Methods of Contemplation

Hello, and welcome to Methods.

This is the twelfth episode of our third season: Vision. This passage is from the Gospel of John, chapter four.

Imaginative prayer, also known as Ignatian Contemplation is the name given to prayer which helps us enter more fully into the passage of Scripture we are reading, by using our ability to form pictures or inner impressions in our minds. We live in a rational, left brain world where information and analysis is the highest priority. But as humans, our soul is still captivated by experience. Jesus called on people’s imagination all the time. He was constantly telling stories and painting word pictures. He asked people to imagine the kingdom of God as a mustard seed, as yeast, as treasure hidden in a field. Through imaginative prayer we step into a gospel story and imagine ourselves to be there in that scene. Rather than reading the Bible abstractly, we enter the story to more deeply experience and encounter Jesus in the scene. In doing so we remain true to the Biblical reading, but more actively experience it. We might be a disciple in the boat with Jesus, one of the crowd at the feeding of the five thousand, or the woman at the well asked by Jesus to draw up water for him. It’s important that as you hear the story you try to feel what it’s like to actually be inside that story.  Listen, taste, smell, feel, and watch what happens. What can you see around you? What are Jesus’ facial expressions? What are you feeling?

Feel free to catch up with us on social media @methodspodcast, or if you'd like, you can support us on Patreon.

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Hello, and welcome to Methods.

This is the eleventh episode of our third season: Vision.

Today, we’ll walk with our Guru. You can decide to walk with whomever you choose, be it Jesus, Krishna, the Buddha, or maybe just Spirit.

As modern people, when we think of an event, we typically try to classify it as either historical, or mythological; objective, or subjective; real or imaginary.

Did it really happen that way? Or is it just a story?

Maybe this works for some things, but not so much for others.

Franciscan Priest Richard Rohr says that the literal is the lowest form of truth, because it is only true at one moment in time and place, from one perspective.

But the mystical, or the mythological, is true because it is always true.

Did it happen in our heads, or did it really happen?

Maybe the answer is yes.

This is a helpful way to enter into Imaginative prayer or visualization. Maybe it’s where our minds meet with something deeper within us.

Feel free to catch up with us on social media @methodspodcast, or if you'd like, you can support us on Patreon.

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www.methodspodcast.com

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Hello, and welcome to Methods, an exploration in guided prayer and meditation.

This is a visualization meditation on the spiritual quality of joy led by Kevin Johnson.

Being willing to rest, to stop seeking is a simple process but it is not necessarily easy. And our culture and the popular mindset can often misguide us. How to simply learn to trust and be open to a deepening silence? How to stay focused when one's mind seems to be caught in spinning unhelpful stories and your mind acts like an echo chamber?

There are an infinite number of ways and there aren't any one-size fits all templates. We each have to find our own way. But if one is a beginner, or one wishes to have a set practice they can use to help in times when it is tough sitting in patient waiting, a common practice of imaginative visualization based on our memory can help.

Find Kevin here:

www.kevinmichaeljohnson.com

Feel free to catch up with us on social media @methodspodcast, or if you'd like, you can support us on Patreon.

linktr.ee/methodspodcast

www.methodspodcast.com

www.patreon.com/methods

www.instagram.com/methodspodcast

www.facebook.com/methodsthepodcast

Hello, and welcome to Methods, an exploration in guided prayer and meditation.

This is a meditation on our internal stories, brought to you by Kevin Johnson.

Being willing to rest, to stop seeking is a simple process but it is not necessarily easy. And our culture and the popular mindset can often misguide us. How to simply learn to trust and be open to a deepening silence? How to stay focused when one's mind seems to be caught in spinning unhelpful stories and your mind acts like an echo chamber?

There are an infinite number of ways and there aren't any one-size fits all templates. We each have to find our own way. But if one is a beginner, or one wishes to have a set practice they can use to help in times when it is tough sitting in patient waiting, a common practice of imaginative visualization based on our memory can help.

Find Kevin here:

www.kevinmichaeljohnson.com

Feel free to catch up with us on social media @methodspodcast, or if you'd like, you can support us on Patreon.

linktr.ee/methodspodcast

www.methodspodcast.com

www.patreon.com/methods

www.instagram.com/methodspodcast

www.facebook.com/methodsthepodcast

Hello, and welcome to Methods, an exploration in guided prayer and meditation.

This is an introduction to a series of meditations led by Kevin Johnson.

Being willing to rest, to stop seeking is a simple process but it is not necessarily easy. And our culture and the popular mindset can often misguide us. How to simply learn to trust and be open to a deepening silence? How to stay focused when one's mind seems to be caught in spinning unhelpful stories and your mind acts like an echo chamber?

There are an infinite number of ways and there aren't any one-size fits all templates. We each have to find our own way. But if one is a beginner, or one wishes to have a set practice they can use to help in times when it is tough sitting in patient waiting, a common practice of imaginative visualization based on our memory can help.

Find Kevin here:

www.kevinmichaeljohnson.com

Feel free to catch up with us on social media @methodspodcast, or if you'd like, you can support us on Patreon.

linktr.ee/methodspodcast

www.methodspodcast.com

www.patreon.com/methods

www.instagram.com/methodspodcast

www.facebook.com/methodsthepodcast

Hello, and welcome to Methods, an exploration in guided prayer and meditation.

This is the second of a two part conversation with Kevin Johnson.

Kevin is a co-host for the Encountering Silence Podcast, and he studied Comparative Theology at Boston College with a specific focus on Buddhist-Christian interactions. He is an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT while writing his dissertation for Boston College exploring the relationship between apophatic and cataphatic theology in Nicholas of Cusa. He is founder and President of The Inner Room, a non-profit Roman Catholic lay organization that supports and engages in deepened prayer, stronger theological education and compassionate social action. The focus of his work is the recovery of Silence as a way of deeply engaging the world, fostering holistic wellness, and cultivating wisdom.

Find Kevin here:

www.kevinmichaeljohnson.com

Feel free to catch up with us on social media @methodspodcast, or if you'd like, you can support us on Patreon.

linktr.ee/methodspodcast

www.methodspodcast.com

www.patreon.com/methods

www.instagram.com/methodspodcast

www.facebook.com/methodsthepodcast

Hello, and welcome to Methods, an exploration in guided prayer and meditation.

These short segments, are going to consist of a conversation, followed by our guest leading us through their preferred method of prayer, meditation, or other form of  practice.

Today we talk with Kevin Johnson. Kevin is a co-host for the Encountering Silence Podcast, and he studied Comparative Theology at Boston College with a specific focus on Buddhist-Christian interactions. He is an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT while writing his dissertation for Boston College exploring the relationship between apophatic and cataphatic theology in Nicholas of Cusa. He is founder and President of The Inner Room, a non-profit Roman Catholic lay organization that supports and engages in deepened prayer, stronger theological education and compassionate social action. The focus of his work is the recovery of Silence as a way of deeply engaging the world, fostering holistic wellness, and cultivating wisdom.

Find Kevin here:

www.kevinmichaeljohnson.com

Feel free to catch up with us on social media @methodspodcast, or if you'd like, you can support us on Patreon.

linktr.ee/methodspodcast

www.methodspodcast.com

www.patreon.com/methods

www.instagram.com/methodspodcast

www.facebook.com/methodsthepodcast

Hello, and welcome to Methods.

This is the tenth episode of our third season: Vision. This passage is from the Gospel of Luke, chapter twenty-two.

Imaginative prayer, also known as Ignatian Contemplation is the name given to prayer which helps us enter more fully into the passage of Scripture we are reading, by using our ability to form pictures or inner impressions in our minds. We live in a rational, left brain world where information and analysis is the highest priority. But as humans, our soul is still captivated by experience. Jesus called on people’s imagination all the time. He was constantly telling stories and painting word pictures. He asked people to imagine the kingdom of God as a mustard seed, as yeast, as treasure hidden in a field. Through imaginative prayer we step into a gospel story and imagine ourselves to be there in that scene. Rather than reading the Bible abstractly, we enter the story to more deeply experience and encounter Jesus in the scene. In doing so we remain true to the Biblical reading, but more actively experience it.

Feel free to catch up with us on social media @methodspodcast, or if you'd like, you can support us on Patreon.

linktr.ee/methodspodcast

www.methodspodcast.com

www.patreon.com/methods

www.instagram.com/methodspodcast

www.facebook.com/methodsthepodcast

Hello, and welcome to Methods, an exploration in guided prayer and meditation.

Today we’re talking with Thomas Jay Oord.

Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. Oord is a best-selling and award-winning author, having written or edited more than twenty-five books. A twelve-time Faculty Award-winning professor, Oord teaches at institutions around the globe. He is the director of the Center for Open and Relational Theology. Oord is known for his contributions to research on love, open and relational theology, science and religion, and the implications of freedom and relationships for transformation.

Connect with Tom here:

http://thomasjayoord.com/

Feel free to catch up with us on social media @methodspodcast, or if you'd like, you can support us on Patreon.

linktr.ee/methodspodcast

www.methodspodcast.com

www.patreon.com/methods

www.instagram.com/methodspodcast

www.facebook.com/methodsthepodcast

Hello, and welcome to Methods.

This is the ninth episode of our third season: Vision. Today we'll explore ignatian contemplation on a passage from scripture, the Gospel of John, chapter six.

Imaginative prayer, also known as Ignatian Contemplation is the name given to prayer which helps us enter more fully into the passage of Scripture we are reading, by using our ability to form pictures or inner impressions in our minds. We live in a rational, left brain world where information and analysis is the highest priority. But as humans, our soul is still captivated by experience. Jesus called on people’s imagination all the time. He was constantly telling stories and painting word pictures. He asked people to imagine the kingdom of God as a mustard seed, as yeast, as treasure hidden in a field. Through imaginative prayer we step into a gospel story and imagine ourselves to be there in that scene. Rather than reading the Bible abstractly, we enter the story to more deeply experience and encounter Jesus in the scene. In doing so we remain true to the Biblical reading, but more actively experience it. We might be a disciple in the boat with Jesus, one of the crowd at the feeding of the five thousand, or the woman at the well asked by Jesus to draw up water for him. It’s important that as you hear the story you try to feel what it’s like to actually be inside that story.  Listen, taste, smell, feel, and watch what happens.

Feel free to catch up with us on social media @methodspodcast, or if you'd like, you can support us on Patreon.

linktr.ee/methodspodcast

www.methodspodcast.com

www.patreon.com/methods

www.instagram.com/methodspodcast

www.facebook.com/methodsthepodcast