I had no idea what contemplative prayer was until now. As a Christian, I pray daily. Many times a day. When I was a 6 7 yr old child, I would walk home from church, talking to Jesus, and everything around me. The bushes, trees, birds,grass, sidewalks, even the air around me.I remember, loving the feeling of complete love, and knowing I was safe, and loved by God, but really didn't know it was a form of prayer. I had so much adoration for God, at such a young age. I was so innocent. I'm so thankful we have such a loving and forgiving God, I praise, and thank Him daily. God bless everyone. ❤
Boy, you sound like me as a young girl...Did the same... To me, just enveloping myself in a Nature experience (a walk, a day at the beach, visiting a botanical garden, being within ear-shot of a children's playground - hearing their sweet voices as they play) ALL these jettison me to that Spiritual plane, where Joy & Peace exist...Sweet & Beautiful...is our God...
I promise you, if you got you're information from Catholic Monk Richard Rohr, who preaches a progressive false Gospel. A lot of what this man teachers comes out of the New Age movement, it isn't always obvious and you have to do you're home work. The Bible teaches us that People like him will bring false teachings into the Church. He is an expert when it comes to manipulating language, and twisting Scripture to fit his new age thinking. He is asking people to go against what Scripture teaches. Please do not take my word for what I am saying, in the end it is you who will have to stand in line before a Just God and give account of why you did or didn't do this or that. We are commanded to be discerning. Some of what Rohr says is actually right, but some yes, that is how he manages to sneak the New Age stuff past the undiscerning Christian. I believe Richard Rohr is responsible for the shipwrecking of many people's salvation. I implore you, do your homework, do not just accept things. Contemplative prayer at it's root is right of of New Age thinking, it's about emptying the mind. That is not the sort of Prayer Christians have preached for millennia, suddenly Richard Rohr has all the answers, I think not. I have no problem in denouncing this man as a dangerous man who preaches a false gospel, the results of which will reverberate throughout eternity for those unlucky people who listen and followed this man's false teach. One more time, do your homework, check out a young man who came out of the New Age, his name is Steven Bancaz, listen to what he has to say about Rohr's false teaching and it's obvious connection to New Age teachings. The question always come down to this, is Jesus Christ the Son of God, is he God, is he part of the Triune Godhead, Richard Rohr will dance you around the dance floor of clever words and before you know it the questions have been lost sight of, Rohr has changed the subject. Pray is connection with God we pray for any number of reasons, we should also be thank God in prayer for the mercy, the graciousness and the share love he poors out upon those who are his. Things asked for in pray may be right for you, God I believe always want's what is best for you but he will say NO to things that are not. Do we repent when praying, do we take our sin to the Lord and confess it, then turn away from that sin, fully realising that we in this world are not perfect and Christians will sin again, we just need to be read to repent and recommit to turning from sin. In some cases it took me years, I pray regular for God to change my thinking, never to empty my mind, Rohr is playing with Doctrines of Demons, the give away is always when one comes along and starts rewriting the Bible to fit the Spiritual Journey they are on, I most certainly wouldn;t want to be on the same path as Rohr, that I believe 100% would mean I was unsaved, and lost, and that my eternal future was bleak to say the least. Discernment, discernment, discernment, check out what these guru's who take from various religions like Hinduism, Buddism etc, the Christian Bible needs not teach noe lessons from them. Just because some answers are not liked or even hated in the secular world means nothing, the question for eacj of us is The Word of God True, it is there you need to make your decision and if it is True then the Richard Rohr's of this world are the Wolves the Bible talks about and should be avoided at all costs. Check out Alisa Childers, Doreen Vitue (former New Ager), and Steven Bancaz (former New Ager), view their Channels and Posts on such men and woman who would take you away from Scripture to follow a new gospel they have come up with over time as they incorporate bits and pieces of other religions into the false, fake gospel they are selling, and I might add becoming very rich in. So, one more time, be discerning, dig into the history of what they are saying, in Rohr's case, it's obviously a lot of his teachings come from Hinduism and Buddhism and of course a large chunk of New Age belief and teaching. This guy books are akin to recieving a hotch potch quilt that incorporates many different belief systems, he is big on Hinduism inspired teaching, Mindfulness is part of that, avoid that like the plague, sadly it is actually sweeping the secular and Christian worlds like a plague, run, run, run from it, it will being you no good, it just starts of at the beginning giving an allusion of 'good.' it's not, it's part of Hinduism and has no place in Christianity period! As I've said here, don't take my word, if you do the homework diligently you'll see Richard Rohr and his like for the Wolves in sheep clothing that I believe they most certainly are. But we should always pray that they will repent, turn from their sin and find the Genuine Jesus, not the New Age version, and The Gospel, the True Gospel in which God talks to His people and outlines as our Creator what it is he would have us do. I'm not God, although Rohr thinks we are all gods, that comes from New Age, New Thought false teachings,
My prayer is that more people discover the ever present God waiting for a beautiful time with Him as individuals, especially in this chaotic and conspiracy theories filled world of ours. Contemplating prayer moments will soothe our ever anxious and worried souls.
I have been searching for contemplative prayer all day. I finally realize why I am so bad at maybe more traditional prayer or why I'm uncomfortable praying outloud and why I have searched to find where it's ok to ask for things because while I understand it is still good to do this I felt afraid of my own motivations. I have found it easier to just spend time with God as my form of prayer but thought I was doing something wrong because I am often not praying or asking. when I was told it was about a relationship before i became Catholic sometime last year I took that literally and so it is so comforting to find someone speaking about this as I have been drawn to st john lf the cross and st ignatius of loyola for their teachings and while I came to the church in anger about the political state of the western world I have found since even before baptism to be left with peace that God is my higher power and the things happening on earth are no longer leaving me feeling trapped. Thank you for this video it describes so much of my Catholic life and now I finally realize I am not doing anything wrong when I struggle to pray for things in my life even though it is also something I am working towards and trying to reconcile in my prayer life.
Oh thank you so very much, I arrived at 76years of age and wondered why so many of us never got our prayers answered, then we beat ourselves up its because we are a wretched sinner as our R C school/church taught us. Do you know how many of us feel your a real breath of fresh air. It took a long time to reach you to understand why we don't understand the bible we was never taught it in school, at church the mass was always in Latin I WOULD COME OUT THINKING I NEVER UNDERSTOOD A WORD OF THAT. PRAYER WAS JUST PARROT FASHION. THANK YOU GOD FOR RICHARD ROHR GODS BLESSINGSXXXXXXX THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EXCELLENT VIDEOS I TRULY THANK YOU.
I had a walk in the park today. The park is alongside a meandering river. I came across a group of ducks that were leisurely floating and preening their feathers. It made me stop and open up to the Unity of life and the special little things we overlook in every minute of our lives. A few more steps and I came across a piece of moss laden tree bark that was on the ground. The sunlight was on it, and it was resplendent with artistic beauty; almost ethereal. It made me stop again with a profound sense of emptiness that was filled with Glory. And now I came across this video of Fr. Rohr talking about taking in a leaf with a sense of wonder. I think this was all meant to be!
