Contemplative Outreach News

Volume 11, Number 1 · Summer 1997

Contents

Spiritual Direction
Part II
Thomas Keating, O.C.S.O.

The old-fashioned guidance systems to keep air planes on course during flight might help us to understand the art of listening to the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit. When the pilot is
on course, he will not hear anything on his headphones. If he veers a little to the right, he will get a beep. If he goes too far the other way, he will pick up a different signal. By correcting his course, his headphones return to silence. In the moment by moment process of daily life, similar indications of being on or off course are available. Any sign that you are upset is an invitation to ask yourself why you are upset and not to project the blame on another person or the situation. Even if they are to blame, it won't do you any good until you solve the real problem which resides in you. The fundamental work of a spiritual director of contemplatives is to encourage and to guide them to submit to the divine therapy which allows the unconscious emotional material of early life that led to the drive for security, esteem and affection, and power symbols in the culture to be evacuated. Each of us has a significant dose of the human condition. In Catholic theology we call it the consequences of original sin. We come into the world not knowing what true happiness is but needing it; not knowing what true affection is but needing it; not knowing what true freedom is, but needing it. We bring with us into adult life the way we as children coped with impossible situations, either through repression of feeling or by compensatory programs for happiness that can not possibly work. The stronger those needs, the more the frustration when they are not fulfilled.

Into this universal human situation Jesus comes saying, "Repent" which means "change the direction in which you are looking for happiness." Human happiness is found in the growth of unconditional love. The work of spiritual direction is to help us to become aware of the obstacles to divine love and the free circulation of that love within us. This requires the cultivation of a non-possessive attitude toward ourselves and other people. Gradually we (earn that God is the true security, God truly loves us and with this love, we can make it even if no one else seems to care.

Spiritual direction should primarily be directed to ordinary life. True freedom is God's gift to us, enabling us to serve. Jesus said to his disciples, "You have to learn how to serve people." The greatest in the kingdom are the persons who are truly serving-not necessarily some great cause, but just the ordinary needs of family and the people with whom they live and work. Service is something anyone can do. We can smile at somebody we do not like. We can send a note of condolence when we would rather not be bothered. We can provide meals without grumbling. We can put up with the children running under our feet, putting chocolate fingerprints on newly plastered walls. This ordinary kind of service and love is what Jesus seems to mean by learning to love as he loved us. He loves us in the details of our lives, puts up with our misguided ways and above all, shares with us the suffering that comes our way as a result.

Every now and then because of damaged or unprocessed emotions contained in the unconscious, we may enter a place of long term dryness in our prayer or avalanches of thoughts and feelings that are disturbing. Sometimes attitudes or desires arise that we did not even know existed in us, or sometimes we recycle a bad relationship that we thought we had resolved once and for all. This is a place where we need to be reassured and encouraged. It is not so much being told what to do as being encouraged to do what we know God and our conscience are asking us to do. A spiritual director can contribute to that conviction. On the other hand, when you are in one of the dark nights and your spiritual director or soul friend says you are doing fine-that the unloading of the unconscious is a great grace, and that you will soon come to the bottom of the pile of the emotional junk you will not believe him or her. If you do, you may say, "Oh thank you, I am so relieved." But as soon as you go out the door, the same heavy dark cloud descends and you understood me anyway. What does he/she know?" And so, one of the things you have to "non-possess" as the journey continues is dependency on a spiritual director. Sometimes God fixes it so there isn't anybody around who has the remotest idea of what you are going through. Hopefully that could be minimized by developing referrals but as I said, even when you have the most expert person to refer to, you may not believe him or her either.

There is only a limited amount of help that spiritual direction can bring us. In the beginning, it can start us on the path by providing good readings, a rule of life and what is most important, a regular practice of prayer It is prayer that gives us access to our center. As we approach that center where the divine Spirit dwells, the Spirit dismantles our emotional programs for happiness and relativizes them so that we begin to act not from a self-centered point of reference--from a perspective of fear or self protection--but from a center of pure love.

As we progress we need advice when we come into some particular dilemma or double bind. In fact, as is the case with some serious medical problems, you may need a second or a third opinion. In a crisis of choice when you are perplexed and do not know which way to go, it might be good to consult several persons. God can communicate at this point through anything. The Spirit uses something concrete, like a word or a book, to enlighten the person reading it or hearing it. A good director can sometimes tell by your doubts, by your feelings, by a certain grace that you have had, how God is trying to lead you, and can point that out to you. But he or she cannot tell you what to do on all occasions. The real success of the spiritual director is to become gradually less of a director and more of a spiritual friend.

