Contemplative Contemplative PrayerPrayer

What Is It? What Is It?

AndAnd

How Is It Done?How Is It Done?

From Inward Journey © 1991

To help the mind become quiet, To help the mind become quiet,

we can follow our breathing. we can follow our breathing.

Or we can repeat silently Or we can repeat silently

a chosen prayer phrase or a word.a chosen prayer phrase or a word. Inward Journey © 1991 p. 29

Marilyn Norquist Gustin

WHEN THE SOUL LISTENS

By Jan Johnson

NAVPRESS © 1999

AN ANCIENT PRACTICEAN ANCIENT PRACTICE

Contemplative prayer, in its simplest Contemplative prayer, in its simplest form, is prayer in which you still your form, is prayer in which you still your thoughts … this puts you in a better thoughts … this puts you in a better state to be aware of God’s presence, state to be aware of God’s presence, and it makes you better able to hear and it makes you better able to hear God’s voice correcting, guiding, and God’s voice correcting, guiding, and

directing you.directing you.When the Soul ListensWhen the Soul Listens

By Jan Johnson NAVPRESS © 1999By Jan Johnson NAVPRESS © 1999

In the beginning, it is usual to feel In the beginning, it is usual to feel nothing but a nothing but a cloud of unknowing.cloud of unknowing.

… … this unknowing will be unnervingthis unknowing will be unnerving..When the Soul ListensWhen the Soul Listens

By Jan Johnson NAVPRESS © 1999By Jan Johnson NAVPRESS © 1999

THE DESERT FATHERSTHE DESERT FATHERS

The meditation practices and rules for living The meditation practices and rules for living of these earliest Christian monks bear of these earliest Christian monks bear

strong similarity to those of their Hindu and strong similarity to those of their Hindu and Buddhist renunciate brethren several Buddhist renunciate brethren several

kingdoms to the East. While Jesus and his kingdoms to the East. While Jesus and his teachings were their inspiration, the teachings were their inspiration, the

meditative techniques they adopted for meditative techniques they adopted for finding their God suggest either a borrowing finding their God suggest either a borrowing from the East or a spontaneous rediscovery. from the East or a spontaneous rediscovery. The ways of the Desert Fathers influenced The ways of the Desert Fathers influenced

Christian monasticism to this day.Christian monasticism to this day.Daniel GolemanDaniel Goleman

The Meditative Mind © 1988The Meditative Mind © 1988

How Popular Is How Popular Is Contemplative Prayer?Contemplative Prayer?

……silence, appropriate body posture silence, appropriate body posture and, above all, emptying the mind and, above all, emptying the mind through repetition of prayer – have through repetition of prayer – have been the practices of mystics in all been the practices of mystics in all the great world religions. And they the great world religions. And they form the basis on which most form the basis on which most modern spiritual directors guide .modern spiritual directors guide .

Newsweek January 6, 1992Newsweek January 6, 1992

Newsweek January 6, 1992

Throughout human history, individuals Throughout human history, individuals have been called to accompany have been called to accompany

others seeking the Mystery we name others seeking the Mystery we name God. In this time, Spiritual Directors God. In this time, Spiritual Directors International responds to this call by International responds to this call by tending the holy around the world tending the holy around the world

and across traditions.and across traditions.Mission Statement Mission Statement

Spiritual Directors InternationalSpiritual Directors International

SDI Courses and ClassesSDI Courses and Classes

Spiritual Practice in Various Faith TraditionsSpiritual Practice in Various Faith Traditions

Building a Bridge to BuddhismBuilding a Bridge to Buddhism Ignatian Exercises and Ecology/Cosmology:Ignatian Exercises and Ecology/Cosmology:

Spiritual ExercisesSpiritual Exercises The Enneagram and KabbalahThe Enneagram and Kabbalah The Sacred Labyrinth: A New Spiritual ParadigmThe Sacred Labyrinth: A New Spiritual Paradigm Earth Prayer: Celebrating the Interconnection of Earth Prayer: Celebrating the Interconnection of

all Living Beingsall Living Beings Trans-Faith Spirituality Trans-Faith Spirituality

