TIP examines centering prayer, fighting structural evil, the Iona Community
Centering prayer, the Iona Community in Scotland, and structural evil were among the topics discussed during the first Turtle Island regional conference in northern Michigan.
TIP Board Chairman and Co-Fouder Rev. Dr. George Cairns explains why centering prayer helps fight structural evil and other problems in life.
TIP volunteer media advisor Greg Peterson has the story:
Time: 9:25
**Notice we have additional information/websites and information on all these topics in this script.
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Summary of Turtle Island Project websites & TV (video) sites:
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Turtle Island Project websites/Blogs:
TIP website:
http://www.turtleislandproject.org
TIP Sacred Places website
Upload your own Sacred Place:
http://www.NorthAmericaSacredPlaces.org
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Other sites:
http://groups.msn.com/WhisperingTurtle
http://turtleislandproject.wordpress.com/
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Turtle Island TV - Video sites:
(blipTV)
http://turtleislandtv.blip.tv/
(youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/MunisingWhiteHorse
(myspace)
http://www.myspace.com/TurtleIslandProject
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Centering Prayer was one of the topics of the first Turtle Island Project Regional Conference.
You heard Rev. Cairns say he learned centering prayer from Father Thomas Keating , a trappist monk.
Keating defines centering prayer as "a very simple method in which one opens one's self to God Centering prayer is a form of meditation, where a person uses a point of focus such as concentration on the breath or repetition of a mantra, centering prayer relies more on intention than attention.
Releasing any distractions caused by thoughts or emotions, the practitioner simply "waits for God." Beyond words, emotions, and thoughts, centering prayer is, says Keating, like "two friends sitting in silence, just being in each other's presence."
At one point, a member of the audience question Dr. Cairns - asking how he accomplishes his goals simply by centering prayer or meditation - instead of taking action.
Dr. Cairns countered - he does both - and that centering prayer makes his concrete actions more effective.
Supers (words on screen that state what speaker is saying):
Rev. Dr. George Cairns:
"People say - 'Well how about structural evil?' - well believe me - I believe in structural evil - and I engage it - throughout my life."
"You can't get from where we are - to where we are called to be with our heads. We just can't to that."
Audience member:
"There is no way you can get there without your head."
Cairns:
"No I did not say that."
"I said that we can't get there - again another kind of cultural constraint - with our heads. We need our heads and something more."
"We need our heads and we need something more. And that something more I think is a deep empathic relationship with one another and with all creation."
"And that something more I think is a deep empathic relationship with one another and with all creation."
"Whenever I talk about being in silence - and this has happened to me dozens of times - is that someone says - "Yeah but - Well how about doing some of the suffering with us." - Well, I am saying do both."
"But I don't think we can be as effective, or as wise, or as empathic about that kind of work. - Until - or I should say while - we are engaging ourselves - with ourselves and with others, and any other kind of way."
"Rational thinking. - Rational thinking is wonderful but it is not - the 'ne plus ultra' ."
"I think the Iona Community is a good example of a group who are unified by a covenant who worship together..."
"... and who engage in very effective political action to change structural evil in the places that it can."
"So it's not like this is not happening, it's just that they are not happening in places where we can see them - except maybe on the web."
"Western civilization as it has developed - has developed a huge shell structurally - so that they work the systems - the structures - to perpetuate themselves."
"So as ths process has been going on for at least 10,000 years - in this 10,000 years we've become dehumanized."
"We've done great things - but we have lost a precious dimension."
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TIP Drector/Co-Founder Rev. Dr. Lynn Hubbard:
"Because we have been so oppressed by so many of these structures. You know we have created structures - this is so evil."
"That are not moral entities. If you can not say 'I'm sorry' - If you can not admit a mistake. Then you are not a moral entity."
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Iona Community website:
http://www.iona.org.uk/
Isle of Iona:
http://www.isle-of-iona.com/
Iona Community - U.S. Outreach:
http://www.iona-nwf.org/
Iona on Answers.com
http://www.answers.com/topic/iona-community
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Centering Prayer websites & Rev. Thomas Keating, Trappist monk
Arkansas Catholic:
http://www.arkansascatholic.org/article.php?id=616
University of Flordia - Spirituality and Health:
http://www.spiritualityandhealth.ufl.edu/events/details_past_event.asp?id=1007
Hartley Foundation:
http://hartleyfoundation.org/contemplative-life
The Centering:
http://www.thecentering.org/
http://www.thecentering.org/centering_method.html
http://www.thecentering.org/therapy.html
Keating to talk in San Francisco on Nov. 3 and 4, 2007
http://www.thecentering.org/Keating%202007.pdf
Belief Net.com reprint of article on Keating: "Resting in God."
