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IncarnationalContemplation|NEW:HeartfulnessPractice

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NEW:HeartfulnessPractice
FromDavidFrenette
IntroducingHeartfulnessPractice
WhyPureContemplationIsntEnough
July2013
MydecadesofexperiencewithCenteringPrayer,especiallyitsmovementintopurecontemplation,hasmademeappreciatethereceptiveformless
practicesofEasternspiritualtraditions,practiceslikeShikanTaza,AdvaitaVendantaandMahamudra.Theseapproachesareallorientedtowardsa
veryprofoundspiritualrealization.Intheologicallanguage,areceptiveformlesspracticeopensustowardsunionwithGodatthedeepestlevelofour
spirit.OurlifeinGodsBeingisbeyondlineartime,beyondthecontingenciesofourbodies,ourminds,andourhearts,andbeyondtheunique
contoursofthislifewithitspainsandgifts.
Overyearsofteachingmeditation,Ivenoticedsomethingcurious:eventhoughtheymayrealizeprofoundspiritualexperiencesthroughreceptive
formlesscontemplativepractices,fewyoungpeopleeasilycontinuewiththem.Ivealsonoticedthatsomelongtimepractitionersstrugglewithor
driftawayfromthesepractices.Whyisthisso?
Ibelievethisisbecauseourhumannatureincludesbody,mindandheart,aswellasspirit.Manymeditatorsinourfragmentedanddistractedworld
areseekingawellroundedandfullygroundedcontemplativepracticethatcultivatesalongwithareceptiveformlessrealizationembodied
attention,focusedmindandawakeneddevotion.Theeternal,theDivine,needstobeexpressedinthetemporal,thehuman.Then,theprofound
awakeningintoourspiritualnature,whichreceptiveformlesscontemplativepracticefosters,ismoreeasilyintegratedintothehumanfabricofour
existenceourlivelihoods,ourrelationships,ourservice,ourethicalactions,thisordinarymoment.
Manyyoungpeopleseekthistypeofembodiedcontemplativepath,andmanyestablishedpractitionersfindthatthey,too,requireit.Someofthe
Easternreceptiveformlessapproachesmentionedaboveofferwaysforintegratingandexpressingspiritinbody,mindandheart.However,
practitionersofChristiancontemplativeprayerhavenotoftenbeenexposedtotheexperienceofmoreembodiedandholisticpractice.
Inresponse,wehavedevelopedanembodiedapproachtocontemplation,nowcalledHeartfulnessPractice.Wevebeenteachingstudents
thispracticewithanemphasisonsacredattentionduringthepastsixmonths,includingwithclassesinBoulder,onaretreatdayattheCenterfor
ContemplativeLivinginDenver,andonanewweeklongretreatattheGarrisonInstituteinNewYork.Peoplehavebeengratefultobeintroducedto
aheartfulandembodiedwayofrelatingtoGod,toothersandtothemselvestheyfindthatthisapproachenrichestheirreceptiveformless
contemplativepractice.Throughpositiveresponsearisingfromagenuineneed,wehavebeensensingsupportfromGodtomoveHeartfulness
Practicefromgestationintogreaterlife.
ClosestudentsofFr.ThomasKeatingmaybeawarethatafewyearsagoheusedthetermheartfulnessasthetitleforaDVDseriesonCentering
Prayer.AHeartfulnessCenteringPrayerretreatwasalsodevelopedatwhichtheseDVDsareshown.Theseresourcesprovidevaluabletheological
richnessforthepracticeofCenteringPrayeraprofoundreceptiveformlesspractice.Afterrecognizingthatthenewapproachtocontemplative
practicebringshisconceptofheartfulnesstolifeinamoreconcreteway,lastwinterFr.Thomasgavehisblessingforustoutilizetheterm
heartfulnessforthespecificnewembodiedpracticesnowbeingdevelopedandtaught.
TheHeartfulnessPracticeisoneexampleoftheworkoftheContemplativeInitiative.ThegoalsoftheContemplativeInitiativeinclude
supportingmeditatorsindeepeningtheirpracticeintopurecontemplationthroughtheteachingsinthebookThePathofCenteringPrayer,
developingresourcesforthemoreembodiedHeartfulnessPractice,andresearchingadditionalsupportsfortheemergingneedsofyoungseekersand
longtermmeditators.
AswecontinuewiththeothergoalsoftheContemplativeInitiative,wearedevelopingtwoopportunitiesforthoseinterestedinlearningHeartfulness
Practice:aninedayretreatattheGarrisonInstitute,March1422,2014,andanonlinecourse.Staytunedthisfalltothispageandournewsletterfor
informationontheonlinecourse.YoucansampletheflavorofourheartfulnessapproachwithmyjustrecordedSoundsTrueHeartfulPresence
guidedmeditation,availableatthislinkhere.IwillalsobeleadingHeartfulnessPracticebasedmeditationsdailyattheSoundsTrueWakeUp
FestivalthisAugust.
WeoffergratitudetotheSpiritforpurifying,supportingandbringingtofruitionthiscontemplativeinitiative.Mayallexperienceaheartful,
embodiedandreceptiverelationshipwithGod!

Inspiration
Whenyoupray,gototoyourinnerroom,closethedoor,andpraytoyourFatherinsecret.AndyourFather,whoisinsecret,willrewardyou.
Matthew6:6
BestillandknowthatIamGod
Psalm46:10
Betransformedbytherenewalofyourmind.
Romans12:2
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TheorientationofIncarnationalContemplationistowardspracticingandlivingthecontemplativelifeinourordinaryworlds.Justaseverythinginour
innerworldisallinGod,sotooiseverythinginourouterworld:theactivities,joys,passionsandchallengesofexistence.
Copyright2009,DavidFrenette.
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