Richard Rohr on Contemplative Prayer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geXe_zXE3PQ)

This week I am focusing on mindfulness aka contemplation or meditation. Today, I focus on Richard Rohr‘s 90-minute video offering a Christian perspective of contemplation. Here are the top 10 key highlights for me:

1. the quicker we let go of ego and move beyond a positive self-image, the quicker we realize that we are spiritual beings learning how to be fully human
2. religion is both the best and worst thing in the world if we never transform beyond our ego
3. Christianity is simply learning how to lose graciously; a Christian is someone who has met one
4. We shouldn’t say prayers; rather we should be one
5. it’s right relationship over correct performance
6. move beyond limousine liberal imaging
7. how you do anything (in the present moment) is how you do everything
8. the first half of any contemplative sit is seeing our own “garbage” and hopefully the second half is letting it go to reconnect with present moment awareness
9. to observe is far more effective than attacking
10. the most radical thing we can do is contemplation

Finally, I especially appreciated Rohr’s summation that we should not confuse meeting attendance or group membership with transformation. The bigger picture of contemplation is not to get hung up on posture, process or programs. Contemplation is about reconnecting with our higher power and recognizing our relationship with everyone and everything.

Today’s senryu: A Rose Is a Rose …

no navel-gazing

let your ego go and then

reconnect with love

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