The incredible, priceless Gift of Nature, our environment is always FOOD for the Spirit, as well as the Mind & Body...I can ALWAYS find Him there...Always.... So glad that His beauty & Peace were made manifest to you!
Contemplative prayer to dwell in the holy moment,No past no future just divine awareness in the Holy moment, no thoughts,,to see and feel the body of Christ in its fullest.
@fagan354 God is the creator, only God is God, and anything within creation is an idol. You can worship an idol but eventually you'll have to let go of anything you idoloize to get to God.
WOW Thank you. I've heard the term Contemplative prayer all of my life. But I never knew what it meant. Also, I didn't realize that meditation and trying to stay in the moment activities integrated so beautifully into our Catholic traditions.
Thank you for this clear explanation. I often feel strained reading or listening to the psalms, especially those that ask God to destroy the enemies. Centering prayer has given me a space where I feel very much in oneness with truth and the divine.
Nan morrow has published a book on the Pslams. When i belonged to a centering prayer group we used her version of psalms for Lectio. I continue to pick up her book when i am stuck with not feeling peaceful during life struggles. And of course i only remain Catholic with listening to Fr Richard..he is truly a modern day saint in my eyes !
Thank you Father Richard Rohr. I first learned about contemplative prayer in the Jesuit novitiate in 1982. Since then it has become a part of me. Thank you for this insight. Greetings from Indonesia
Contemplation is being deeply aware of God presence in everything we do . Whether washing dishes or washing a child , be thankful you’re alive to do it . Breathe in the spirit of the Divine Embrace , the Invisible, the Immortal God
Beautiful talk. Just be present. Here and now. Look deeply. Find your own ways to do that. Don't expect anything to happen. That's overriding universal flow. Just be there. Participate. Life is full of challenges. Don't think of them as problems. They are opportunities, gateways. You can learn to almost internally smile when a challenge arises. Just be present then.
The first time I read the words "contemplative prayer" it was cast in a negative light. So I knew I had to look into it. That was over a decade ago and it was one of the first times that I had found a name for a practice that I just did, naturally. Over the next ten years or so many of my personal practices would be revealed as having names and nearly all of them would be disparaged by the modern church. After releasing my attachment to the internal struggle that arises when the heart and the head are in different places I came to a realization. That was a beautiful moment, I laughed and cried simultaneously. Duality is an illusion, there's no beginning, no end, only now. We all have a road to walk, though the path may be narrow it is easy. One foot goes in front of the other, one breath follows the next. Stay upright and do not think too much and all of life's decisions become easy. Hello fellow mystics and contemplatives something is happening because we are beginning to find each other.
This spoke to me as well. Father Richard is not like the Priests of my childhood. I have had Catholic guilt my entire life and I am now 61. This Priest makes sense to me.
@@cherylbaker3353 ... a let a Good Understand Priest of God help you along the way - Thanks Fr Rohr also study Church history and Traditions that Pre-dates the Bible. What did the early church do before the Bible followed Traditions and Church Fathers Teaching.
This is not new age. It's the most fundamental understanding of prayer. Prayer=thinking. Coming to terms with what is, even if it's not what you want it to be. Accepting that there is a journey and struggle to get to the light, to the truth. Wow! Truly amazing.
@Anonymous Monk I hear you. Every time I go for a nature walk and admire God's creation... I"m destined to hell. By God those green leaves will burn up alongside me as my trail mix is burnt beyond recognition. My God brother... how do you not stare into the infinity of a starry night and not just say. "Thank you precious father"
Sorry but the only Father I know is Our Holy Father who art inHeaven thank you very much. Your lost. Jesus told us how to pray to Jehovah! You dont get wired to everything around you ! Truth do you know the Truth?! I dont need anyone to reply!
Stay in the flow, your gift comes naturally is a perfect description of the open trusting heart surrendered to the movement of the will of the Divine. The objective of my life is to maintain this attitude. Your sincere faithful guidance helps to make possible the union of polarity remembering itself as Source.
This is the secret to a faith that lasts! Ever notice how many seem to come and go from faith? We all struggle with this. I believe that if we improve our prayer life - which, in turn, improves our relationship with God - our faith will overcome any challenges we may face.
Thank you Richard for your work - it is such a blessing to so many. Why did we make following the real Jesus so complicated and unattractive when it should be something that everyone would want to partake in? Whom the Son has set free is free indeed. Pure joy.
“The mainline of Christianity had become the fast food of religion.” Already, a couple of hundred years after Jesus. And it just went downhill from there. I love this man. Can you imagine all religion was like what he’s talking about? Man, what a world this could be!
All I know is that they kept hunting down the apostles and disciples, trying to eradicate Christians but failed. So Satan placed the Pharacees in power under a new name and they seized power using Christianity; but very different Christianity, one that brought back the law which Christ fulfilled and abolished. They brought back altars, rituals, ceremonies, idols, sacrifice (changing wine and host into body and blood), laws, regulations, tidings, indulgences, etc. The Vatican where all the cardinals sit with the pope in the middle looks exactly like the Jewish sonhidron. They basically put a hold on a free spread of Christianity and ruled with an iron fist; salvation was basically impossible under their laws, and there were no Bibles in Europe - even today, people in Eastern Europe and Russia don't read the Bible, except for few Protestants and clergy. Bibles are just decorations for those who happen to have one; we had one but it was hidden, how sad. That's why God took me to the U.S., and this is why God sends down saints who pick up the faith and inspire the masses, usually at the cost of their lives.
Wow! Thanks for such a wholesome explanation brother Richard. So honest, practical and real. When we come to the realization that Christ our Intercessor and "All in all" via His indwelling Spirit is always there for us, this is a great start to letting "…the Peace of Christ rule" and help us to "pray never ceasing"
Though I'm not Christian, I find wisdom within his view of spirituality. I believe that he gets at the heart of what Christ thought and I think he is what all Christians need today.
@Anonymous Monk So I can't have an opinion of what Christianity is lacking? Does a drug addict need another drug addict's advice for quitting? I don't have to be Christian to have an opinion.
@Anonymous Monk Wow Socrates, thanks for the advice. This is why Christianity hasn't evolved at all in 2000 years. Christians are so reluctant to inquire with people from other cultures and viewpoints. No wonder why people are denouncing Christianity. The Buddhists have gotten around to scientific inquiry and outside perspective, but to each his own I guess. Please continue to be ignorant my friend, hopefully you'll come around to it one day.
Thank you so much for your input and I agree. The amount of judgement, condemnation and narcissism in the church today really stifles the immense love that God gives us. And this is coming from a Christian. The greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart. And the second is to love your brother and sister. It's so simple really.
@@astro_monist2559 I am loving Ft Rorh's offerings as well! I would like to recommend Yogananda for a good read. Also, "The Sermon on the mount according to Vedanta". GREAT read. some of those Hindu swami's had some beautiful insight!!!!
Seems to me that love and grief are first cousins. On those rare moments when i can, and do, see God’s tender beauty in something, I’m filled with a kind of heartbreaking love that chokes me up.
