A Path of Meaning
Contemporary society, with its materialistic and competing pluralistic values, makes it challenging for the modern contemplative to remain grounded in faith and purpose. In order to stay rooted on the journey to the ultimate mystery, it is important to have a practice of meaning that embodies truth, a spiritual or religious path that doesn’t rely on fundamentalist or superstitious dogma.
Even when we commit ourselves to the ultimate truth of the contemplative journey, we sometimes feel lost following its values in ordinary life. We may feel we have lost our motivation during a spiritually dark time. Or we may be beginning the contemplative search and wonder how these ancient teachings are relevant to our own contemporary lives.
From the perspective of The Path of Centering Prayer these issues are not signs of failure; they are a call to prayer. When you have a Practice of Intention, these challenging experiences become a human entry into greater meaning.
The ultimate purpose of the contemplative journey is in the practice itself, in continually turning to God. Embodying the attitudes of this branch -- The Practice of Intention -- the path of the contemplative journey ripens here and now into truth, the ultimate truth of God.
Thomas Keating shares Jesus’ teachings on how to examine our motivation, our purpose for living, and change or renew it -- as we are changed by God. This branch of the Path of Centering Prayer presents Jesus’ teachings on renewing our intention in a way that can be practiced. This practice includes inquiring into one’s inner experience, turning to God, and opening to being transformed.
Transformation in God is a radical intention to practice for life. It is this intention that renews our motivation and purpose in the contemplative life, especially during times of spiritual darkness.
The Practice of Intention helps us stay connected to that higher purpose. It cultivates faith, hope and love in God. It flows into and out of the unknowing faith, the self-forgetful hope and the pure consent of Centering Prayer. It helps us remain grounded in our higher meaning in life: our relationship with the God who has awakened us, transformed us and given us this priceless human life.
By faith one not only assents to propositions revealed by God, one not only attains to truth in a way that intelligence and reason alone cannot do, but one assents to God Himself. One receives God. One says “yes” not merely to a statement about God, but to the Invisible, Infinite God Himself. Thomas Merton
The first thing he said when he began to preach was, “repent” (Mt 4: 17). This word does not refer to penitential exercises or external practices but means change the direction in which you are looking for happiness. Jesus’ teaching clearly implies that our present direction does not lead to where happiness can be found, and still less to where God can be found.
Thomas Keating
You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free. John 8: 32
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
The spiritual level of the false self is ...healed by the why of what we are doing. Our intention to do what we are doing for the love of God powerfully connects us with the divine presence. The power of intention is immense. The will willing God actually enters into union with God although we may not consciously experience the effects of the union right away.
Thomas Keating
Are you lacking motivation in your contemplative practice? Do you wonder what relevance contemplation has for your life in the world?
Now we are seeing a dim reflection in a mirror, but then we shall be seeing face to face. The knowledge that I have now is imperfect, but then I shall know as fully as I am known. In short, there are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.
1 Cor 13: 11-13
The Fifth Branch:
