Practicing the Presence of Compassion: Contemplative Christian Traditions

Christian contemplative-practice traditions offer a number of ways to address our many (often difficult) “inner movements” that include thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, imaginings, desires, fantasies and mental chatter. Some practices may highlight processes of “clearing.” Others ask that we deeply explore whatever emerges. Still others lead us to soak without word or thought in what arises, expand what is experienced, or imagine ourselves into what presents itself. Whatever the tradition or approach, all the practices share a common element: an invitation to live into loving compassion, to become more and more fully a vibrant image, a living vessel, of that compassion. In this session we will engage in one or more practices rooted in Christian contemplative processes drawn from traditions such as Hesychasm, Ignatian, Franciscan, Benedictine, Carmelite and the “Cloud of Unknowing.” Each tradition, in its own way, offers ways to practice the presence of compassion.