I wish i could share w my family. I can't cry around my love ones and i have had 3 tragic deaths during Covid. They just want me to laugh ...i can't but feel joy in knowing God notices my tears❤
Actually I think you could say the Our Father all day. Every prayer, in some form or fashion, is the Our Father. Padre Pio prayed many rosaries per day (30 or more). And his advice was simply to "love the Madonna and pray the rosary often and well." He called the rosary his "weapon." And so there is a necessary dualism in the spiritual battle, between the Good and that which is evil; between the Truth and lying falsehoods. The Mother of God, at Fatima, said to "pray the rosary everyday." The rosary, prayed well, may lead to contemplation, but the point is to serve and adore almighty God, now, and hopefully, for all eternity in Heaven.
I have NEVER heard anyone use the term "fast food religion" in my life and that is the perfect way to describe it now. The have it your way approach and keeping it transactional rather than what it truly is. I am not saying this to judge but more of my astonishment that statement alone connected the dots for me and made me realize I've never learned how to properly communicate with anyone until this second.
Christian contemplation is not only looking, it's also being present (which is sacrificial). Present to creation, present to the Presence - it is then that we realize that contemplation is also an invitation from Another. It is, fundamentally, a response. This is what distinguishes it from a mere self-discipline, a psychological practice. Contemplation is profoundly interpersonal and transcendent, answering the still, small voice of God. "It is not you who have chosen me, it is I who have chosen you."
Roar is spot on, he explained this so well, right up there with Thomas Merton and Brennan Manning, I am proud to be a Ragamuffin and a recipient of Gods relentless love. Thank You ABBA. 🙏
Fr. thank you so much of your enlightenment of contemplative prayer. This will help me so much in Adoration. I use to think I was the only one who's mind wonders and thinks constantly. I understand more of how gazing at the Eucharist, like you analogy of the leaf, will help me become closer to prayer and to the Lord. I will begin practicing more now. I just thought I was a lost cause and could never concentrate on that single quiet level.
Contemplative prayer makes sense and is really efficient, if you think about it. It's basically praying in spirit! You don't have to subvocalize. It's all about intention and getting the message across to God. After all, Heaven is a spiritual place!
A leaf skittering down the sidewalk during a walk early one morning in Tucson. I experienced a simple joy in that sound and can now insert myself into a contemplative space by accessing that memory
Several years ago I was caught in a traditional circle of Christians and I'm sad to say extremely dualistic and hateful. I scoffed at anything Father Rohr said. Thankfully, I grew up and started studying other religions but have come full circle back to contemplation and due my best to just be in God's presence as much as possible and let everything else go 🙏 🙏🙏💗💗💗
@@normanchu2482 I'd rather live in a lie then "truth". If truth is churches splitting thousands of times, infighting against liberals and conservatives in both Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox churches then I don't want truth. Christ's words have been bastardized for centurys. If you know what truth is good luck to you.
Johnathan Taylor the many factions of the church disagree because of man’s interpretation. If one never seeks the heart of Hod’s law for His people then we are destined for liberalism and relativism.....and anything goes. How else can we strive to live in harmony with Jesus if we abandon His rules? ...to love God with all our heart , mind and soul and our neighbor as ourselves ...?
Richard is such an inspiring man. He inspires. To look at a leaf as a book of creation all on its own. Can we please start feeding him pickles so he lasts forever?
"Fast Food Religion" is such a great description of the diluted, dull, guilt-ridden version of Catholicism I was raised in. This could not hold up to the view of my developing intellect and I fell away as a youth into a convenient agnosticism. But I sadly threw away the baby with the bathwater. I so much wish I had come across Thomas Keating or Anthony de Mello back then. I and so many of today's youth were done a disservice by The Church and if The Church is to remain relevant and perhaps undergo a renaissance, contemplative prayer will play an essential part.
I have taken the time to study all the mainline religions and philosophy and in my contemplation of these as well as life itself I have discovered that truth is in everything but it is always mixed with falsehood. I believe that learning to discern the true from the false our eyes open and we begin to see God in everything. God wears a veil which is our false beliefs and biases and once we learn to penetrate these false beliefs and discard them our eyes open to behold God.
True Christianity focuses on the Truth that "God became man so that man could become God." Humility, nonjudgement, moderation, service, fraternity, and nonconfrontation are the original teachings of the Christ. All else is corruption.
I am opening myself to contemplation as well. However, decrying revealed truth on dualistic matters is dualistic in itself. I guess what I’m experiencing is that right and wrong exist, and I can still be contemplative.
Thomas Merton was on the true path to God realization. Fr. Richard Rohr is astutely describing the way. An Indian guru, Paramahansa Yogananda came to the US in the 20's and brought with him a method of meditation called Kryia yoga that he said came from Jesus, to Babaji, who told it to Lahiri Mahasaya who told Sri Yutekswar that a young guru would take this to the states as the direct path to God realization, and that guru was Paramahansa Yogananda who was taught by Sri Yutekswarji, Contemplative prayer is another method to have a relationship with God that is within us.
I myself followed the teachings of yogananda or Kriya yoga, as you wish, and I can safely say that their are some major, important differences between this and the Christian, contemplative path. God bless
Toni, I am with you another teaching of the Hindu is to only share the understanding of meditation practice not to change who you are praying to. They want the people in America to hold onto their teachings they are only sharing the kriya yoga concept which means union, one in being with the spirit. No duality.
Was that a fidget spinner in your hand? Lol I feel like 12 years ago when I was rescued from heroin addiction by Jesus changing my heart, I was able to enter into the flow of fellowship with the Lord much easier than now after the Lord has added many things to my life such as businesses, ministry, etc. I need to learn how to return to that full surrender and not fight for the things I have because they aren't the Real. When I was faced with losing everything and going to prison years ago because of what I did in my life before Christ I had such peace and joy, because i knew that i knew He was with me. Now that I have been established with Him I fear as though my comfort is becoming a distraction.
For all of those who have misunderstood this it is simply having graduated towards God for all that he is , and maintaining a focus on that. And stop putting this man down and being hateful, that is definitely not a Christian attitude.
Anonymous Monk first of all I never said anything about his being a Christian or not, I was only explaining contemplative prayer and warning not to judge, which you just did regardless of my warning, I also stated that the poor attitudes on display in the comments did not reflect the Christian attitude ,to which you in-turn displayed your own poor attitude. As for understanding The meaning or Christian, I am a preacher of over twenty five years and have been a Christian for 32 years. ( Christian) “ Christ like” this is a follower of Christ and a imitator in body and spirit May God bless you and keep you always.
Anonymous Monk what is your problem, why do you want to argue with someone so bad ? Did the church hurt your feelings, maybe mommy didn’t give you enough attention, or maybe you just hate the world, I didn’t bring anything you addressed me. I never said you are stupid I said the way you are acting is stupid, I don’t want to argue, I was simply explaining something for those who lacked information on the subject. Now we can do this forever or we can have an intellectual conversation on the subject, and maybe we can help each other, but if you just want to argue then I’m not going to be a part of it. So do you want to converse or is this over? Your choice.
St Patrick he was trying to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish so he reached down and picked up a shamrock ☘️ that is the same concept Richard was referring to. One in being with the spirit.
