/* /* Eclectic Contemplative: October 2006

Eclectic Contemplative

Driven by a need for a more reflective approach to existence, I am exploring contemplative thought from a variety of traditions, particularly Catholic and Buddhist, in an effort to find a practice that will enable me to access that "inner room" that is at once still and luminous.

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Contemplative Life Program

I subscribed to the Contemplative Life Program (http://www.centeringprayer.com/clp.htm) towards the beginning of this year. The praxis on Lectio Divina was quite useful, especially the advice to jot down and carry short phrases from Scripture to use throughout the day or "PRN", but I didn't warm up to the Welcoming Prayer module. Yet after moving on to the next module, and today receiving the next one after that, I finally spontaneously applied the Welcoming Prayer method to an ordinary daily event - the kids bickering.

They are wonderful people the vast majority of the time, so when they act unkindly and impatiently towards me or each other, I am surprised and disappointed, probably disproportionately. I needed to run an errand, and I hated to leave the house with them at each other's throats (as much as they ever are - there are methods of hateful engagement my sister and I perfected in our youth that my girls haven't even thought of!), but as I was driving away, I said, "I let go of my desire for control." Just like that. It wasn't my problem. They are not subsets of me. Detachment descended. Blood pressure went down. Ahhh. It was wonderful.

I also recently saw the entire circle of self-manufactured expectation and predictable disappointment that Thich Nhat Hahn talks about so often (his audio lecture on The Present Moment is wonderful listening). My husband was gone with the children for a few hours, a very rare opportunity for me to have some peace and quiet, but instead I spent the time doing chores that I thought would make my husband happy. He was pleased when he saw what I had done, but I didn't get the approval hit I was looking for, so I was disappointed, and then resentful (that precious quiet time was gone, and for what!). AND I HAD DONE THE WHOLE THING TO MYSELF.

Major lightbulb moment.

The Present Moment on CD. I found it in my neighborhood library.
http://soundstruestore.stores.yahoo.net/af00760d.html

Monday, October 02, 2006

Carmelite Oblate Formation Reading List

T.O.Carm's requirement for formation the series developed by Tom Zeitvogel, T.O.C. This currently consists in three books
1.The Formation Process for Lay Carmelites;
2. Phase One: The Lay Carmelite Order, An Introduction;
3. Phase Two: Initial Formation in Carmel.
Other recommended books are:-
Welcome to Carmel, Michael Griffin, OCD
A Commentary on The Rule of Life, Michael Griffin, OCD
Carmelite Growth Experiences, Michael Griffin, OCD
Collected works of St. John of the Cross, Kavanaugh and Rodriguez, OCD
Collected works of Teresa of Avila, Kavanaugh and Rodriguez, OCD
Carmel's Call, Carmelite Press, Darien, IL.
Springs of Carmel, Peter Slattery, O.Carm
Albert's Way, Michael Mulhall, O.Carm
Carmelite Historical Sketches, Titus Brandsma, O.Carm
Profit of Fire, Kilian Healy, O.Carm