Methods of Contemplation

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

This episode is part of our Being-With series, a subtle nod to the philosopher Martin Heidegger and his term referencing the Mitsein aspect of being. That the very nature of humanity is to be in relationship to others. We are inauthentic when we fail to recognize how much and in what ways how we think of ourselves and how we habitually behave is influenced by our social surroundings. We are authentic when we pay attention to that influence and decide for ourselves whether to go along with it or not.

Today we’re talking with Carl McColman.

Carl is a contemplative writer, speaker, teacher, soul friend, and storyteller. He is a co-host for the podcast Encountering Silence, of which I am a dedicated listener. He is also the author of numerous books, including The Big Book of Christian Mysticism, Answering the Contemplative Call, An Invitation to Celtic Wisdom and Unteachable Lessons. Link to purchase below:

https://mccolman.net/?product=unteachable-lessons

Find Carl here:

https://carlmccolman.com/

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

www.patreon.com/methods

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Hello, and welcome to Methods.

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

In our last season, we explored the concept of a meditation anchor, and the simplest of these, the breath. An anchor is something, anything really, that we set as the primary focal point for our rational mind. Doing this helps us to build concentration, and gives us a bridge, or a stable place upon which to stand, above the shifting state of our thoughts. This time, we will explore a visual or conceptual anchor to place our focused attention on, allowing our “monkey mind” to entertain itself, while our deeper and truer self rests simply in presence.

There is something uniquely powerful about finding a slowly-changing scene to behold.  It gives us an access point to the present moment, while also recognizing its transience, its continuous state of change, allowing us to let go, again and again, to be present with what is. This week, we will focus on a cloud.

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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Fran is Pastor of Worship and Liturgy at Peace of Christ Church in Round Rock, TX. She's also a liturgist, musician, songwriter and mom. Fran crafts beautiful litanies to be used in a congregational setting on any topic you can imagine, including ones she commissions. Today she leads us through a powerful and historical method of prayer used by a long line of saints in the Christian tradition, called Lectio Divina, or Holy Reading. In Lectio Divina, the words of scripture are encountered with an inner stillness that draws us toward contemplation. We don't simply stop at the words, but go through them like a doorway.

Fran's new book, “Call and Response: Litanies for Congregational Prayer” is available now on Amazon. Link to purchase below:

https://www.amazon.com/Call-Response-Litanies-Congregational-Prayer/dp/0578213869/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=fran+pratt+litanies&qid=1581908428&sr=8-1

Find Fran here:

@thelitanist

www.franpratt.com

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

www.methodspodcast.com

www.patreon.com/methods

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

This episode is part of our Being-With series, a subtle nod to the philosopher Martin Heidegger and his term referencing the Mitsein aspect of being. That the very nature of humanity is to be in relationship to others. We are inauthentic when we fail to recognize how much and in what ways how we think of ourselves and how we habitually behave is influenced by our social surroundings. We are authentic when we pay attention to that influence and decide for ourselves whether to go along with it or not.

Today we’re talking with Fran Pratt.

https://www.amazon.com/Call-Response-Litanies-Congregational-Prayer/dp/0578213869/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=fran+pratt+litanies&qid=1581908428&sr=8-1

Find Fran here:

@thelitanist

www.franpratt.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 third episode of our third season: Vision. Today we'll explore ignatian contemplation on a passage from scripture, Exodus chapter three.

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.

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www.patreon.com/methods

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Acharya is a respected teacher of Vedic and yogic philosophy, meditation and kirtan, and a practitioner of the transcendental science of Bhakti Yoga, the process by which a person can come to know and love the Supreme Person. Acharya Das has taught yoga wisdom to appreciative audiences for over 40 years. He has an uncommonly deep understanding of yoga philosophy and practice and conveys that message in a clear and simple way.

Listen here or at the link in our bio:

linktr.ee/methodspodcast

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

This episode is part of our Being-With series, a subtle nod to the philosopher Martin Heidegger and his term referencing the Mitsein aspect of being. That the very nature of humanity is to be in relationship to others. We are inauthentic when we fail to recognize how much and in what ways how we think of ourselves and how we habitually behave is influenced by our social surroundings. We are authentic when we pay attention to that influence and decide for ourselves whether to go along with it or not.

Today we talk with Acharya Das. Acharya is a respected teacher of Vedic and yogic philosophy, meditation and kirtan, and a practitioner of the transcendental science of Bhakti Yoga, the process by which a person can come to know and love the Supreme Person. Acharya Das has taught yoga wisdom to appreciative audiences for over 40 years. He has an uncommonly deep understanding of yoga philosophy and practice and conveys that message in a clear and simple way.

Find Acharya Das here:

https://acharyadas.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 second episode of our third season: Vision.

In our last season, we explored the concept of a meditation anchor, and the simplest of these, the breath. An anchor is something, anything really, that we set as the primary focal point for our rational mind. Doing this helps us to build concentration, and gives us a bridge, or a stable place upon which to stand, above the shifting state of our thoughts. This time, we will explore a visual or conceptual anchor to place our focused attention on, allowing our “monkey mind” to entertain itself, while our deeper and truer self rests simply in presence.

There is something uniquely powerful about finding a slowly-changing scene to behold.  It gives us an access point to the present moment, while also recognizing its transience, its continuous state of change, allowing us to let go, again and again, to be present with what is. This week, we will focus on a candle flame, which has been a common method of contemplative prayer for many throughout history, including recently, Father Richard Rohr.

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 Amos Smith leads us through the theory and practice of Centering Prayer as popularized by the late Father Thomas Keating.

Amos E. Smith has earned bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees—all in religious studies. He is a long-term centering prayer practitioner, workshop leader, writer, and founder of Recover Christianity’s Mystic Roots. His most recent book, His first book, Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity’s Mystic Roots is part of the curriculum for the Living School of The Center for Action and Contemplation. Amos and his organization work toward slowly transforming consciousness through the Christian contemplative tradition.

Find Amos and RCMR here:

https://www.amossmith.org/

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 episode is part of our Being-With series, a subtle nod to the philosopher Martin Heidegger and his term referencing the Mitsein aspect of being. That the very nature of humanity is to be in relationship to others. We are inauthentic when we fail to recognize how much and in what ways how we think of ourselves and how we habitually behave is influenced by our social surroundings. We are authentic when we pay attention to that influence and decide for ourselves whether to go along with it or not.

Today we’re talking with Amos Smith.

Amos E. Smith has earned bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees—all in religious studies. He is a long-term centering prayer practitioner, workshop leader, writer, and founder of Recover Christianity’s Mystic Roots. His most recent book, His first book, Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity’s Mystic Roots is part of the curriculum for the Living School of The Center for Action and Contemplation. Amos and his organization work toward slowly transforming consciousness through the Christian contemplative tradition.

Find Amos and RCMR here:

https://www.amossmith.org/

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