Bhakti Jesus?
I know a monk who criticizes devotionalism. Rosaries, novenas, consecration to Mary, that sort of thing: he sees no use for it. He simply prefers methodless silent prayer. We have an ongoing conversation/debate about this. I keep saying that such devotionalism is a valid, cataphatic form of spiritual practice. He is willing to accept that but only if cataphatic spirituality is seen as a prelude to the “higher” apophatic form of practice.
Incidentally, cataphatic (also spelled kataphatic) spirituality is the spirituality of using images (ikons, visualizations, recited prayers, etc.) to connect with God. By contrast, apophatic spirituality is imageless spirituality, characterized by centering or contemplative prayer. Since no human word, concept or image can ever capture the fullness of God anyway, apophatic spirituality seeks to connect with God by doing away with all such imperfect representations of the Divine.
What bothers me about his perspective is that I see the same kind of perspective coming from the devotionalists. They are as scornful of centering prayer as my monk friend is scornful of their novenas. It seems that those who attack centering prayer are, generally speaking, those with a stronger “bhakti” form of spirituality. If someone finds meaning in saying the rosary or praying novenas, it seems (in my experience) that he or she is more likely to reject centering prayer as a “dangerous” or “non-Christian” practice. Even those devotionalists who do accept contemplation as an orthodox Christian practice often see it as something that only a very tiny minority of people are called to, and therefore is best left alone.
Like my monastic friend, I clearly prefer a more apophatic spirituality. But I think there’s a place for cataphatic spirituality, and sometimes I find my own meaning in it. I love sacred art, architecture and music. I even enjoy contemporary Christian music (my family and I are all excited about going to see the David Crowder Band up in the mountains of North Carolina next week). I think it is one of many paradoxes of mysticism that both cataphatic and apophatic spirituality can usher us into the experience of God’s transforming presence.
In Hinduism, bhakti yoga is the spirituality of devotion. It is the spirituality of relationship with the god or goddess to whom one is devoted. It seems to me that Catholics who engage in the daily rosary, or Protestants who engage in regular conversational prayer, are essentially bhakti Christians. Meanwhile, contemplatives (those who prefer silent, non-discursive prayer) are essentially the Christian equivalent of raja yoga (“royal” yoga), the yoga of liberation through meditation (meditation, as understood in eastern spirituality, is more properly termed contemplation in western parlance). Now, I don’t know enough about Hinduism to speculate whether bhakti yogis look down on raja yogis (and vice versa), but somehow I get the impression that there’s more of a live-and-let-live approach to these two forms of religious practice. I think Christians have something to learn here. Christians who express their faith in terms of a lively devotion, and Christians who cultivate a sense of Divine presence through contemplation, are neither one better or more advanced than the other. Each type of spirituality represents a particular way of responding to grace. How lovely it is that there are so many different ways of finding connection to God in our lives.
The Bible Beyond Fear
Yesterday a person who’s attending the Christian mysticism event in Portland wrote to me and said:
A question just occurred to me … for a few reasons (one being paralyzing fear about End Times) I haven’t been reading the Bible in the last few years. I was taught to read and interpret in a very unhealthy, fearful way. I had to disconnect myself from it for a while but I’d like very much to reintroduce myself to the Bible and begin reading with new eyes and my new heart.
What a great question, and one that I think many people drawn to the contemplative life wrestle with. After all, the Christian tradition pretty much universally acknowledges the Bible as the “Word of God,” and yet there is much in the Bible that, in the words of the scholar Phyllis Trible, constitute “texts of terror.” Language of God’s wrath, of God allowing or even mandating war, rhetoric of violence against one’s enemies (see Psalm 137:9 for a particularly disturbing image), sexism, the rejection of homosexuality (or of sexuality in general), and finally, the horrifying condemnation of everyone whose “name was not found written in the book of life” by being thrown alive in to a lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
What are we to make of all this?
Clearly, the way we approach this text of the “Word of God” will determine the shape and tenor of our experience reading it. What is interesting is that the insistence on reading the text only literally is a peculiarly modernist phenomenon. Some of the earliest contemplatives of the church — for example, Origen of Alexandria, who lived ca. 185-254 CE — acknowledged that the body of scripture consisted of different literary styles, and different writings that often had to be read in multiple ways: literally or historically, but also symbolically, allegorically, ethically, or mystically — discerning the “hidden” meaning of scripture.
