Episode 2: A Reflection on Contemplative Mind Artwork

All Things Contemplative

There is a contemplative dimension of life (CDL) to which we can awaken via nature, science, art, religion or otherwise. A religious person might say such awakening is a grace and of god’s will. Other’s that it is simply a human potentiality, common to all. This podcast explores how people and traditions understand the CDL and related practices; and how such practices can enrich life experience. HOST: Ron Barnett received a doctorate in psychology and worked for many years in medical research with the U.S. National Institutes of Health. He is a lifelong student and teacher of contemplative practices and the flourishing of human well-being. Ron served as a Board Trustee of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. and Coordinator of its Chapter for metropolitan Washington DC. He now teaches with The Miksang Institute for Contemplative Photography. CONTACT: rbarnett@hey.com. BLOG: https://contemplativepodcast.posthaven.com/

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All Things Contemplative

Episode 2: A Reflection on Contemplative Mind

October 11, 2020 • Ron Barnett

In this Episode 2 host Ron Barnett provides an update on the scheduling and interviewing of the initial group of guests. And shares a reflection on the nature of contemplative mind in contrast to our ordinary always running "thinking mind".

All Things Contemplative Blog

Speaker 1:

Greetings and welcome. I'm Ron Barnett, the host of All Things Contemplative, and I today wanted to give you an update on what the podcast has been doing and also to share a reflection on what is Contemplative mind. So the podcast has been active in scheduling and interviewing a number of guest. In fact, yesterday we interviewed Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler. Gail's, a former president of contemplative outreach, and she shared with us whether contemplative outreach is an organization or an organism. We usually don't think of organizations being organisms, but Gail will clarify that for us. Also, joining us will be Julie Dubose. Julie is the director, co-founder of the Miksang Institute for Contemplative Photography. And Julie will be sharing what is contemplative photography and how we might see the world in a more fresh, open way. Pat Johnson. Pat is a long time director of group retreats at St.

Benedict's Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado. Pat will be talking about what is a contemplative retreat, her experience of them at 8,000 feet, where the retreat center is located. John Patterson. John is a physician and longtime family practice physician in Kentucky. John also has strong interest in mindfulness practice and he'll be talking about the relationship between mindfulness and healthcare, self-care and medicine. Also, we have Jim Clifford. Jim is an attorney practicing, but he's known more internationally as a long distance open water swimmer. In fact, Jim has successfully swam the English channel in his sixties. He'll talk us a bit about the experience of contemplation in his long distance swims, how he manages his mind during many hours of silence and solitude while he's swimming, and should be a very interesting episode in particular. And finally, our initial group of guests includes Steven Hatch. Steven is with the Naropa University and has a lot of experience in what he calls contemplative wilderness or the experience of contemplative consciousness in settings of nature and wilderness.

So we look forward to having all those folks with us. Now, a word about contemplative mind. In episode one, I provided an introduction to the podcast and mentioned that guests would be discussing what they mean when they say contemplative. In other words, what makes something contemplative, whether it's swimming or seeing the world around us or eating or walking or whatever. I did not, however, say what I mean. While there may be diversity in understanding a commonality, I would suggest as hell, our usual familiar mind is viewed and treated in contemplative practices. Implicit is the idea that while this mind, the one we usually think of is necessary for survival and our wellbeing and is developed and valued for its ability to accumulate information and to analyze that information, to think critically, to use complex language and to anticipate and plan for the future. It is not the sole means for knowing that is at our disposal as human beings when, for lack of a better expression, thinking mind dominates other ways of knowing, go unrecognized and unappreciated.

For instance, if I wish to see the beauty, the uniqueness, and the elegance of my visual world versus what I think it is, what I think it is, I will need to let go of thinking mind my habitual mechanical thoughts, concepts, opinions, judgments, and be open and receptive to unfiltered and unmediated. Seeing or speaking religiously or spiritually if I wish to know God or spirit and have a closer relationship, I will need to let go of what I think God or Spirit is and be open to receiving information that is not solely based on thinking mind, including what others might have said and alleged to be true. And so doing, we're residing in contemplative mind. So I hope that reflection may have some significance or ring a bell for you or you found it.

I do want to mention in closing that if you have guests or topics that you would like covered or addressed or included on all things contemplative, I would invite you to contact me and let me know what they might be. My contact information is on the podcast website and also on the podcast blog. I would look forward to hearing from you. So with that we'll close, I wish you well and I'll see you down the road. Peace. And with that, this episode of All Things Contemplative comes to a close. I hope you found it interesting and informative and will join me for the next episode. Peace.