What do you do in a hopeless dilemma when you have asked all the spiritual directors you can find in the classified ads and you cannot get any answer? You offer a prayer surrendering to God's will and do the best you can. If you are wrong, it does not make any difference because you did the best you could as far as God is concerned. The very mistake you might make may be a useful or even necessary means to move you to a deeper self-knowledge that could not have happened unless you were totally frustrated in finding a clear answer.

The contemplative journey that we have enlisted in through a commitment to Centering Prayer is an adventure in faith and a trip into the unknown. If we think we know what is going to happen or if we expect to arrive at certain goals, we are on the wrong road. The chief comfort that our security system, which is so deeply biologically rooted, does not want to give up is certitude. That is the ultimate security, especially certitude that we are advancing on the spiritual journey. The moment that you surrender yourself to God, you are surrendering to an unknown future and destiny. You are letting yourself become the person whom God always intended you to be. Thus, you learn through the Spirit's guidance and through difficult or impossible situations, to relinquish your hold on every level of your being, allowing God to take total possession of it so that you can manifest the pure love of God in daily life without even thinking of it. The noise and frenetic character of modern life, the excessive chatter, so much information, so much entertainment all of this has to quiet down inside of us. The greatest teacher is silence. To come out of interior silence and to practice its radiance, its love, its concern for others, its submission to God's will, its trust in God even in tragic situations is the fruit of living from your inmost center, from the contemplative space within. The signs of coming from this space are a peace that is rarely upset by events, other people and our reactions to them, and a calm that is a stabilizing force in whatever environment you may be in. God gives us everything we need to be happy in the present moment, no matter what the evidence to the contrary may be. A good spiritual director helps us to sustain that trust.

We are moving!

The Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. National Office has been located in the backyard, one car garage of our Executive Director for the past 9 years, the space measures 277 sq. ft. When we first started 9 years ago one and/or two people worked in the space and it seemed quite adequate. Over the years we have accomplished an enormous amount of work in this tiny space. The last two years we have added one full time employee and one part time employee to our staff. Now, Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler, Executive Director, Fr. Carl Arico, Vice President, Claire Eng, book and tape department manager, Joanne Williams, data base manager, Gerry Gallagher, accounting consultant, all work in the office together. Imagine 277 sq. feet filled with five people and our basic office equipment. It was a tight squeeze!

We realized that the time has come for us to move to larger quarters. We found an office in the Butler Center, a renovated mill in the "downtown" area of Butler, 1150 sq. ft for $750. per month including all utilities. We are in the process of moving and establishing our office with room for everyone.

Dadirri
An Australian Experience

Dadirri is an ancient Australian Aboriginal word that means a deep inner listening, a quiet stillness and awareness. The original inhabitants of this vast continent have lived in harmony with its profound geographical and climatic variations for probably 60,000 years. Their own sense of the deeply contemplative life comes forth from a great silence that is aware of the deep inner spring within and which longs for us to fall into it. The word Dadirri, which embraces their journey through the Great South Land of The Holy Spirit, is like a crystal clear water hole and is a place that calls us to be replenished, revitalized and related to the land and other The word Dadirri indicates that we wait in wonder.

In Perth, Western Australia, there is a spiritual centre called Dadirri. It is here that Fr. Doug Conlan chose to present his first Centering Prayer workshops since returning home, having now completed his Masters degree at Fordham University in New York. There is a tradition of spiritual awareness among Western Australians and with three hundred people having experienced Centering Prayer workshops, there are encouraging signs that the interest in our Christian contemplative heritage will continue to grow. Contemplative Outreach offers a powerful way of doing this.

Situated as it is on the edge of the Indian Ocean and closer to Asia than to Sydney, there is among Western Australians an openess to the spiritual influences of Asia. Christians in Australia generally are challenged to recover the ancient roots of their own heritage and Fr. Thomas Keating's contribution to the recovery will be significant.

Fr. Doug feels that this is an important stage in the history of Australia, where Christians are slowly recovering their ancient contemplative heritage and where the Aboriginal people, in honoring their own rich contemplative tradition of "Dadirri", may be able to make a significant contribution to this recovery. Such a mutual gentling of hearts may be a rich source for building national reconciliation between people of all races and religion.

Formation Workshop

The Formation Workshop, also known as Presenter's Training and formally known as Formation for Contemplative Outreach Service, is a unique workshop within our Contemplative Outreach Network. Although its original purpose in 1989 was to teach people how to present Centering Prayer, it was very soon apparent that the formational process experienced by the participants was at least as important as the presentation of the essentials of the Introductory Workshop. As we continued to refine the essentials and simplify the workshop, it still seemed that the greatest impact it had was on the depth of self knowledge and consequent positive change that it sparked in the people who attended.