If someone 1800 years ago could figure out that the Bible is too important to be taken just literally, then we here in the third millennium have an obligation to read the text only in the light of the best scholarship, the most discerning commentary, and with a clear understanding of the heart of our faith — that the message of Jesus is one of love, not fear; of forgiveness, not violence; of community, not layers of privilege. Therefore, when we encounter texts that seem to be about such things as violence or privilege or the rejection of the body or the feminine, we have an obligation to weigh those texts in the light of the core Biblical messages such as “Be not afraid” (John 6:20), “Perfect love casts out fear” (I John 4:18), “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44) and “My peace I leave with you” (John 14:27).
Those are just a few initial thoughts (and probably enough to get me in trouble with those who would rather worship the Bible than God!). Let me refer you to a couple of books that I have found helpful in my journey toward a contemplative understanding of scripture:
Marcus Borg’s Reading the Bible Again for the First Time uses the catchline “taking the Bible seriously but not literally.” Borg is a leading voice among Christians who seek an intellectually honest but spiritually vibrant approach to the faith.
Richard Rohr’s Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality recognizes that the Bible is best approached as a messy, all-too-human record of the great story of the love affair between God and humankind. Rohr is not afraid to look at the apparent contradictions and disconnects in scripture; he sees such issues as evidence of how humanity “meanders” in its journey into the love of God.
Brian McLaren’s A New Kind of Christianity is not specifically about the Bible, but does an excellent job at explaining how we tend to bring hidden cultural assumptions (often deriving from Greco-Roman philosophy rather than Biblical values) to our reading of the scripture. Understanding and “deconstructing” such hidden assumptions can liberate us to see the sacred text in a fresh, and perhaps more faithful, way. For example: McLaren challenges how many Christians read the Bible almost as if it were a legal document: a “constitution” of the faith. He calls us to read scripture in the spirit in which the texts were originally written: as poetry, hymns, prophecy, sacred stories, and letters of pastoral care.
I hope that these few thoughts can be helpful for anyone who seeks a contemplative, rather than literalist/fundamentalist, approach to scripture. May God richly reward your engagement with the Word.
October 1 and 2: Christian Mysticism Weekend in Atlanta
We are putting together a “Christian Mysticism and Contemplative Spirituality Weekend Event” to take place Friday, October 1 and Saturday, October 2, 2010 at First Christian Church of Atlanta, 4532 LaVista Road, Tucker, GA 30084. Here’s what the schedule looks like:
- Friday, October 1, 7 – 9 PM: “What is Christian Mysticism, and Why Should I Care?”
In John 16:12, Jesus says to his disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” Perhaps Jesus was referring to the long tradition of men and women throughout the Christian centuries who have experienced transformation and meaning through a profound experiential relationship with God in Christ. Such persons are known as “mystics” and their teaching, “mysticism.” But can such ancient spirituality still be relevant to Christians in the third millennium? In this talk, Carl will trace the underlying stream of mysticism in the Christian tradition, and then reflect on how this wisdom of the ages can strengthen our faith — and transform our lives — today. - Saturday, October 2: 9:30 AM-4:00 PM: “Introduction to Contemplative Spirituality”
Scripture says, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Central to the teachings of the Christian mystics is the spiritual practice known as contemplative prayer, or offering time to God in silence and in inner stillness. Unlike many forms of meditation, which are based on self-awareness, Christian contemplation emphasizes relationship — fostering a more intimate relationship with God. Therefore, contemplation is anchored in prayer, and is indeed a form of prayer — mystics considered it the highest form of prayer, which is ultimately a gift from God. This day-long event will begin with a morning talk by Carl on contemplation (what it is, and how to practice contemplative prayer), including a response/dialogue with a guest panel. The afternoon session will include time for group interaction and shared contemplative practice. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and to bring a Bible and notebook or journal, and a simple bag lunch.
Suggested donation for the Friday evening presentation will by $15.00; for
the Saturday event will be $40.00, or participate in both for $50.00. Please
bring a simple bag lunch on Saturday (beverages will be provided).
We don’t have registration details worked out yet (I’ll post an announcement when we do). For now, if you want to be on a list to be notified when registration opens, just send me a note via my contact page. And please — mark your calendars, and be there on October 1 and 2!
Quote for the Day
In order to arrive at having pleasure in everything,
Desire to have pleasure in nothing.
In order to arrive at possessing everything,
Desire to possess nothing.
In order to arrive at being everything,
Desire to be nothing.
In order to arrive at knowing everything,
Desire to know nothing.
— John of the Cross, Ascent of Mount Carmel
Quote for the Day
Contemplation, as it has come to be understood in the Christian tradition, is a return to the paradisiacal state of union with God, which brings to fulfillment the redemptive act of Christ. It is the beginning of a level of consciousness, beyond ordinary consciousness, in which one begins to experience the reality of new life, of risen life. It is an experience of union with God and a realization of our oneness with our brothers and sisters.
— William H Shannon, Seeds of Peace:
Contemplation and Non-Violence
Book suggestions from Lindisfarne
A fellow named David from the Community of Aidan and Hilda has gotten in touch with me. He shares my conviction that Christian mysticism and Celtic spirituality naturally coinhere. Visiting his community’s website stirs in me a longing to visit both Lindisfarne and Iona, neither of which I have yet to see (I always seem to end up in Ireland whenever I go to the British Isles).
David recommended three books to me:
Exploring Celtic Spirituality by Ray Simpson
Restoring the Woven Cord by Michael Mitton
Colonies of Heaven by Ian Bradley
I haven’t read any of these, and it looks like they’re not readily available in the USA. But if you live in the UK (or are willing to pay a premium price for a secondhand copy), they sure look interesting.
And what do YOU like to read?
Here’s something just for fun — that sheds some light on the reading habits of those who visit my humble website.
Scattered throughout this blog and website are links to various books — books I’ve written, books written by people I’ve interviewed (like John O’Donohue), or books that I’ve reviewed, recommended, or otherwise mentioned once or twice. These links take you to Amazon where you can purchase the book — and if you do so, I get a small commission in the form of a credit that 
I can use at Amazon (to feed my own book habit).
I thought it might be fun to see which books sell the best through the links on this site. Amazon actually has records back to the beginning of 2005 — so here is a look at over five years’ worth of books that people who like to read my blog, like to buy. The list is ranked by number of copies ordered (when different editions of the same book sold through my site, I combined the numbers to rank the work rather than the edition, but on this list I’ve only included 
the best-selling edition of each work).
The list does contain a few surprises. While I am humbled by the fact that the number one title is not by me (!), I am gratified that the second position is held by my forthcoming book, on the strength of pre-orders alone. I’m not surprised that the author aside from myself who appears most often is the aforementioned John O’Donohue, for several reasons — he would naturally appeal to both my “Celtic” and my “Christian mysticism” readers; his bestselling 
Anam Cara is, despite the Irish versus Anglicized spelling, the same as the URL of my blog; and ever since his untimely death, my interview of him (and my brief tribute) have been among the most heavily visited pages on this site.
So, here you go: the Website of Unknowing’s bestselling books, from January 2005 to June 2010:
Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom by John O’Donohue- The Big Book of Christian Mysticism: The Essential Guide to Contemplative Spirituality by Carl McColman
- The Cloud of Unknowing and The Book of Privy Counseling by Anonymous
- The Aspiring Mystic: Practical Steps for Spiritual Seekers by Carl McColman
- 366 Celt: Year And A Day Of Celtic Wisdom And Lore by Carl McColman
The Revelation of Divine Love in Sixteen Showings by Julian of Norwich- The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Celtic Wisdom by Carl McColman
- The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See by Richard Rohr
- Mysticism: The Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness by Evelyn Underhill
- Embracing Jesus and the Goddess: A Radical Call for Spiritual Sanity by Carl
McColman - The New Jerusalem Bible : Saints Devotional Edition edited by Bert Ghezzi
- To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings by John O’Donohue
- Spirituality: A Post-Modern and Interfaith Approach to Cultivating a Relationship with God by Carl McColman
- Beauty: The Invisible Embrace by John O’Donohue
- Eternal Echoes: Celtic Reflections on Our Yearning to Belong by
John O’Donohue - Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening by Cynthia Bourgeault
- The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism edited by Bernard McGinn
- Bulletproof Faith: A Spiritual Survival Guide for Gay and Lesbian Christians by Candace Chellew-Hodge
- The Mist-Filled Path: Celtic Wisdom for Exiles, Wanderers, and Seekers by Frank MacEowen
- Beginning Contemplative Prayer: Out of Chaos, Into Quiet by Kathryn J. Hermes
Magic Of The Celtic Gods And Goddesses by Carl McColman and Kathryn Hinds- Punk Monk: New Monasticism and the Ancient Art of Breathing by Andy Freeman and Pete Greig
- The Mysticism of the Cloud of Unknowing by William Johnston
- Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality by J. Philip Newell
- The Interior Castle by Teresa of Àvila
Margery
We have a new member of the family. Her name is Margery and she is a rescue kitten.
She’s only about seven weeks old, which of course is a bit young to be separated from her mom, but she is already eating solid food and using her box. She was born to a cat that had been abandoned near the monastery (this is a problem — people abandon animals on the monastery land, but the monks are not in a position to care for them); out of a litter of six, two had already disappeared, possibly the victims of coyotes. So a woman who comes to mass regularly picked up the four survivors and got them to the vet; she’s keeping two of them and I got the other two — Margery and her brother. The boy is with us for now, but he is going to be adopted by Rhiannon’s CNA. He’s a cutie too…
Margery is named for Margery Kempe, the colorful (some would say nutty) English mystic who, among many other adventures, received spiritual direction from Julian of Norwich.
She has facial markings remarkably similar to my much-loved China, although where China was a tortoise, Margery is a tuxedo.
Needless to say, we are all in love.
Contemplative Practice and… Business Books?
Sometimes, I believe, the best books we can read to support our spiritual discipline are books that do not appear to be “spiritual” at all. Here’s a case in point. I recently stumbled across a new line of business books by a fellow named Jim Randel; the series is called “the skinny on” — they’re a bit high on the cutesy quotient, using stick figures (get the “skinny” pun?) and humor to build a narrative around the topic of each book. But they’re quick reads, and present a straightforward approach to concepts that anyone seeking to get ahead in their career will find valuable — how to manage your time… how to focus your will… how to set and achieve goals… how to communicate your ideas effectively. I picked up these books thinking they would be inspirational for me on a professional level, and they were certainly worth the time I invested in them. But what I didn’t expect was how relevant each of these topics were to the challenge of fostering a sustained spiritual practice.
On one level, this may seem counterintuitive. Business books are about setting and achieving goals, cultivating ambition, striving for the prize. Contemplation — well, that’s about obedience, and humility, and self-forgetfulness. How can these two entirely different sets of goals be woven together?
A good question, but not hard to answer. Consider the old feminist joke: “Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, only backwards while wearing heels.” Contemplative Christianity operates with the clear recognition that God is in control, God calls the shots, God leads the dance. We, meanwhile, need to learn how to gracefully follow. Our sinfulness, our resistance to spiritual growth, is the mystical equivalent of being saddled with “high heels.” So we have to overc
ome our resistance, allow God to take the lead, and then put our own effort into being present and available for the joyous dance we are called to dance.
So that’s where the “skinny” books come in. When I’ve taught classes or conducted retreats, the single most common complaint I hear about a spiritual practice involves finding the time to make it happen. That’s where focusing on time management comes in. The corollary to this is the question of perseverance: how to foster the discipline to keep a spiritual practice going, once it’s been started. Here’s where willpower becomes important. Finally, having a clear sense of the “goal” (continual conversion into the love and joy and peace of Christ, etc.) and recognizing the steps necessary to reach that “goal” (participation in the sacramental life, lectio divina, contemplative prayer, spiritual direction, etc.) are all key elements to fostering a “successful” contemplative practice. Even the “art of persuasion” applies, since a contemplative must be “persuaded” of the value and importance of his or her practice.
I
couldn’t help but put words like “goal” and “successful” in quotation marks, because the tension between worldly ambition and spiritual surrender remains. I don’t suppose that business books will ever replace inspirational or mystical writing for those of us seeking to cultivate a closer relationship with God — just as it seems a bit out of kilter to think about “success” or “setting and achieving goals” when it comes to meeting and courting one’s spouse. Still, the reality of finding time every day to pray, learning to overcome resistance, dealing with setbacks (such as temporary interruptions to the routine), and establishing a positive habit of practicing the presence of God… these down-to-earth objectives of a mature and adult spiritual life just might benefit from the insights of my “skinny” friends.
Contemplation, the Demonic, the Shadow, and Original Sin
Consider these two quotations, found after only the briefest of Google searches. The quotes are verbatim, but the emphasis has been added:
And I know that Scientology, Buddhism, Hinduism, New Age, and even some strands of “Christianity” offer techniques for you to control your mind: auditing, “mind exercises”, contemplative prayer, meditation, chanting, yoga, etc. What you are actually doing with these is giving full control over your mind to evil spirits that allow you to THINK that you are in control when the truth is that THEY are calling the shots.
— from the Jesus Christ is Lord blog
Passively yielding one’s mind through meditation, hypnotism, yoga, etc., and seeking knowledge or information from any type of “spiritual entity” is an excellent way to become demon possessed.
— from www.biblebelievers.com.
Alas, I am afraid that this thinking is rampant among many Christians who fear (yes, that’s the right word) the core spiritual practices of meditation and contemplation. I first encountered this at a centering prayer workshop I attended at the monastery where I now work. I noticed that several people in the audience brought up the question of demonic attack. It seemed that people assumed that entering into a spacious awareness where thought would be gently laid aside would be to actually leave oneself vulnerable to psychic attack from evil spirits. It amazes me that a spiritual practice that is so obviously good for us could be so deeply misconstrued by Christians. What lies beneath this is a cautionary tale about how a spirituality of fear can become its own worst enemy. (more…)
Amazon’s “Click to Look Inside” Feature is Now Live…
If you’d like to take a sneak peek inside The Big Book of Christian Mysticism, or see its back cover, you now can do so, at Amazon.com. Amazon’s “Click to Look Inside” feature has now been activated for the book. Please take a look…
The Big Book of Christian Mysticism on Amazon.com
…and if you haven’t pre-ordered your copy, now’s a great time to do so! 
“You’ve got an extraordinary destiny. Something greater than you could have imagined.”
The trailer for the movie adaptation of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader has been released.
Needless to say, I’m excited.
Quote for the Day
If my eye is to receive an image, it must be free from all other images; for if it already has so much as one, it cannot see another, nor can the ear hear a sound if it be occupied with one already. Any power of receiving must first be empty before it can receive anything.
—John Tauler, as quoted in The Soul Afire:
Revelations of the Mystics
My Schedule Page
I’ve created a Schedule page — you can click on it from the banner at the top of any page on this website. Especially if you live in Atlanta, please visit this page from time to time to see where I’ll be out and about. Of course, my travel schedule will be posted here as well; currently I have events planned in Northern Ireland in August and Portland, OR, in October; and as more events get scheduled, they’ll be posted here.
Incidentally, if your church, retreat center, monastery, or other organization would like to sponsor me to come lead a retreat, give a talk, teach a class, or facilitate a quiet day, please let me know via my Contact page.
BBOCM on FB!
My dear friend Darrell Grizzle has created a Facebook page devoted to The Big Book of Christian Mysticism. I am flattered. Darrell was one of the book’s advance readers, and offered some insightful criticism that I took to heart (and that has hopefully made it a better book). So, if anyone would like to go on the record as “liking” the book, just click here: The Big Book of Christian Mysticism on Facebook.
Of course, you may wish to wait until you’ve actually read it before deciding you “like” it, a sensible course of action which would make sense to me. 
Quote for the Day
If your main object is the will of God and the good of your neighbor, you will have great interior freedom. If your heart is straight with God, then every creature will be a mirror of life and a book of heavenly teaching. There is no creature so insignificant and small which does not reflect the goodness of God.
— Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ
Northern Ireland and you
Just a reminder, my friends: if you are interested in participating in the Celtic Spirituality and Radical Activism Retreat in Rostrevor, Northern Ireland, we need to know today. Please fill out this form to indicate your interest, and we’ll be in touch.
The tentative itinerary for the trip can be found here. This will not be a “tourism” experience, but rather a true retreat: we’ll be preparing meals together, spending our mornings engaged in spiritual exercises such as lectio divina, centering prayer, walking a labyrinth, etc.; and our afternoons connecting with Northern Irish peacemakers and others committed to a spirituality of “contemplation and action.”
If you’re wondering why we’re doing this in the middle of August — it’s to make it easy to travel on to England to attend the Greenbelt Festival, where awesome folks like Richard Rohr, Tom Sine, Stanley Hauerwas, Laurence Freeman and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove will be speaking, alongside three days of peace and music.
Quote for the Day
Those who are indifferent to praise or blame have great tranquillity of heart.
— Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ
Someone who WON’T be going to Northern Ireland in August…
Here is a little “friend” we discovered in the woods behind the Abbey Store at the monastery where I work.
Needless to say, Saint Patrick is not in Georgia. This, of course, is a black snake, who helps to control the population of field mice throughout the largely wooded grounds of the monastery — so this slithery fellow is one of the good guys. But if snakes are not your thing, you can rest assured that this creature will not be joining us in Northern Ireland this summer!
He (or she) will stay in Georgia, where he belongs.
The pictures don’t really show this, but my serpentine friend was about four feet long.
Celtic Spirituality and Radical Activism: August 17-24, 2010
I’m excited to announce that Gareth Higgins and I plan to co-facilitate a Contemplative Spirituality and Social Action Immersion Week in Gareth’s home of northern Ireland this August — yes, you read that right: this August. I’ve just signed on, to replace another presenter who due to unforeseen circumstances has had to bow out. There are only a few places left in this program, which is intentionally being limited to less than 30 participants.
So maybe this is an invitation for you.
Saul Parish Church, Near Downpatrick
Here’s what Gareth has to say about this amazing event:
Northern Ireland is a society birthed in deep spirituality and profound artistry; its stark and beautiful physical landscape parallels the ruggedness of the Celtic soul. We have, of course, also experienced civil conflict in the recent past, as the struggle over our identity and questions of social justice found expression in sectarianism and violence. Religion has played a role in both the conflict and the process that has led to enormous change and political stability.
You’re invited to see this amazing place for yourself as part of a unique communal gathering taking place just over a couple of months from now.
We’ll lead a week of intensive experiences – we’ll deconstruct and re-imagine questions of spirituality and activism, trying to find the fingerprints of radical spirituality and make connections between an ancient landscape, a modern conflict, and a better way of being in whatever world each us will be returning to.
Our programme will include excellent speakers and conversation and enjoying the land, visiting centres of reconciliation and meeting participants in the conflict and the negotiations for peace, and enjoying everything the northern Irish culture has to offer in the evenings (which will of course include live music). We’ll use film and literature as lenses through which we explore the fusion of contemplation and action; there will be beer and whiskey for those who want it, tasty Irish food, good craic and laughter, maybe even some surfing on the ridiculously entertaining waves of the North Coast. Ultimately, we hope that everyone who joins us will have a life-changing encounter.
The Giant's Causeway
We’ll stay in the beautiful character-filled setting of Rostrevor; there will be visits to the city of Belfast, the Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle, the Silent Valley and other amazing places; there will also be ample free time to explore on your own.
The retreat is open only to a limited number of people; all (home-cooked) meals will be provided (you might even be asked to help make some!). We’ll be gathering from the evening of Tuesday 17th August, and working together until breakfast on Tuesday 24th. We’ve scheduled the retreat to coincide with the Greenbelt Festival, which begins on Friday 27th August, so there’s time to explore more of Ireland for a few days before taking a quick flight over to England for the festival if you’re planning to be there.
The cost for the retreat is $950 US, which includes all accommodation, two meals a day, field trips, and all transportation within Northern Ireland. But… If ten people register to attend the retreat in the next week, we hope to be able to reduce this cost to $750 per person. So please let us know if you’d like more information straight away; we’re asking people to register by Monday 14th June, and to pay a $200 deposit by the end of the month.
Dunluce Castle
Gareth, incidentally, was friends and worked with John O’Donohue, including helping John put on some of his Irish immersion experiences. I’m impressed at what he has put together: an informal, intimate, gathering-of-friends experience that will avoid the normal snares of “group trips to Europe” (no big busses, no insane schedules, no drop-offs in front of expensive tourist trap retailers, etc.). This is the real deal: not a tourist experience but a pilgrimage.
Some of you who have been reading my blog for a while know that I led an interfaith pilgrimage to the republic of Ireland in 2003. This will be much different: more intensive, less touristy. But what I will bring into the mix is my radical respect for all Irish religious and wisdom traditions: Pagan, Celtic, Catholic, Protestant; a keen understanding that “Celtic spirituality” has powerful ties to the western mystery and contemplative tradition, and a desire to explore how contemplative practice and real conflict resolution go together.
There’s not a lot of room left for this trip: we are committed to keeping it small both so that we aren’t overwhelmed by logistical headaches, but also so that each person can have the richest possible experience.
So, my friends, dig out those frequent flyer miles and make arrangements to journey to Northern Ireland with me, Gareth, and a small group of visionary contemplative/activists. Our goal is to create a meaningful short-term community which will celebrate its diversity, relish its shared silences, converse meaningfully and respectfully, and discern together how our engagement with peacemakers and other activists from this glorious and troubled land can transform who we are and the gifts we bring to the communities where we each live.
Do you want more information? Or… are you ready to sign up? Please contact Gareth Higgins at this page or contact me at this link. Please provide your name and contact information, and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible.
Nekid Entente
A friend of mine, who wishes to remain anonymous, has begun a new blog about The Cloud of Unknowing, called A Nekid Entente unto God. The URL is www.throughother.wordpress.com. In his own words,
I am recording, anonymously, thoughts for myself that might interest a very few others as I try to come to terms with The Cloud of Unknowing through reading, reflection, and witnessing. We get by perfectly well without knowing the author of The Cloud. So it matters all the less that anyone know or bother to fret about who is writing this blog.
He’s only been at it for a few days now, but the first few posts look most promising. My friend is a better philosopher (and philologist) than I am, and so he’s digging into the language of The Cloud, using the original Middle English text. Granted, a bit geekier than what I do, but interesting and containing real substance.
I’ve already had one person on Facebook ask if this is me writing anonymously. No, it’s not. It’s someone I know in person through the monastery in Conyers. He’s a he (!) and is a layperson. And that’s all I’m going to say about him.
Go check out the blog. And add it to your blogroll.
Talk and Booksigning on October 28…
My schedule for Portland is now complete — I’ve signed up to do a talk and booksigning at the New Renaissance Bookshop, 1338 NW 23rd Avenue in Portland, OR, on Thursday, October 28 at 7 PM. My topic will be Celtic Spirituality and Christian Mysticism: One Wisdom, Two Traditions. After I speak I will be available to sign books.
If you’re in that part of the world, I hope to see you then (as well as Friday and Saturday at the Institute for Progressive Spirituality Conference!).
Twenty Minutes
Teachers of centering prayer recommend that you devote twenty minutes at a time, twice a day, to centering prayer.
Ken Wilber, in advocating meditation as a tool for the transformation of consciousness, advocates thirty minutes, twice a day.
Yesterday I had the rare opportunity to devote an hour to silence: once in the morning, and twice in the evening, twenty minutes per “sit.” What I noticed is that each time I probably took fifteen minutes just to flush out the mental chatter and the screeching of the monkey mind, thus allowing me to rest in that elusive place “below” my inner discourse, for a good five minutes or so until the bell rang signifying the end of the twenty minutes.
Another twenty minutes this morning, and indeed, much the same dynamics.
This isn’t really news, and not even news for me. I’ve experienced this before: twenty minutes of contemplative time equals the hope of a brief glimmer of the peace which surpasses understanding. But experiencing it four times in a row over little more than a day’s time just brought it home to me all over again.
So let me encourage you: if you are struggling to establish a daily discipline of centering or contemplative prayer, give yourself the gift of time. Allow for twenty minutes without interruption when you sit down to pray. Breathe into it. Don’t struggle with it, or with yourself. When the monkey mind chatters away, just keep breathing. And persevere for the twenty minutes, all of it a gift to God — the gift of your fully unadorned self.
And then do it again, and again, and again. Ideally twice a day, but once a day is better than nothing. Just keep breathing.