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/2/story_217_1.html
Another reprint:
http://www.livingrosaries.org/interview.htm
Centering Prayer:
http://www.centeringprayer.com/cntrgpryr.htm
http://www.centeringprayer.com/frntpage.htm
Lighthouse Trails Research: Who is Thomas Keating?
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/keating.htm
What is Enlightenment (WIE):
http://www.wie.org/directory/person.asp?id=160
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Contemplative PrayerA mystical prayer practice that leads one into the "silence" but in actuality leads away from God.
Definition of Contemplative Prayer: As it is expressed in a modern day movement is mystically (i.e. based on a technique or method) in which one empties the mind of thought through repetition, usually of a word or phrase or focus on the breath. In this case the silence would be an absence of thought, all thought.
Keating defines centering prayer as "a very simple method in which one opens one's self to God and consents to his presence in us and to his actions within us." Centering prayer is a meditative method, but where Buddhist Vipassana meditation or Christian meditation, as developed by Benedictine monk John Main, use a point of focus such as concentration on the breath or repetition of a mantra, centering prayer relies more on intention than attention. Releasing any distractions caused by thoughts or emotions, the practitioner simply "waits for God." Beyond words, emotions, and thoughts, centering prayer is, says Keating, like "two friends sitting in silence, just being in each other's presence."
The purpose of contemplative prayer is to enter an altered state of consciousness in order to find one's true self, thus finding God. This true self relates to the belief that man is basically good. Proponents of contemplative prayer teach that all human beings have a divine center and that all, not just born again believers, should practice contemplative prayer.
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Iona Community - Scotland:
Iona is a small island off the west coast of Scotland, where in 563 Columba founded a Celtic monastery that was very influential in its own times. In the middle ages it was the site of a Benedictine abbey and over the centuries has attracted many thousands of people on their own pilgrim journeys.
The Iona Community, founded in 1938 by the Rev George MacLeod, then a parish minister in Glasgow is an ecumenical Christian community that is committed to seeking new ways of living the Gospel in today's world. Initially this purpose was expressed through the rebuilding of the monastic quarters of the mediaeval abbey on Iona and pursued in mission and ministry throughout Scotland and beyond. The Community today remains committed to
rebuilding the common life, through working for social and political change, striving for the renewal of the church with an ecumenical emphasis, and exploring new more inclusive approaches to worship, all based on an integrated understanding of spirituality.
Iona community member John Bell will be the music leader at UMC Summer Collegium (June 25-July 3, 2008)
The Summer Collegium, a project in support of small congregations, is now accepting applications for the Summer 2008 event, which will take place at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA , from June 25-July 3, 2008. This nine-day, all expenses paid conference for clergy and their spouses or partners is open to those who pastor small congregations (100 or fewer average Sunday attendance) and are committed to small church ministry. Singles and non-ordained pastors are welcome to apply for the one of the 25 openings. The conference consists of keynotes and workshops on all aspects of small church ministry, with a special emphasis on worship and preaching. Keynotes include Tony Pappas, who has written extensively on small church life, and Peter Bush and Christine O'Reilly, authors of the new book Where 20 or 30 are Gathered: Leading Worship in the Small Church. John Bell of the Iona Community in Scotland will be our music leader. This is an ecumenical project sponsored by the Lilly Endowment Inc. Applications may be downloaded from our website, www.vts.edu/education/collegium, or contact Marilyn Johns, mjohns@vts.edu, or 703-461-1760; applications must be postmarked by December 15, 2007.
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"ne plus ultra" - French saying used in English
Nothing further; the uttermost point or extreme perfection of anything.
"With his close friend and comrade in arms, Eugene of Savoy, Marlborough (the British commander) subsequently visited humiliation after humiliation on Louis 16's head. Ramilies, Oudenarde, Malplaquet, the lines of Ne Plus Ultra and innumerable sieges brought the France of the Sun King to its knees."
In Latin: not further beyond
In August 1711 Marlborough forced the supposedly impregnable lines of Ne Plus Ultra', built by the French to guard their northern frontier, and captured the fortress of Bouchain.
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1090837
http://www.allwords.com/word-ne%20plus%20ultra.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Bouchain