I have Always wanted to reach a contemplative state of mind. I decided a few years ago to practice detachment and discernment and let things go.Duality mind is a subject-object problem that leaves the mind in the sate of confusion that can be removed by the practice of detachment and discernment and then prayer can be used additionally and you will reached contemplation !
I have the contemplative mind. I delight in times like this morning on my walk when I encountered my two deer. I just stood with them, even though they were scared, and just wanted to be one with them. But then I get yanked out of it. A commercial jet shrieking overhead just enrages me. I don't know how to avoid that problem. Noise pollution particularly takes me out of contemplation. And it happens a lot. I just bought the book Just This. thank you.
how is what you described different from anyone else in ordinary life? if that was all he meant, THEN WE ALL HAVE THE CONTEMPLATIVE MIND AND HIS TEACHINGS ARE UNNECESSARY. he said we can't be happy when we carry around dualisms, and he even gave examples of how the church falls into it. you just expressed the dualism of harmonious nature scene vs disruptive flying machine. that's NOT the contemplative mind. he couldn't have been more clear. you're assuming knowledge you don't yet have, and it's preventing you from hearing him. if this offends you, i'm sorry.
I understand. And I knew that already. But doesn't it say in the bible that we are to be stewards of the earth? And what about stealing life from future generations by what we're doing? But then I ask myself if I know the future, and what it will bring. And I don't. So I'm pretty confused. This isn't just some idle problem I'm having. This is a 50 year battle. I watched the trees bulldozed for housing subdivisions when I was a child. And from then on out I've watched in horror. I used to say, be fruitful and multiply, but give it a break already! I find it impossible to not stress as I watch the destruction of this planet. I guess it was made once, and it can be made again. But how does one not be upset when they see their mother being raped?
What you are talking about is "silence" not contemplation. Traditional christian contemplation (especially if you are describing it from the experience of the desert fathers as he does) is an infused gift. You cannot do anything to get it but you can practice meditation and silence with the hope of recieving the gift. For His own reasons God gives the gift to those whom he chooses but not to everyone.
el-sig yes you are so correct , God decides whether you receive Infused Contemplation , which is supernatural , nothing can describe this grace . Infused Contemplation is supernatural , although you can't make it happen , you can pave the way so to speak by living in a State of Grace , receiving the Sacraments , prayer , solitude , allowing God's will to be done whether or Not you like it & finally giving your heart to God. I can assure you , sinners & those who you would never suspect receive this grace & am somewhat certain the trails & sufferings in their lives are somewhat difficult. When God takes the Infused Contemplation away ..often the pain is greater than if the gift was never given in the first place. God knows what he's doing. Very difficult to find a Spiritual Director to which one feels aligned with to be directed by , it's Not an easy journey by No means although the graces definitely strengthen you & one sits in awe of God through it ALL ! plus there are physical symtoms with the Infused Contemplation.
"Some people prefer solitude. They say their peace of mind depends on this. Others say they would be better off in church. If you do well, you do well wherever you are. If you fail, you fail wherever you are. Your surroundings don't matter. God is with you everywhere -- in the market place as well as in seclusion or in the church. If you look for nothing but God, nothing or no one can disturb you. God is not distracted by a multitude of things." - Meister Eckhart
The real loving work that God accomplished on the cross. He came to die for sinners. Without the real Jesus we are left with the self. The me, myself and I guy and the reality of trying to lay our good works before God and attempt to cover over what Jesus did on the cross. Saved by grace through faith in the real Lord Jesus Christ only. Not man centered but Christ centered. The way to the Father is Christ and the Holy Spirit is given by Jesus. The Three are One. Find Him. Confess sin, repent and surrender to Him. To remain contemplative (meditate) on the Word of God. The old King James Bible and not the new conversions. God never changes.
This is the Truth. There is a place in your mind called Heaven which cannot be described by words but by memories of a state of being where you are so still that Faith will be your meeting with the reality that you exist now.
The best thing that ever happened to me as a Christian was being a Buddhist and learning about meditation... It is what Christians were always missing.
I had no idea what contemplative prayer was until now. As a Christian, I pray daily. Many times a day. When I was a 6 7 yr old child, I would walk home from church, talking to Jesus, and everything around me. The bushes, trees, birds,grass, sidewalks, even the air around me.I remember, loving the feeling of complete love, and knowing I was safe, and loved by God, but really didn't know it was a form of prayer. I had so much adoration for God, at such a young age. I was so innocent. I'm so thankful we have such a loving and forgiving God, I praise, and thank Him daily. God bless everyone. ❤
Boy, you sound like me as a young girl...Did the same...
To me, just enveloping myself in a Nature experience (a walk, a day at the beach, visiting a botanical garden, being within ear-shot of a children's playground - hearing their sweet voices as they play) ALL these jettison me to that Spiritual plane, where Joy & Peace exist...Sweet & Beautiful...is our God...
I promise you, if you got you're information from Catholic Monk Richard Rohr, who preaches a progressive false Gospel. A lot of what this man teachers comes out of the New Age movement, it isn't always obvious and you have to do you're home work. The Bible teaches us that People like him will bring false teachings into the Church. He is an expert when it comes to manipulating language, and twisting Scripture to fit his new age thinking. He is asking people to go against what Scripture teaches. Please do not take my word for what I am saying, in the end it is you who will have to stand in line before a Just God and give account of why you did or didn't do this or that. We are commanded to be discerning. Some of what Rohr says is actually right, but some yes, that is how he manages to sneak the New Age stuff past the undiscerning Christian. I believe Richard Rohr is responsible for the shipwrecking of many people's salvation. I implore you, do your homework, do not just accept things. Contemplative prayer at it's root is right of of New Age thinking, it's about emptying the mind. That is not the sort of Prayer Christians have preached for millennia, suddenly Richard Rohr has all the answers, I think not. I have no problem in denouncing this man as a dangerous man who preaches a false gospel, the results of which will reverberate throughout eternity for those unlucky people who listen and followed this man's false teach. One more time, do your homework, check out a young man who came out of the New Age, his name is Steven Bancaz, listen to what he has to say about Rohr's false teaching and it's obvious connection to New Age teachings. The question always come down to this, is Jesus Christ the Son of God, is he God, is he part of the Triune Godhead, Richard Rohr will dance you around the dance floor of clever words and before you know it the questions have been lost sight of, Rohr has changed the subject. Pray is connection with God we pray for any number of reasons, we should also be thank God in prayer for the mercy, the graciousness and the share love he poors out upon those who are his. Things asked for in pray may be right for you, God I believe always want's what is best for you but he will say NO to things that are not. Do we repent when praying, do we take our sin to the Lord and confess it, then turn away from that sin, fully realising that we in this world are not perfect and Christians will sin again, we just need to be read to repent and recommit to turning from sin. In some cases it took me years, I pray regular for God to change my thinking, never to empty my mind, Rohr is playing with Doctrines of Demons, the give away is always when one comes along and starts rewriting the Bible to fit the Spiritual Journey they are on, I most certainly wouldn;t want to be on the same path as Rohr, that I believe 100% would mean I was unsaved, and lost, and that my eternal future was bleak to say the least. Discernment, discernment, discernment, check out what these guru's who take from various religions like Hinduism, Buddism etc, the Christian Bible needs not teach noe lessons from them. Just because some answers are not liked or even hated in the secular world means nothing, the question for eacj of us is The Word of God True, it is there you need to make your decision and if it is True then the Richard Rohr's of this world are the Wolves the Bible talks about and should be avoided at all costs. Check out Alisa Childers, Doreen Vitue (former New Ager), and Steven Bancaz (former New Ager), view their Channels and Posts on such men and woman who would take you away from Scripture to follow a new gospel they have come up with over time as they incorporate bits and pieces of other religions into the false, fake gospel they are selling, and I might add becoming very rich in. So, one more time, be discerning, dig into the history of what they are saying, in Rohr's case, it's obviously a lot of his teachings come from Hinduism and Buddhism and of course a large chunk of New Age belief and teaching. This guy books are akin to recieving a hotch potch quilt that incorporates many different belief systems, he is big on Hinduism inspired teaching, Mindfulness is part of that, avoid that like the plague, sadly it is actually sweeping the secular and Christian worlds like a plague, run, run, run from it, it will being you no good, it just starts of at the beginning giving an allusion of 'good.' it's not, it's part of Hinduism and has no place in Christianity period! As I've said here, don't take my word, if you do the homework diligently you'll see Richard Rohr and his like for the Wolves in sheep clothing that I believe they most certainly are. But we should always pray that they will repent, turn from their sin and find the Genuine Jesus, not the New Age version, and The Gospel, the True Gospel in which God talks to His people and outlines as our Creator what it is he would have us do. I'm not God, although Rohr thinks we are all gods, that comes from New Age, New Thought false teachings,
LWe
Soo Terrific Pastor Rohr. Inspirational. When does your book Just This come out?
