CHRISTIAN MEDITATION PRACTICES AND TEACHINGS FOR ENTERING THE MIND OF CHRIST (CD)

Christian Meditation:

Practices and Teachings for Entering the Mind of Christ

In 1967, Thomas Merton traveled to Thailand, seeking to further the Buddhist-Christian dialogue that was his passion. It was to be his last journey.

This beloved Trappist monk and explorer of the inner life died unexpectedly that trip, but not before writing a final letter to his brothers at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky.

In it Merton wrote that he now realized that everything he had been searching for could be found at his own hermitage, within the Christian tradition.

It is in this spirit, with respect for all faiths, that James Finley offers Christian Meditation, an audio retreat on the fundamental practices at the heart of Christianitys own unique meditation tradition.

Beyond the Closed Horizon of the Ego

Since the time of the Desert Fathers in the third century, Finley begins, Christian mystics have practiced meditation as a way of opening to the direct presence of God in daily life.

Legendary seekers such as Saint John of the Cross, Saint Teresa of Avila, and Meister Eckhart explored how meditation can lead us beyond the closed horizon of the ego, to an interior and holy refuge that is always available to us.

On Christian Meditation, James Finley offers a gentle introduction to this all-transforming way of life, and the ever-deepening realization of oneness with Christ it leads us to.

Enter the Cloud of Unknowing

Beginning with an overview of the Christian contemplative tradition and its historical roots, and complete with step-by-step instructions in how to progress in your own practice, Finley offers a personal retreat experience for you to practice along with, at your own pace. In 12 complete sessions over 7 hours of basic instruction with the beginner in mind James Finley guides you along this path of awakening, in order to glimpse the infinite union that holds the secret of who we really are.

This state of awakened conscious-ness, referred to by an anonymous Christian mystic as the cloud of unknowing, is held in common by the worlds great wisdom traditions, both Eastern and Western.

Divine Intimacy Meditation has the power to reveal to us the surprising nearness of God, Finley teaches.

As you expand your meditation practice, in concert with your faith, you will find that these divine moments come more often, until you are finally awakened to your own deepest self, one with Christ, with James Finleys Christian Meditation.

Christian meditation: its history, traditions, and root practices
Where lifes needless complexity comes from
Faith in Christ: the foundation of Christian meditation
Poverty of speech and the sacred silence of meditation
The arenas of daily life, and how meditation can enrich them
How to move beyond the tyranny of the past and change it to the truth of the present moment
Vulnerability: your key to attaining grace
The present moment and the eternal now beyond time
Insights from the Christian symbols in William Faulkners short story The Bear
Awakening, suffering, and The Pearl of Great Price
The three principles for a contemplative life, and how to practice them
A way of seeing that sets us free from our egos
Guidelines for correct posture, breathing, and getting started
Over seven hours of teachings, practices, and meditations in the Christian tradition

6 CDs in binder, 7.5 hrs $69.95

ISBN 1-59179-047-6 UPC 600835-067928