At this point in time, the need for good presenters of the method of Centering Prayer is not as critical as it once was but the need for people on the contemplative journey to deepen their understanding and experience is very important I know that the process begun in me at that first workshop has had deep effects and was a landmark in my personal jour ney. I have coordinated a number of these workshops over the years and I am convinced that everyone in the Contemplative Outreach community could benefit from the workshop whether or not they ever feel called to present Centering Prayer in a formal setting.

Bonnie Shimizu
Snowmass, Colorado

This Moment

i left my strength in the bowl.
the bowl contains all emotion. 
my heart inside the bowl
is made of cycles,
somewhere, there is a stopping. 
a resting place for all who pray. 
my prayer now is quiet,
as quiet as the sound of my thoughts 
while walking in woods,
while searching for stars, 
while dreaming of sky 
and listening in the night.

i left my strength for you who suffer. 
your tragedy empties all silence.
the cry is so great, 
no one can hear it.
it is a speechless sorrow.
so i have returned where i began, 
to the place of my sorrow.
but the timing now is different. 
it is a time of deep looking,
a putting aside of yesterday 
and tomorrow.

elena estrella
Warwick, New York

a glimpse of Reality...
from the Philippines

"You should not be working for perishable food but for food that remains unto life eternal, food which the Son of man will give you..." (Jn.6:27)

My husband had just embarked on a new project and he had expressed his desire for me to
join him in the business. I used to do a lot of this before, but after I began my spiritual journey, I just left everything to him and didn't want anymore to be bothered with his many business ventures. All I want now is to do charitable works by giving of my treasure, time and talent to the needy. But after he asked me, I was in a dilemma because I somehow felt obligated as his wife to also be his business partner. Today, the Lord has told me which path to follow--"to work for food that remains unto life eternal."

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to decide which road to take.

Existential Angst and
Centering Prayer

Many of my friends felt anguish and/or anxiety with existential import. I, also, seemed to experience such pangs of angst that nothing short of medication could control the anxiety and anguish I sensed as I was going through life. The anxiety tore me up in a gut-wrenching way. Often accompanying the angst was nausea.

Then a religious person came into my life who suggested the I try to get closer to God by practicing Centering Prayer. After attending many workshops and hearing Jean Vanier guest lecture at the University of San Diego, I finally tried Centering Prayer and found that the existential angst diminished until it dissipated completely.

Meditation along with Centering Prayer filled the void. God as existence became less ethereal and the existential angst became a oneness with God through prayer.

Bea Chigos
San Diego, California

Regional Updates

Indiana
Sr. Carol Falkner

The Beech Grove Benedictines give the rights for Centering Prayer participants to use the song "Hear MY Words" written by Sr. Mary Sue Frieberger, OSB. Please keep the words, music and copyright together- copy with the copyright. For a tape of the song write Our Lady of Grace Monastery, I 402 Southern Ave., Beech Grove Indiana 46107. The words are:

REFRAIN: Read my words, Lectio. 
Think, reflect, Meditatio. 
Respond in prayer, Oratio.
And rest in God, Contemplatio.

Here is food for your mind. 
Come with open heart,
and learn from another who's studied my ways,
Be still and listen to me.

Wisdom is here, knowledge too, 
thoughts to challenge your mind.
Now reclaim excitement and image new worlds; 
seek God in every word.

Quiet the soul; hear the story. 
Strive to learn God's great glory.
Become the word that God meant you to be 
and only you can be!

Hawaii 
Sr. Katherine Theiler

Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler visited Hawaii during the summer of 1996 to give Formation Training. The participants are now presenting Introductory Centering Prayer Workshops, facilitating prayer groups and working in other ways for Contemplative Outreach, Hawaii. Gail also presented an Open Mind, Open Heart Workshop. There are eleven Centering Prayer support groups on Oahu, mostly in Honolulu. Another group has formed in Kona, on the island of Hawaii. People are bringing Centering Prayer to women in prison, to men in the Salvation Army Treatment Center for those recovering from alcohol and drug abuse. We also minister to patients at the hospital for emotionally disabled persons.

New York
Cathy McCarthy

All is well at St. Andrew's. We reconnected with many of you on the Day of Enrichment on April 26 with Fr. Thomas and Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler. We hope this will be an annual event We are receiving registrations for the 1997-98 Nine Month Course: The Practice of Contemplative Living. Our new brochure for 1997-98 will be out in early summer. Check the Calendar of Events in this newsletter for summer Post-Intensive retreats.