forces of western globalization and neoliberal capitalism which overdetermine Asian cultures through unconscious structures such as orientalist essentialization, reduction, and projection. Debashish illustrates this idea by describing how a western understanding of Yoga asana within the holistic health and well-being culture industry has been largely appropriated, co-oped by capital, and deterritorialized from its historical roots in which Indian yogasana was initially a micro-political praxis of subjective freedom and self-making based on the goals of anti-colonialist struggles. We ask how the potentials and traces of previous cultural renaissances and revolutions can productively aid in an aspiration to build a new posthuman habitus while avoiding the dangers of being folded back into dependance upon regimes of capital. Debashish speaks of the importance of the arts in ACTS, and shares how the arts can provide affective experiences which can open one to new liminal languages and performative and experimental concepts which can aid in psycho-cosmological world-making. Debashish Banerji is the Haridas Chaudhuri Professor of Indian Philosophies and Cultures and the Doshi Professor of Asian Art at the California Institute of Integral Studies. He is also the Program Chair for the East-West Psychology department. Prior to CIIS, he served as Professor of Indian Studies and Dean of Academics at the University of Philosophical Research, Los Angeles. He has taught as adjunct faculty at the Pasadena City College, University of California, Los Angeles and University of California, Irvine. His interests lie in postmodern, postcolonial and cross-cultural approaches to Indian philosophy, psychology and culture. Banerji has curated close to fifteen exhibitions of Indian and Japanese art. He has authored and edited around ten books and art catalogs on major figures of "the Bengal Renaissance" such as the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, the artist Abanindranath Tagore and the spiritual thinker Sri Aurobindo; on Critical Posthumanism, Yoga Psychology and on a variety of creative and art-related projects. His most recent books are Integral Yoga Psychology: Metaphysics and Transformation as Taught by Sri Aurobindo (Lotus Press, 2020) and Meditations on the Isha Upanishad: Tracing the Philosophical Vision of Sri Aurobindo (Sri Aurobindo Samity and Maha Bodhi Publishers, 2019), and Seven Quartets of Becoming: A Transformative Yoga Psychology based on the Diaries of Sri Aurobindo (DK Printworld, 2012). The EWP Podcast credits East-West Psychology Podcast Website Connect with EWP: Website • Youtube • Facebook Produced by: Stephen Julich and Jonathan Kay Edited and Mixed by: Jonathan Kay Introduction music: Mosaic, by Monsoon on the album Mandala Music at the end of the episode: Prologue: The Symbols Dawn & Canto One: Sages Creation, from the album Experiments of Truth, by Kayos Theory Introduction Voiceover: Roche Wadehra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this episode we speak with East-West Psychology chair Debashish Banerji to discuss the foundations of a new concentration in the EWP department titled Asian Contemplative and Transcultural Studies (ACTS). Debashish shares his vision of a postcolonial pedagogy in which to ground this discourse, and we discuss how this concentration can situate academic and creative approaches to posthuman world-making. He shares the importance of understanding Asian contemplative traditions in critical relationships to the forces of western globalization and neoliberal capitalism which overdetermine Asian cultures through unconscious structures such as orientalist essentialization, reduction, and projection. Debashish illustrates this idea by describing how a western understanding of Yoga asana within the holistic health and well-being culture industry has been largely appropriated, co-oped by capital, and deterritorialized from its historical roots in which Indian yogasana was initially a micro-political praxis of subjective freedom and self-making based on the goals of anti-colonialist struggles. We ask how the potentials and traces of previous cultural renaissances and revolutions can productively aid in an aspiration to build a new posthuman habitus while avoiding the dangers of being folded back into dependance upon regimes of capital. Debashish speaks of the importance of the arts in ACTS, and shares how the arts can provide affective experiences which can open one to new liminal languages and performative and experimental concepts which can aid in psycho-cosmological world-making. Debashish Banerji is the Haridas Chaudhuri Professor of Indian Philosophies and Cultures and the Doshi Professor of Asian Art at the California Institute of Integral Studies. He is also the Program Chair for the East-West Psychology department. Prior to CIIS, he served as Professor of Indian Studies and Dean of Academics at the University of Philosophical Research, Los Angeles. He has taught as adjunct faculty at the Pasadena City College, University of California, Los Angeles and University of California, Irvine. His interests lie in postmodern, postcolonial and cross-cultural approaches to Indian philosophy, psychology and culture. Banerji has curated close to fifteen exhibitions of Indian and Japanese art. He has authored and edited around ten books and art catalogs on major figures of "the Bengal Renaissance" such as the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, the artist Abanindranath Tagore and the spiritual thinker Sri Aurobindo; on Critical Posthumanism, Yoga Psychology and on a variety of creative and art-related projects. His most recent books are Integral Yoga Psychology: Metaphysics and Transformation as Taught by Sri Aurobindo (Lotus Press, 2020) and Meditations on the Isha Upanishad: Tracing the Philosophical Vision of Sri Aurobindo (Sri Aurobindo Samity and Maha Bodhi Publishers, 2019), and Seven Quartets of Becoming: A Transformative Yoga Psychology based on the Diaries of Sri Aurobindo (DK Printworld, 2012). The EWP Podcast credits East-West Psychology Podcast Website Connect with EWP: Website • Youtube • Facebook Produced by: Stephen Julich and Jonathan Kay Edited and Mixed by: Jonathan Kay Introduction music: Mosaic, by Monsoon on the album Mandala Music at the end of the episode: Prologue: The Symbols Dawn & Canto One: Sages Creation, from the album Experiments of Truth, by Kayos Theory Introduction Voiceover: Roche Wadehra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christmas Day The Collect: O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. or this O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. or this Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born [this day] of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament: Isaiah 9:2-7 2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. 3You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 6For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Psalm: Psalm 96 1 Sing to the Lord a new song; *        sing to the Lord, all the whole earth. 2 Sing to the Lord and bless his Name; *        proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations *        and his wonders among all peoples. 4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; *        he is more to be feared than all gods. 5 As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *        but it is the Lord who made the heavens. 6 Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! *        Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary! 7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples; *        ascribe to the Lord honor and power. 8 Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; *        bring offerings and come into his courts. 9 Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; *        let the whole earth tremble before him. 10 Tell it out among the nations: “The Lord is King! *        he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;        he will judge the peoples with equity.” 11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;    let the sea thunder and all that is in it; *         let the field be joyful and all that is therein. 12 Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy    before the Lord when he comes, *        when he comes to judge the earth. 13 He will judge the world with righteousness *        and the peoples with his truth. Epistle: Titus 2:11-14 11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. Gospel: Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) 1In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” [15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.]

