What you’ll learn
This course will provide you with everything you need to know in order to start practicing contemplative prayer and meditation in the Christian tradition. Along the way, you will also learn about the history and theology of contemplation. You will also have the opportunity to develop a closer friendship and intimacy with God, and a deeper appreciation of how Scripture supports contemplative prayer. Additional positive impacts may include lower stress, a greater sense of purpose, improved mental, physical, and spiritual health, and healthier relationships.
Lesson 1
Friendship With God
On this first day, we will explore some of the examples in the Scriptures and in Jesus' life that invite us into the process of contemplative transformation. You will also learn the meaning of some of the terms used in the course such as "contemplation", "contemplative prayer", "meditation," and "mindfulness". You'll get to do a short, simple practice based on Psalm 46 that you can begin doing right away.
Lesson 2
Scripture & Contemplative Prayer
All Christian contemplative practices begin with Scripture. Today, you will hear the stories of the first Christian contemplatives - the desert mothers and fathers who lived in the caves of Egypt - and how they began the practice that developed into Lectio Divina (which means "sacred reading"). You'll learn how to practice Lectio Divina on your own and the four moments you will encounter during Lectio Divina: reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplative rest.
Lesson 3
Methods & Forms Of Practice
Contemplation begins when we begin to move beyond words, images, and language into interior silence, stillness, and resting in God. Today, we will explore some of the tried-and-true methods and forms of practices from the Christian tradition that facilitate this movement into contemplation. We conclude by uniting the breath with the "Jesus Prayer" (or Prayer of the Heart), which you can begin doing on your own.
Lesson 4
Heartfulness
Regular contemplative prayer and meditation helps us to shift from living in our heads and moves us into our heart center. Practice brings us into a new way of being in the world, where we're able to move beyond dualistic, critical, or judgmental habits of thinking. With heartfulness, we're in tune with God's presence and connected to infinite compassion for ourselves and others. Today's lesson includes a guided practice to help you "place the mind in the heart" and develop heartfulness in daily life.
Lesson 5
Fruits & Benefits Of Contemplative Practice
The good news is that you cannot fail your contemplative practice! As long as you show up and do the practice, then the fruits and benefits will manifest in your life. Today, we will explore three fruits of contemplative prayer and meditation: detachment, equanimity, and discernment. You will learn what these three fruits are, and how you can welcome them intentionally into your daily life. This lesson concludes with a guided practice to welcome these gifts into your life.
Lesson 6
Theology Of Contemplation
Today, you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about three Christian teachings that are important for understanding the theology of contemplation: the Incarnation, grace, and divinization (or deification). You'll also learn about the three phases of contemplative transformation that most people experience as part of this journey: illumination, purgation (or purification), and union. There are some big theology words here, but we break them down, so they make sense for applying to your practice.
Lesson 7
Psychology Of Contemplation
Today, we're exploring where ancient contemplative practices meet modern psychology and neuroscience. This is one of the most exciting and fascinating new areas of experience, insight, and research into contemplation. You will learn about how your practice can help you to find deep healing and integration from traumatic experiences, emotional pain, the effects of daily stress, and anxiety. Our learnings and practice today will guide you toward showing up as a more whole, present, and spiritually integrated person in your life.
Lesson 8
Love + Justice = Contemplation In Action
All the fruits of benefits of contemplative practice make it easier to show up in life as a loving presence to others and as advocates for justice in our communities. Today's teachings and guided practice will show you how to use your practice to intentionally bring a greater commitment to justice for the most vulnerable people in your community into your work in the world. The sure sign of spiritual growth and maturity is the loving ways that we show up for ourselves and others as reflections of God's love for all people and all of creation.
Lesson 9
Interspirituality & World Religions
Interspirituality invites us to explore the mystic heart beating at the core of all the world's great contemplative, spiritual, and religious traditions. Interspirituality offers an alternative way of living in a Christian - that is, the deeper we grow in friendship with Christ, the more our hearts are opened to all other people of goodwill on the planet we become, and we're able to affirm the truth, beauty, and goodness we see in all traditions. In a guided practice together, we will explore the deeper identity, the True Self within that exists beyond labels and narrow identities, and the freedom that comes from living out of this nameless Self.
Our Buddhist friends suggest that we always cultivate a "beginner's mind" whenever we sit down to practice. Contemplation is a lifelong journey and this is just the beginning. Today we will review some of the core ideas, terms, and practical tips that have been offered in the teachings. I leave you with words of inspiration and encouragement, and a final guided meditation intended to set you up for a lifetime of moving deeper into silence toward union with God.
