INTERSPIRITUAL MEDITATION -- 11

Tenth Post on Step One of InterSpiritual Meditation: 

May we be Happy and Healthy

Silence is God's first language;

everything else is a poor translation.

In order to hear that language,

we must learn to be still and rest in God.

-- Thomas Keating in Invitation to Love

Thomas Keating’s legacy is huge. Contemplative Outreach has been and continues to be the official organization promoting the teachings and practices of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina which Father Keating taught and wrote about. Many of us have found his unique and creative approach to these practices particularly effective.

It was Thomas Keating who organized the annual Snowmass gatherings of meditators from many wisdom traditions.  Out of this experience, Edward Bastian started Spiritual Paths more than two decades ago. Ed created the process of InterSpiritual Meditation and A Mandala process leading people to discover their natural spiritual styles as well as the ones we may want to cultivate as we continue to make our way on our amazing journey.

We often need silence and stillness as we journey on.  Many of us simply do not get enough.  It takes commitment.  It takes practice.  It takes companionship with others committed to the practice.  Step One of the InterSpiritual Meditation process is essential because we need to be motivated again and again or we can soon neglect the whole contemplative practice which ultimately leads to an abundance of happiness and health.  Keep it up!

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+ This is a series of posts on InterSpiritual Meditation: A Seven Step Process created by Dr. Edward Bastian. I am an InterSpiritual Mentor certified by SpiritualPaths Institute which Ed established. In these posts I will offer reflections of mine and others on each of the steps which are: 

1. Motivation: “May we be Happy and Healthy.”
2. Gratitude: “May we be Grateful for Life’s Many Gifts.”
3. Transformation: “May we be Transformed into Our Highest Being.”
4. Compassion:“May we be Loving and Compassionate.”
5. Mindfulness: “May we be Mindful through Our Breathing.”
6. Wisdom: “May we Become Wise through our Meditation.”
7. Service: “May we be in Service to All.”

+ I invite you to purchase and read Ed's wonderful books including InterSpiritual Meditation: A Seven Step Process and Mandala: Creating an Authentic Spiritual Path -- An InterSpiritual Process.

+ I invite you to consider taking a comprehensive e-course on InterSpiritual Meditation offered by Spiritual Paths.net.  The course is always available but periodically it is taught via Zoom by Ed and other teachers as an 8-week course with group participation. Next one starts on January 18, 2023 at 7pm EST.