This month’s podcast is a compilation of unheard materials. It starts with a live performance at Shepard Recital Hall at the State University of New York at New Paltz recorded on Apr 30, 2022. That is followed by a remote collaboration with sound collagist Riprap. And it concludes with a recording from Buddy Fest 7 … Continue reading Errant Space Podcast Ninety Three: Unheard v.1 →

Thoughtful happiness tips can be opportunities for mindfulness, for noticing ways to live that we'd previously been blind to or reactive against. Dave Schmelzer talks a bit about that and then details two dozen such tips from the mega-popular book The Happiness Experiment.Mentioned on this podcast:Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun

Third Sunday of Advent The Collect: Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament: Isaiah 35:1-10 1The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus 2it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. 3Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” 5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. 8A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God's people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. 9No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.10And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Psalm: Psalm 146:4-9 or Canticle 3 or Canticle 15 4 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *        whose hope is in the Lord their God; 5 Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *        who keeps his promise for ever; 6 Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *        and food to those who hunger. 7 The Lord sets the prisoners free;   the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; *        the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; 8 The Lord loves the righteous;   the Lord cares for the stranger; *        he sustains the orphan and widow,        but frustrates the way of the wicked. 9 The Lord shall reign for ever, *        your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.        Hallelujah! or My soul doth magnify the Lord, *     and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded *     the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold from henceforth *     all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me, *     and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him *     throughout all generations. He hath showed strength with his arm; *     he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, *     and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things, *     and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy has holpen his servant Israel, *     as he promised to our forefathers,     Abraham and his seed for ever. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *    as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.  Amen. or My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *    for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.  From this day all generations will call me blessed: *    the Almighty has done great things for me,    and holy is his Name.  He has mercy on those who fear him *    in every generation.  He has shown the strength of his arm, *    he has scattered the proud in their conceit.  He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *    and has lifted up the lowly.  He has filled the hungry with good things, *    and the rich he has sent away empty.  He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *    for he has remembered his promise of mercy,  The promise he made to our fathers, *    to Abraham and his children for ever.  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *    as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.  Epistle: James 5:7-10 7Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11 2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” 7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' 11Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Second Sunday of Advent The Collect: Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1-10 1A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; 4but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. 6The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 7The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den. 9They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 10On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious. Psalm: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 1 Give the King your justice, O God, *        and your righteousness to the King's Son; 2 That he may rule your people righteously *        and the poor with justice; 3 That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, *        and the little hills bring righteousness. 4 He shall defend the needy among the people; *        he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor. 5 He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure, *        from one generation to another. 6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown field, *        like showers that water the earth. 7 In his time shall the righteous flourish; *        there shall be abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more. 18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, *        who alone does wondrous deeds! 19 And blessed be his glorious Name for ever! *        and may all the earth be filled with his glory.        Amen. Amen. Epistle: Romans 15:4-13 4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name”; 10and again he says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”; 11and again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”; 12and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.” 13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12 1In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”3This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'” 4Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.5Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

First Sunday of Advent The Collect: Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament: Isaiah 2:1-5 1The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. 3Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lordfrom Jerusalem. 4He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 5O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord! Psalm: Psalm 122 1 I was glad when they said to me, *       “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” 2 Now our feet are standing *        within your gates, O Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem is built as a city *        that is at unity with itself; 4 To which the tribes go up,   the tribes of the Lord, *        the assembly of Israel,        to praise the Name of the Lord. 5 For there are the thrones of judgment, *        the thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *       “May they prosper who love you. 7 Peace be within your walls *        and quietness within your towers. 8 For my brethren and companions' sake, *        I pray for your prosperity. 9 Because of the house of the Lord our God, *        I will seek to do you good.” Epistle: Romans 13:11-14 11Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; 12the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; 13let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Gospel: Matthew 24:36-44 36“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

A meditation for the fourth week of Advent, with the prophecies of Isaiah 11. Blessings as you pray. ?? Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is … Continue reading "Advent Four: The Wolf and the Lamb (Peace)" The post Advent Four: The Wolf and the Lamb (Peace) appeared first on .

Madan Mohan is an old friends of Raghunath & Kaustubha going back to their teens. A deep thinker and poet, he shares his thoughts and experiences as a youth that led him to the practice of Bhakti, where he's at today, and some of his poems.

Madan Mohan is an old friends of Raghunath & Kaustubha going back to their teens. A deep thinker and poet, he shares his thoughts and experiences as a youth that led him to the practice of Bhakti, where he's at today, and some of his poems.

Contemplative Worship for December 18, 2022

Day 9 – St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast St. John of the Cross you have said: “Never give up prayer, and should you find dryness and difficulty,  for this very reason. God often desires to see what love your soul has, and love is not tried by ease ... Read more The post Day 9 – St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

As the Advent season moves quickly into Christmas, we invite you to take a few moments to step out of the frantic pace of the holidays and discover the hidden gifts and graces that only a contemplative attitude can reveal.