Same here.😃
My prayer is that more people discover the ever present God waiting for a beautiful time with Him as individuals, especially in this chaotic and conspiracy theories filled world of ours.
Contemplating prayer moments will soothe our ever anxious and worried souls.
I have been searching for contemplative prayer all day. I finally realize why I am so bad at maybe more traditional prayer or why I'm uncomfortable praying outloud and why I have searched to find where it's ok to ask for things because while I understand it is still good to do this I felt afraid of my own motivations. I have found it easier to just spend time with God as my form of prayer but thought I was doing something wrong because I am often not praying or asking. when I was told it was about a relationship before i became Catholic sometime last year I took that literally and so it is so comforting to find someone speaking about this as I have been drawn to st john lf the cross and st ignatius of loyola for their teachings and while I came to the church in anger about the political state of the western world I have found since even before baptism to be left with peace that God is my higher power and the things happening on earth are no longer leaving me feeling trapped. Thank you for this video it describes so much of my Catholic life and now I finally realize I am not doing anything wrong when I struggle to pray for things in my life even though it is also something I am working towards and trying to reconcile in my prayer life.
absolutely spot on today!!! His Spirit is in full flow for me today !! THANKS
This is fantastically wise and helpful and true. What a wonderful man ❤
Oh thank you so very much, I arrived at 76years of age and wondered why so many of us never got our prayers answered, then we beat ourselves up its because we are a wretched sinner as our R C school/church taught us.
Do you know how many of us feel your a real breath of fresh air. It took a long time to reach you to understand why we don't understand the bible we was never taught it in school, at church the mass was always in Latin I WOULD COME OUT THINKING I NEVER UNDERSTOOD A WORD OF THAT. PRAYER WAS JUST PARROT FASHION. THANK YOU GOD FOR RICHARD ROHR GODS BLESSINGSXXXXXXX THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EXCELLENT VIDEOS I TRULY THANK YOU.
Some great thoughts here. Thank you
I had a walk in the park today. The park is alongside a meandering river. I came across a group of ducks that were leisurely floating and preening their feathers. It made me stop and open up to the Unity of life and the special little things we overlook in every minute of our lives. A few more steps and I came across a piece of moss laden tree bark that was on the ground. The sunlight was on it, and it was resplendent with artistic beauty; almost ethereal. It made me stop again with a profound sense of emptiness that was filled with Glory. And now I came across this video of Fr. Rohr talking about taking in a leaf with a sense of wonder. I think this was all meant to be!
Yesss! Contemplative walking is one of my favorite ways to pray. I'm happy that you do this too :) Peace and blessings.
The incredible, priceless Gift of Nature, our environment is always FOOD for the Spirit, as well as the Mind & Body...I can ALWAYS find Him there...Always....
So glad that His beauty & Peace were made manifest to you!
😂 “think”?
"I'd rather be sitting in the mountains, thinking about God... than sitting in church thinking about the mountains."
Ummm what ??? No!
So refreshing to hear someone embrace the magnitude, the omnipotent and omnipresence of God in every thing.
Contemplative prayer to dwell in the holy moment,No past no future just divine awareness in the Holy moment, no thoughts,,to see and feel the body of Christ in its fullest.
I'm not Catholic myself but Father Richard is an obviously good man and worth listening to.
He does not believe Jesus is God..stay away from him
@@fagan354 I think he should answer that himself.
@fagan354 God is the creator, only God is God, and anything within creation is an idol. You can worship an idol but eventually you'll have to let go of anything you idoloize to get to God.
@@fagan354He is a Catholic, all Catholics say Jesus is God. You have broken the Ninth Commandment
Father Richard has helped me expand Christianity in me. I hope it keeps expanding until my body is gone from this earth...
WOW Thank you. I've heard the term Contemplative prayer all of my life. But I never knew what it meant. Also, I didn't realize that meditation and trying to stay in the moment activities integrated so beautifully into our Catholic traditions.
Richard Rohr! I love listening to you . I can listen and listen and listen. Thank you
The best way to explain ever. thank you
Thank you for this clear explanation. I often feel strained reading or listening to the psalms, especially those that ask God to destroy the enemies. Centering prayer has given me a space where I feel very much in oneness with truth and the divine.
Nan morrow has published a book on the Pslams. When i belonged to a centering prayer group we used her version of psalms for Lectio.
I continue to pick up her book when i am stuck with not feeling peaceful during life struggles.
And of course i only remain Catholic with listening to Fr Richard..he is truly a modern day saint in my eyes !
@@TerriSpirk That is very interesting. I will surely check it out. Thank you.
@@TerriSpirk I just searched the internet and can't find her. Is there a link I can use?
Richard Rohr is a treasure and gift from the Almighty
@Anonymous Monk religious much?
Utterly brilliant man!
Pope Richard the First 😀
Thank you Father Richard Rohr. I first learned about contemplative prayer in the Jesuit novitiate in 1982. Since then it has become a part of me. Thank you for this insight. Greetings from Indonesia
Contemplation is being deeply aware of God presence in everything we do . Whether washing dishes or washing a child , be thankful you’re alive to do it . Breathe in the spirit of the Divine Embrace , the Invisible, the Immortal God
This guy is awesome.
Beautiful talk. Just be present. Here and now. Look deeply. Find your own ways to do that. Don't expect anything to happen. That's overriding universal flow. Just be there. Participate. Life is full of challenges. Don't think of them as problems. They are opportunities, gateways. You can learn to almost internally smile when a challenge arises. Just be present then.
The first time I read the words "contemplative prayer" it was cast in a negative light. So I knew I had to look into it.
That was over a decade ago and it was one of the first times that I had found a name for a practice that I just did, naturally.
Over the next ten years or so many of my personal practices would be revealed as having names and nearly all of them would be disparaged by the modern church.
After releasing my attachment to the internal struggle that arises when the heart and the head are in different places I came to a realization.
That was a beautiful moment, I laughed and cried simultaneously.
Duality is an illusion, there's no beginning, no end, only now.
We all have a road to walk, though the path may be narrow it is easy. One foot goes in front of the other, one breath follows the next. Stay upright and do not think too much and all of life's decisions become easy.
Hello fellow mystics and contemplatives something is happening because we are beginning to find each other.
This spoke to me (and my inner child). Thank you for everything, Fr. Richard.
This spoke to me as well. Father Richard is not like the Priests of my childhood. I have had Catholic guilt my entire life and I am now 61. This Priest makes sense to me.
If you want to know about prayer just read the Bible folks Jesus will teach you everything you need to know
@@cherylbaker3353 ... a let a Good Understand Priest of God help you along the way - Thanks Fr Rohr also study Church history and Traditions that Pre-dates the Bible. What did the early church do before the Bible followed Traditions and Church Fathers Teaching.
Thank you, Father Richard, for helping me to understand prayer.
This is not new age. It's the most fundamental understanding of prayer. Prayer=thinking. Coming to terms with what is, even if it's not what you want it to be. Accepting that there is a journey and struggle to get to the light, to the truth. Wow! Truly amazing.
Thank you for this. I got confused with contemplative prayer vs. new age practices...
@Anonymous Monk I hear you. Every time I go for a nature walk and admire God's creation... I"m destined to hell. By God those green leaves will burn up alongside me as my trail mix is burnt beyond recognition. My God brother... how do you not stare into the infinity of a starry night and not just say. "Thank you precious father"
Part of his message is not to look for what separates us find what unites us one in being with the spirit.
Father Richard makes me to believe in God again.
Wow! That's wonderful. I love people like him that can do that for us! Peace and blessings.
Amen.
Kaleb Schad check out Maria von France she be in that level
♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟♥️🌟
Sorry but the only Father I know is Our Holy Father who art inHeaven thank you very much. Your lost. Jesus told us how to pray to Jehovah! You dont get wired to everything around you ! Truth do you know the Truth?! I dont need anyone to reply!
Stay in the flow, your gift comes naturally is a perfect description of the open trusting heart surrendered to the movement of the will of the Divine. The objective of my life is to maintain this attitude. Your sincere faithful guidance helps to make possible the union of polarity remembering itself as Source.
Brother Lawrence book helped me. Practising the Presence of God.
I heard good things about Brother Lawrence and that book 🙏🙏🙏!!
Thank you spreading the word about contemplative prayer.
Quail watching has helped me with this. I feel with God.
This is the secret to a faith that lasts! Ever notice how many seem to come and go from faith? We all struggle with this. I believe that if we improve our prayer life - which, in turn, improves our relationship with God - our faith will overcome any challenges we may face.
Thank you Richard for your work - it is such a blessing to so many. Why did we make following the real Jesus so complicated and unattractive when it should be something that everyone would want to partake in? Whom the Son has set free is free indeed. Pure joy.
True story!
To live in the present moment 🕊️ this practice sounds like the writings of the servant of God Louisa Piccarreta
“The mainline of Christianity had become the fast food of religion.” Already, a couple of hundred years after Jesus. And it just went downhill from there. I love this man. Can you imagine all religion was like what he’s talking about? Man, what a world this could be!
All I know is that they kept hunting down the apostles and disciples, trying to eradicate Christians but failed. So Satan placed the Pharacees in power under a new name and they seized power using Christianity; but very different Christianity, one that brought back the law which Christ fulfilled and abolished. They brought back altars, rituals, ceremonies, idols, sacrifice (changing wine and host into body and blood), laws, regulations, tidings, indulgences, etc. The Vatican where all the cardinals sit with the pope in the middle looks exactly like the Jewish sonhidron. They basically put a hold on a free spread of Christianity and ruled with an iron fist; salvation was basically impossible under their laws, and there were no Bibles in Europe - even today, people in Eastern Europe and Russia don't read the Bible, except for few Protestants and clergy. Bibles are just decorations for those who happen to have one; we had one but it was hidden, how sad. That's why God took me to the U.S., and this is why God sends down saints who pick up the faith and inspire the masses, usually at the cost of their lives.
@Anonymous Monk care to enlighten me on what your religion is then?
Richard whipping out the fidget spinner is the best thing I’ve seen today!
lmaooo best part of the video
@@bruhmoment3731 you missed so much, sad
@@terryjp3050 u must be fun at parties
So grateful for Richard Rohr! Going to buy Just This right now. Shalom!
Wow! Thanks for such a wholesome explanation brother Richard. So honest, practical and real. When we come to the realization that Christ our Intercessor and "All in all" via His indwelling Spirit is always there for us, this is a great start to letting "…the Peace of Christ rule" and help us to "pray never ceasing"
Beautiful :)
It's Father Rohr. He's a priest.
Wow, such beautiful and inspiring words, thank you father!
Though I'm not Christian, I find wisdom within his view of spirituality. I believe that he gets at the heart of what Christ thought and I think he is what all Christians need today.
@Anonymous Monk So I can't have an opinion of what Christianity is lacking? Does a drug addict need another drug addict's advice for quitting? I don't have to be Christian to have an opinion.
@Anonymous Monk your appeal to authority and your exclusion of outside opinions really shows your ignorance
@Anonymous Monk Wow Socrates, thanks for the advice. This is why Christianity hasn't evolved at all in 2000 years. Christians are so reluctant to inquire with people from other cultures and viewpoints. No wonder why people are denouncing Christianity. The Buddhists have gotten around to scientific inquiry and outside perspective, but to each his own I guess. Please continue to be ignorant my friend, hopefully you'll come around to it one day.
Thank you so much for your input and I agree. The amount of judgement, condemnation and narcissism in the church today really stifles the immense love that God gives us. And this is coming from a Christian. The greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart. And the second is to love your brother and sister. It's so simple really.
@@astro_monist2559 I am loving Ft Rorh's offerings as well! I would like to recommend Yogananda for a good read. Also, "The Sermon on the mount according to Vedanta". GREAT read. some of those Hindu swami's had some beautiful insight!!!!
Staying with the flow....loving words...such important work to be done
Yes :) for ourselves and for our world. I'm glad your in :)
When we look at nature we are looking into the mind of God
Thank you Father Richard
This is one lecture I find useful to hear several times. Thank you.
The Lakota have an approach that results in a contemplative state. The focus is on gratitude. The rhythm is every breath you take.
She’s amazing!!!!
Thank you Richard!
Love his little spinner at the end
They were very popular in uk a few years ago. Dont see them now. Thankyou richard.