Spiritual Directors International Spiritual Directors International Statistics Statistics

Australia 87 Australia 87 Canada 205Canada 205England 50England 50Ireland 20Ireland 20New Zealand 27New Zealand 27South Africa 10South Africa 10Philippines 17Philippines 17United Stated 4273United Stated 4273

    Apostolic Catholic 2Apostolic Catholic 2 Baptist Baptist

(American/Southern) (American/Southern) 4848

Brethren 6 Brethren 6 Buddhist 2 Buddhist 2 Christian Alliance 2 Christian Alliance 2 Church of Church of

England/Anglican 56England/Anglican 56 Congregational 4Congregational 4 Disciples Christ 26Disciples Christ 26 Ecumenical 5 Ecumenical 5 Episcopalian 550 Episcopalian 550 Evangelical 2 Evangelical 2 Evangelical Covenant 5 Evangelical Covenant 5 Independent Catholic 8 Independent Catholic 8 Interdenominational 6 Interdenominational 6 

Interfaith 21 Interfaith 21 Jewish 21Jewish 21 Lutheran (ELCA) 120  Lutheran (ELCA) 120  Mennonite 48Mennonite 48Nazarene 2 Nazarene 2 New Thought 2 New Thought 2 Non-denominational 24 Non-denominational 24 Presbyterian 201 Presbyterian 201 Protestant 4 Protestant 4 Quaker 33 Quaker 33 Reform Church in Reform Church in America/Reformed 10 America/Reformed 10 Roman Catholic 2156 Roman Catholic 2156 Unitarian/Universal 24 Unitarian/Universal 24 United Church of Christ 93  United Church of Christ 93  United Methodist 149  United Methodist 149  

Affiliation/DenominationAffiliation/Denomination

See http://www.sdiworld.org/html/statistics.html

Richard J. Foster

Founder of Renovare’

We should all, without shame, We should all, without shame,

enroll in the school of enroll in the school of

contemplative prayer.contemplative prayer. Richard FosterRichard Foster

Celebration of DisciplineCelebration of Discipline

Ruth Haley BartonRuth Haley Barton

Ruth Haley BartonRuth Haley BartonQuotes taken from Discipleship Journal Vol. 113 1999Quotes taken from Discipleship Journal Vol. 113 1999Former associate director of spiritual formationFormer associate director of spiritual formationWillow Creek Community ChurchWillow Creek Community Church

A few years ago, I began to recognize A few years ago, I began to recognize an inner chaos in my soul … I sought an inner chaos in my soul … I sought out a spiritual director, someone well out a spiritual director, someone well versed in the ways of the soul … [the versed in the ways of the soul … [the

spiritual director] said to me, …spiritual director] said to me, …

“ “What you need is stillness and What you need is stillness and silence …”silence …”

Our reliance on words –Our reliance on words –

even in our praying – even in our praying –

is often just another way we strive to is often just another way we strive to maintain control … We open ourselves maintain control … We open ourselves

to what God wants to give. Prayer to what God wants to give. Prayer without words is not so much about without words is not so much about expressing our dependence on God, expressing our dependence on God,

but rather experiencing it.but rather experiencing it.

Ask for a simple prayer to express Ask for a simple prayer to express your willingness to meet God in your willingness to meet God in

the silencethe silence … a simple statement … a simple statement … such as “Here I am.” …Help … such as “Here I am.” …Help yourself return to your original yourself return to your original intent by repeating the prayer intent by repeating the prayer

that you have chosen.that you have chosen.Ruth Haley BartonRuth Haley Barton

Quotes taken from Discipleship Journal Vol. 113 1999Quotes taken from Discipleship Journal Vol. 113 1999

Former associate director of spiritual formationFormer associate director of spiritual formation

Willow Creek Community ChurchWillow Creek Community Church

The spiritual climate is ripe. Jesus seekers across The spiritual climate is ripe. Jesus seekers across the world are being prepared to abandon the old the world are being prepared to abandon the old way of the written code for the new way of the way of the written code for the new way of the

Spirit.Spirit.

In the past year he [David Benner] and I have In the past year he [David Benner] and I have become friends. Our hearts are meeting as we become friends. Our hearts are meeting as we

realize we are walking a similar journey. realize we are walking a similar journey.

Readers of this book … will be better equipped to Readers of this book … will be better equipped to join the revolution of leaving the old way behind.join the revolution of leaving the old way behind.

Larry CrabbLarry Crabb

The foreword to David Benner’s book, Sacred CompanionsThe foreword to David Benner’s book, Sacred Companions

Brennan Manning

““Grabbing aholt” of God is the Grabbing aholt” of God is the goal of contemplative prayer. goal of contemplative prayer. That is why the first step in faith That is why the first step in faith is to stop thinking about God at is to stop thinking about God at the time of prayer.the time of prayer.

Choose a single, sacred word or phrase Choose a single, sacred word or phrase … Without moving your lips, repeat … Without moving your lips, repeat

the sacred word inwardly, slowly and the sacred word inwardly, slowly and often. often.

Brennan ManningBrennan Manning

The Signature of JesusThe Signature of Jesus

WHAT IS THE FRUIT OF WHAT IS THE FRUIT OF CONTEMPLATIVE CONTEMPLATIVE

PRAYER?PRAYER?

The Two Pillars of The Two Pillars of Contemplative SpiritualityContemplative Spirituality

God as the Ground of all that is and … God as the Ground of all that is and …

becoming conscious of what is already becoming conscious of what is already there …there …

William ShannonWilliam ShannonSilence on FireSilence on Fire

WHAT IS PANENTHEISMWHAT IS PANENTHEISM

God is God is inin all things. all things.

The universe and all life are connected The universe and all life are connected in a sum. This sum is the total reality in a sum. This sum is the total reality of God. Thus, man, animals, plants of God. Thus, man, animals, plants and all physical matter are seen as and all physical matter are seen as

equal. equal.

The assumption – all is one; The assumption – all is one;

therefore all is deity. therefore all is deity.

Contemplative prayer is Contemplative prayer is nothing other than coming nothing other than coming

into consciousness of what is into consciousness of what is

already there.already there.Brennan ManningBrennan Manning

Signature of JesusSignature of Jesus ©1996©1996

For you [Lucifer] have said For you [Lucifer] have said

in your heart: …in your heart: …

I will ascend above the I will ascend above the

heights of the clouds, heights of the clouds,

I will be like the Most High.I will be like the Most High.

Isaiah 14Isaiah 14

Satan is not simply trying to draw Satan is not simply trying to draw people to the dark side of a good people to the dark side of a good versus evil conflict. Actually, he is versus evil conflict. Actually, he is

trying to eradicate the gap between trying to eradicate the gap between himself and God, between good and himself and God, between good and

evil, altogether.evil, altogether.

Ray YungenRay Yungen

A Time of Departing © 2002A Time of Departing © 2002

Contemplative Prayer is an Contemplative Prayer is an

esoteric traditionesoteric tradition..

For I have not shunned to declare For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.to you the whole counsel of God.

Acts 20: 27Acts 20: 27

And when you pray, do not use And when you pray, do not use vainvain repetitionsrepetitions as the heathen as the heathen do. For they think that they will do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.be heard for their many words.

Matthew 6:7Matthew 6:7

Prayer Prayer is a personal relationship with is a personal relationship with

God. God.

For we are His For we are His workmanshipworkmanship, ,

created in Christ Jesus for good works, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10Ephesians 2:10

For you did not receive a spirit For you did not receive a spirit

that makes you a slave again to that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit fear, but you received the Spirit of of sonshipsonship. And by him we cry, . And by him we cry,

"Abba, Father." "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15Romans 8:15

This material is copyrighted. You This material is copyrighted. You may use this in presentations, as may use this in presentations, as hand-outs or in any form but we ask hand-outs or in any form but we ask that you cite this properly as the that you cite this properly as the research of Ray Yungen. Thank you research of Ray Yungen. Thank you and God bless. and God bless.