Day 8 – St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast St. John of the Cross you have said: Even as vapours darken the air and allow not the bright sun to shine; or as a mirror that is clouded over cannot receive within itself a clear image; or as water ... Read more The post Day 8- St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 7 – St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast St. John of the Cross you have said: What God communicates to the soul in this intimate union is totally beyond words. One can say nothing about it just as one can say nothing about God Himself that resembles Him. ... Read more The post Day 7- St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 6 – St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast St. John of the Cross you have said: The soul, desiring to be possessed by this immense God, for love of Whom she feels that her heart is robbed and wounded, unable to endure her sickness any longer, deliberately asks ... Read more The post Day 6 – St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 5 – St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast St. John of the Cross you have said: It is clear that the desires weary and fatigue the soul; for they are like restless and discontented children, who are ever demanding this or that from their mother, and are never ... Read more The post St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena Day 5 – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this week's episode, Keith Kristich from Closer than Breath shares rich wisdom drawn from his experience and knowledge of contemplative spirituality.    Link to sign up for the 2023 Centering Prayer Summit ( “Live” January 21-22). You can attend live via Zoom or watch the recordings at your leisure. I did both last year as I found the 2022 even particularly helpful for deepening my own practice and spiritual growth. Early bird pricing until 12/31 and a special bonus registration for those signing up before 12/10. https://www.centeringprayersummit.com/referral/cps2023aff/wwHz9Xayr3cr5XG4 Bio: Keith Kristich helps people slow down and connect with their true self and God within. Keith is a contemplative teacher, a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer, and the founder of Closer Than Breath, an online contemplative community rooted in the Christian Contemplative Tradition. Keith's mission is to help people reimagine the Divine, unlearn rigid religion, and see God everywhere. Connecting with Keith: IG: @keithkristich  Website: www.closerthanbreath.com    Books Recommended by Keith:   Keating, Open Mind Open Heart https://amzn.to/3F99XEP   Bourgeault, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening  https://amzn.to/3Y5Dec9    De Mello, Awareness https://amzn.to/3Y2FBg2    Frenette, Path of Centering Prayer https://amzn.to/3UB9Asp    ​​Brian's Website: www.brianrussellphd.com Brian Russell's Books Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God's Presence Can Change Your Life https://amzn.to/2S0AcIZ (Re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (Cascade Books) https://amzn.to/30tP4S9 Invitation: A Bible Study to Begin With (Seedbed) https://my.seedbed.com/product/onebook-invitation-by-brian-russell/ Brian's Recommended Resources on Centering Prayer: https://www.brianrussellphd.com/post/my-top-ten-favorite-resources-on-centering-prayer Information on Brian's Signature Deep Dive Spirituality Coaching for Pastors and Spiritually Minded Leaders: www.deepdivespirituality.com Connecting with Brian: Website: www.brianrussellphd.com Twitter: @briandrussell  Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife  Interested in coaching or inviting Brian to speak or teach for your community of faith or group?  Email: deepdivespirituality@gmail.com  Links to the Centering Prayer Summit and Amazon are Affiliate links.  If you purchase items through these links, Brian receives a small payment in return. This supports the podcast and does not increase the price of the items you may choose to buy. Thank you for your support.

 Day 4 – St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast St. John of the Cross you have said: The road and ascent to God, then, necessarily demands a habitual effort to renounce and mortify the appetites; the sooner this mortification is achieved, the sooner the soul reaches the top. ... Read more The post St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena Day 4 – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

 Day 3 – St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast St. John of the Cross you have said: Before this Divine fire of love is introduced into the substance of the soul, and is united with it, by means of a purity and purgation that is perfect and complete, ... Read more The post St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena Day 3 – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Keep awake and stay alert. These advent themes invite us to foster and develop what is known as a Contemplative Attitude - a particular way of being within the world that is 'highly tuned' to the presence of Christ in our midst. In this part one of a two-part Advent retreat, Deacon Eric reflects on this call to keep watch and how we might foster a contemplative attitude this Advent this week on Thinking Faith!