Seems to me that love and grief are first cousins. On those rare moments when i can, and do, see God’s tender beauty in something, I’m filled with a kind of heartbreaking love that chokes me up.
I wish i could share w my family. I can't cry around my love ones and i have had 3 tragic deaths during Covid. They just want me to laugh ...i can't but feel joy in knowing God notices my tears❤
I really really appreciate you Richard Rohr.
"You can't go around saying the Our Father all day" Very funny and englightened man.
Right or wrong tho.
I think it's because he follows the life of Saint Francis of Asissi, but I may be biased ;) lol BTW, if you liked this, he has some great books too!
Just keep god in your mind somewhere close by
You definitely can
Actually I think you could say the Our Father all day. Every prayer, in some form or fashion, is the Our Father. Padre Pio prayed many rosaries per day (30 or more). And his advice was simply to "love the Madonna and pray the rosary often and well." He called the rosary his "weapon." And so there is a necessary dualism in the spiritual battle, between the Good and that which is evil; between the Truth and lying falsehoods. The Mother of God, at Fatima, said to "pray the rosary everyday." The rosary, prayed well, may lead to contemplation, but the point is to serve and adore almighty God, now, and hopefully, for all eternity in Heaven.
I have NEVER heard anyone use the term "fast food religion" in my life and that is the perfect way to describe it now. The have it your way approach and keeping it transactional rather than what it truly is. I am not saying this to judge but more of my astonishment that statement alone connected the dots for me and made me realize I've never learned how to properly communicate with anyone until this second.
Love this term...i am a retired dietitian !!
Oops word !!
For the liberation of all sentient beings
WoW the Power of Now is the presence indwelling Spirit of Christ!
Christian contemplation is not only looking, it's also being present (which is sacrificial). Present to creation, present to the Presence - it is then that we realize that contemplation is also an invitation from Another. It is, fundamentally, a response. This is what distinguishes it from a mere self-discipline, a psychological practice. Contemplation is profoundly interpersonal and transcendent, answering the still, small voice of God. "It is not you who have chosen me, it is I who have chosen you."
Wow. Very true. It's a deeply interpersonal relationship! Thanks for sharing. Peace and blessings.
Love your comment..."ours is a response to answering that still, quiet Voice..."... Yes...
Wisdom! Blessings for Fr. Richard :)
Roar is spot on, he explained this so well, right up there with Thomas Merton and Brennan Manning, I am proud to be a Ragamuffin and a recipient of Gods relentless love. Thank You ABBA. 🙏
Wonderful. Stay in the flow.
Richard is a guest on the Rob Bell podcast a few times, and all the episodes are stellar! I suggest checking them out.
God is always Love.
"Long loving look at the Real"
Great video ty learning do much from your teaching. Along with Girard, Rabe, Du tiot.
THANK YOU SIR !
I agree wholeheartedly with you and the contemplative movement. And I love the way you say it like it is. Contemplation is where East meets West.
Fr. thank you so much of your enlightenment of contemplative prayer. This will help me so much in Adoration. I use to think I was the only one who's mind wonders and thinks constantly. I understand more of how gazing at the Eucharist, like you analogy of the leaf, will help me become closer to prayer and to the Lord. I will begin practicing more now. I just thought I was a lost cause and could never concentrate on that single quiet level.
Beautiful words. thank you
This is a fantastic and remarkably well said and clear. I want to get the book!
Thank you. . it's been years. since I read The cloud of Unknowing. & Just re discovered Thomas Merton''s books in my bookcase!
Very Zen.
Repentance and to return to the truth of the word of God is what we really need.
Don't be hard on yourself. Recognize love in your heart and you'll recognize the love of God. True understanding of repentance! Peace blessings(: 🙌
Contemplative prayer makes sense and is really efficient, if you think about it. It's basically praying in spirit! You don't have to subvocalize. It's all about intention and getting the message across to God. After all, Heaven is a spiritual place!
A leaf skittering down the sidewalk during a walk early one morning in Tucson. I experienced a simple joy in that sound and can now insert myself into a contemplative space by accessing that memory
Fantastic, thank you so much. God bless you.
Several years ago I was caught in a traditional circle of Christians and I'm sad to say extremely dualistic and hateful. I scoffed at anything Father Rohr said. Thankfully, I grew up and started studying other religions but have come full circle back to contemplation and due my best to just be in God's presence as much as possible and let everything else go 🙏 🙏🙏💗💗💗
How can we be true to our faith and still be open to possibility? ....without it being heresy?
@@normanchu2482 I don't stick with dogmas anymore. So heresy is a word I took out of my vocabulary.
Johnathan Taylor if you eliminate the word ‘dogma’ then you eliminate ‘ truth?’
@@normanchu2482 I'd rather live in a lie then "truth". If truth is churches splitting thousands of times, infighting against liberals and conservatives in both Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox churches then I don't want truth. Christ's words have been bastardized for centurys. If you know what truth is good luck to you.
Johnathan Taylor the many factions of the church disagree because of man’s interpretation. If one never seeks the heart of Hod’s law for His people then we are destined for liberalism and relativism.....and anything goes. How else can we strive to live in harmony with Jesus if we abandon His rules? ...to love God with all our heart , mind and soul and our neighbor as ourselves ...?
Thank you Fr. Richard!
Richard is such an inspiring man. He inspires. To look at a leaf as a book of creation all on its own. Can we please start feeding him pickles so he lasts forever?
😊😂
"Fast Food Religion" is such a great description of the diluted, dull, guilt-ridden version of Catholicism I was raised in. This could not hold up to the view of my developing intellect and I fell away as a youth into a convenient agnosticism. But I sadly threw away the baby with the bathwater. I so much wish I had come across Thomas Keating or Anthony de Mello back then. I and so many of today's youth were done a disservice by The Church and if The Church is to remain relevant and perhaps undergo a renaissance, contemplative prayer will play an essential part.
I have taken the time to study all the mainline religions and philosophy and in my contemplation of these as well as life itself I have discovered that truth is in everything but it is always mixed with falsehood. I believe that learning to discern the true from the false our eyes open and we begin to see God in everything. God wears a veil which is our false beliefs and biases and once we learn to penetrate these false beliefs and discard them our eyes open to behold God.
True Christianity focuses on the Truth that "God became man so that man could become God." Humility, nonjudgement, moderation, service, fraternity, and nonconfrontation are the original teachings of the Christ. All else is corruption.
True Pray asks for nothing and receives everything !NAMASTE
I am opening myself to contemplation as well. However, decrying revealed truth on dualistic matters is dualistic in itself. I guess what I’m experiencing is that right and wrong exist, and I can still be contemplative.
Yes he thinks dualism is wrong so it naturally defaults to dualism vs non-dualism. It is self refuting.
Thomas Merton was on the true path to God realization. Fr. Richard Rohr is astutely describing the way. An Indian guru, Paramahansa Yogananda came to the US in the 20's and brought with him a method of meditation called Kryia yoga that he said came from Jesus, to Babaji, who told it to Lahiri Mahasaya who told Sri Yutekswar that a young guru would take this to the states as the direct path to God realization, and that guru was Paramahansa Yogananda who was taught by Sri Yutekswarji, Contemplative prayer is another method to have a relationship with God that is within us.
I myself followed the teachings of yogananda or Kriya yoga, as you wish, and I can safely say that their are some major, important differences between this and the Christian, contemplative path. God bless
Toni, I am with you another teaching of the Hindu is to only share the understanding of meditation practice not to change who you are praying to. They want the people in America to hold onto their teachings they are only sharing the kriya yoga concept which means union, one in being with the spirit. No duality.
So awesome and beautiful
The God of Israel is needed.
You idolize prayer in stead of God.
Huh - Contemplative Prayer is to and with GOD. You idolize repeating whatever you are feed without LISTENING and thinking for YOURSELF
Thank you!
Richard and I disagree on a vast number of theological issues, but on this we agree.
Good to hear from him that he is challenged as well. I love his humility combined with the need to speak the truth.
Was that a fidget spinner in your hand? Lol
I feel like 12 years ago when I was rescued from heroin addiction by Jesus changing my heart, I was able to enter into the flow of fellowship with the Lord much easier than now after the Lord has added many things to my life such as businesses, ministry, etc.
I need to learn how to return to that full surrender and not fight for the things I have because they aren't the Real.
When I was faced with losing everything and going to prison years ago because of what I did in my life before Christ I had such peace and joy, because i knew that i knew He was with me. Now that I have been established with Him I fear as though my comfort is becoming a distraction.
Thank You
ever learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth
The church today
Since truth is a person, we sure can know truth as Christ offered to live in us.
The secret is to always stay in the flow then your gift comes naturally.
That was awesome!
more powerful than meditation
For all of those who have misunderstood this it is simply having graduated towards God for all that he is , and maintaining a focus on that. And stop putting this man down and being hateful, that is definitely not a Christian attitude.
Anonymous Monk first of all I never said anything about his being a Christian or not, I was only explaining contemplative prayer and warning not to judge, which you just did regardless of my warning, I also stated that the poor attitudes on display in the comments did not reflect the Christian attitude ,to which you in-turn displayed your own poor attitude. As for understanding The meaning or Christian, I am a preacher of over twenty five years and have been a Christian for 32 years. ( Christian) “ Christ like” this is a follower of Christ and a imitator in body and spirit May God bless you and keep you always.
Anonymous Monk I know that you just want to argue , and I’m not going down that road with you, so take your stupidity some place else.
Anonymous Monk what is your problem, why do you want to argue with someone so bad ? Did the church hurt your feelings, maybe mommy didn’t give you enough attention, or maybe you just hate the world, I didn’t bring anything you addressed me. I never said you are stupid I said the way you are acting is stupid, I don’t want to argue, I was simply explaining something for those who lacked information on the subject. Now we can do this forever or we can have an intellectual conversation on the subject, and maybe we can help each other, but if you just want to argue then I’m not going to be a part of it. So do you want to converse or is this over? Your choice.
St Patrick he was trying to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish so he reached down and picked up a shamrock ☘️ that is the same concept Richard was referring to. One in being with the spirit.
I have Always wanted to reach a contemplative state of mind. I decided a few years ago to practice detachment and discernment and let things go.Duality mind is a subject-object problem that leaves the mind in the sate of confusion that can be removed by the practice of detachment and discernment and then prayer can be used additionally and you will reached contemplation !
Just this, by Fr. Richard Rohr.
I have the contemplative mind. I delight in times like this morning on my walk when I encountered my two deer. I just stood with them, even though they were scared, and just wanted to be one with them. But then I get yanked out of it. A commercial jet shrieking overhead just enrages me. I don't know how to avoid that problem. Noise pollution particularly takes me out of contemplation. And it happens a lot. I just bought the book Just This. thank you.
how is what you described different from anyone else in ordinary life? if that was all he meant, THEN WE ALL HAVE THE CONTEMPLATIVE MIND AND HIS TEACHINGS ARE UNNECESSARY. he said we can't be happy when we carry around dualisms, and he even gave examples of how the church falls into it. you just expressed the dualism of harmonious nature scene vs disruptive flying machine. that's NOT the contemplative mind. he couldn't have been more clear. you're assuming knowledge you don't yet have, and it's preventing you from hearing him. if this offends you, i'm sorry.
I understand. And I knew that already. But doesn't it say in the bible that we are to be stewards of the earth? And what about stealing life from future generations by what we're doing? But then I ask myself if I know the future, and what it will bring. And I don't. So I'm pretty confused. This isn't just some idle problem I'm having. This is a 50 year battle. I watched the trees bulldozed for housing subdivisions when I was a child. And from then on out I've watched in horror. I used to say, be fruitful and multiply, but give it a break already! I find it impossible to not stress as I watch the destruction of this planet. I guess it was made once, and it can be made again. But how does one not be upset when they see their mother being raped?
What you are talking about is "silence" not contemplation. Traditional christian contemplation (especially if you are describing it from the experience of the desert fathers as he does) is an infused gift. You cannot do anything to get it but you can practice meditation and silence with the hope of recieving the gift. For His own reasons God gives the gift to those whom he chooses but not to everyone.
el-sig yes you are so correct , God decides whether you receive Infused Contemplation , which is supernatural , nothing can describe this grace . Infused Contemplation is supernatural , although you can't make it happen , you can pave the way so to speak by living in a State of Grace , receiving the Sacraments , prayer , solitude , allowing God's will to be done whether or Not you like it & finally giving your heart to God. I can assure you , sinners & those who you would never suspect receive this grace & am somewhat certain the trails & sufferings in their lives are somewhat difficult. When God takes the Infused Contemplation away
..often the pain is greater than if the gift was never given in the first place. God knows what he's doing. Very difficult to find a Spiritual Director to which one feels aligned with to be directed by , it's Not an easy journey by No means although the graces definitely strengthen you & one sits in awe of God through it ALL ! plus there are physical symtoms with the Infused Contemplation.
"Some people prefer solitude. They say their peace of mind depends on this. Others say they would be better off in church.
If you do well, you do well wherever you are. If you fail, you fail wherever you are. Your surroundings don't matter. God is with you everywhere -- in the market place as well as in seclusion or in the church.
If you look for nothing but God, nothing or no one can disturb you. God is not distracted by a multitude of things."
- Meister Eckhart
Love me some R.Rohr❤
The real loving work that God accomplished on the cross. He came to die for sinners. Without the real Jesus we are left with the self. The me, myself and I guy and the reality of trying to lay our good works before God and attempt to cover over what Jesus did on the cross. Saved by grace through faith in the real Lord Jesus Christ only. Not man centered but Christ centered. The way to the Father is Christ and the Holy Spirit is given by Jesus. The Three are One. Find Him. Confess sin, repent and surrender to Him. To remain contemplative (meditate) on the Word of God. The old King James Bible and not the new conversions. God never changes.
This is the Truth. There is a place in your mind called Heaven which cannot be described by words but by memories of a state of being where you are so still that Faith will be your meeting with the reality that you exist now.
The best thing that ever happened to me as a Christian was being a Buddhist and learning about meditation... It is what Christians were always missing.
Buddhisim is an open door be careful