 Day 2 – St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast St. John of the Cross you have said: When there is union of love, the image of the Beloved is so sketched in the will and drawn so vividly, that it is true to say that the Beloved lives ... Read more The post St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena Day 2 – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 1 – St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast St. John of the Cross you have said: What, more do you want, 0 soul! And what else do you search for outside, when within yourself you possess your riches, delights, satisfactions, fullness, and kingdom -your Beloved whom you desire ... Read more The post St. John of the Cross Contemplative Novena Day 1 – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Anything we want to do that's important to us will face (sometimes severe) resistance. One Bible perspective calls resistance its own "god of this world"--and St. Paul himself makes the point profoundly: "The thing I most want to do I don't do." Dave Schmelzer does a dive into the insights of the most-read recent thinker on the subject, Steven Pressfiled in his seminal The War of Art. Learn from contemplatives and life coaches as well as Pressfield and see if you find help with your own resistance.Mentioned on this podcast:Steven Pressfield's The War of ArtBlog help by way of:Bodhipaksa at wildmind.orgLeo Babauta at zenhabits.netMichelle Rees at wholelifechallenge.com

Led by Gini Downing, Music by James Dorward. Are you new? Let us know you were here: liminalventura.org/connectioncard The post Contemplative Sunday appeared first on Liminal Church of Ventura.

Get early access to our latest psychology lectures: http://bit.ly/new-talks5 Let's talk about Attachment in Relationships, specifically patterns of Insecure Attachment. We will cover an introduction to history and also the categorization of Styles. We will consider how Insecure Attachment points towards common trauma symptoms of Hyper-Arousal, Intrusion, and Constriction. Interchangeable terminology for Attachment Injuries, Attachment Wounds, and Attachment Trauma will highlight the range and subjective continuum of behaviours that show up in our relationships. We will reflect on how to create quality bonds, the universality of emotional unavailability, and the dependency paradox. This lecture is for anyone who values self-reflection when it comes to creating quality relationships. --- Alan Robarge is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been helping clients for 20 years. He is a Psychotherapist, focusing on healing attachment trauma and improving relationships. He takes a Contemplative, Body-Focused, Expressive Arts approach when working with clients. Alan manages an online Community Program and offers online courses, including The Four Attachment Distress Responses. You can learn more about his work at https://www.alanrobarge.com Links: - Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks5 - Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events - Alan's website: https://www.alanrobarge.com - Alan's videos: https://bit.ly/Alan-videos --- Attachment Theory & Psychotherapy - Free Online Course (worth £99) In Exchange for Podcast Reviews. We're offering free access to our Attachment Theory and Psychotherapy Online Course - which normally costs £99 in exchange to those who leave a review on our podcast. The course is run by Professor Jeremy Holmes - one of the world's leading experts in how attachment theory can be applied to improve therapeutic practice. Just so you know I'm not making this up, Peter Fonagy has described Professor Holmes' latest book as “one of the most valuable contributions to the field in this century.” Normally this course costs £99. But you can get it for free simply by leaving a review of this podcast on the platform you use - whether that's iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. Then, simply email us on support@theweekenduniversity.com and we'll grant you free access to the course. Reviews make a huge difference in helping us get the ideas shared by our speakers out to a wider audience, so not only will you be getting a £99 course free of charge, you'll also be helping a greater number of people improve their quality of life.

In the face of even unbearable stupidity and evil, the contemplative path retains an essential relationship to truth before any accidental or derivative considerations. Civilization ultimately rests not upon the transient, but rather upon the permanent things. For this very reason, the role of the contemplative, unlike that of the ideologue, is essential to civilization.

Episode 6 - Obstacles to Contemplative Spirituality - St. Teresa, Spiritual Warfare and the Progress of the Soul with Dan Burke The post TSP6 – Obstacles to Contemplative Spirituality – St. Teresa of Avila, Spiritual Warfare, and the Progress of the Soul with Dan Burke – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode, we feature a recorded lecture given by Rich Moss in his introductory presentation at the Art of Teaching conference hosted by The Heights Forum last week. In this talk, Rich explains why teaching is an art, what that art is, and what are the tools utilized by the teaching artist.