January 2016 Volume 28 Number 1

A Publication of The of Conscious Harmony - A Contemplative Christian Community Blessed Are They by Tim Cook

The cover of the December including ours, are graced by her windows in our houses; we don’t 2015 issue of National Geographic familiar cement form. look at them, but through them. carried a close up of the exquisitely But it’s not only her portraits The of Mary bearing, beautiful face of Mary painted by and statues that reveal her presence within her belly, an adult that Botticelli. It was accompanied by in the hearts and minds of so many speaks to us from the back wall a headline that read, “Mary – The people over the centuries, it’s her of our is a form called Most Powerful Woman in the appearances; of which there have “Our Lady of the Sign,” which first World.” I was amazed to see a been over 2000 reported since appeared in Byzantine iconography secular publication delving into the first one recorded in 40 AD. in the 11th century. Our particular spiritual and religious mysteries National Geographic contains a icon is about 200 years old and came that have, for so long, baffled and map showing apparitions on every from a church in . Since the fascinated the generations born since continent; along with accounts writer of an icon spends significant the Christ event. Did these things of miraculous healings that have time in prayer before beginning really happen? How could this be happened along with them. You the actual work, we can be certain real? Quarrels and arguments that don’t have to believe any of it to that we are gazing at an object that can never be historically proven one realize that the vast number and was founded and formed by and way or another have been around wide distribution of her images for prayer and communion with since the very beginning; believers and her adoration by millions over God. I was unable to find “official” and non-believers equally certain of centuries indicates that something interpretations of the meanings that the rightness of their view. big is going on with Mary. she is communicating to us; but I No, we can’t prove or disprove And there is more to her presence have come to understand that any of it by direct evidence or than artistic representations and are powerful spiritual statements reason, but the indirect evidence apparitions. Her countenance is that are like visual Lectio Divina, is astonishing when viewed as a gazing out upon millions of people often different for each one of us whole. Just consider the countless through countless icons all over the each time we receive them. works of art depicting Mary that world. Icons are much more than Our Lady of the Sign speaks are right now hanging in museums art. In fact they are not spoken of to me of the disposition of the and collections all over. Western as being painted, but as “written.” virgin soul, our personal, human art would be impoverished without Icons are known as windows to soul – wide-open, unprotected Michelangelo’s Pieta alone. Even heaven. They are a wordless source and completely surrendered in all the “kitschy” images of Mary of spirituality and they directly perfect trust in God. Her upraised reveal her pervasive presence in communicate understanding hands are touched by the wings homes and churches all over the of divine relationships to the of the seraphim that energetically world. Gardens all over the planet, contemplative viewer. They are like connect her directly to heaven.

2 CCH Bookstore Community Reading

Her palms are turned toward us in come from God who is Love. The a gesture that blesses us with the blessings are found as we practice graces she is constantly receiving embodying the very attitudes that Making All Things New from heaven. She leads me to see we will ponder and explore in the Catholicity, Cosmology, Consciousness by Ilia Delio and feel the state of my soul. Only coming months. We live in a time when the when our souls come to her level of Daily Reader Suggestions… receptivity, openness and trust, Let more active, assertive, masculine it be unto me according to your word, attitudes have become over- can the mature Christ be born in represented in the way our world our own bodies. Her message can functions and the ideals that it most be intuitively felt, even though, values. But blessedness comes not we really may not even be able to through winning, overcoming or put it into words or pin it down getting to the top; but from the with thought. Each one’s slow strength of receptivity and faith- The Daily Reader contemplative gaze at her form filled trust in God. Mary leads us for Contemplative Living to another, more gentle, receptive Excerpts from the Works may reveal a personal meaning that of Fr. Thomas Keating grows deeper with each encounter and simple way of life; and her compiled by S. Stephanie Iachetta with her. help could not be more timely, as We’ve chosen her image to our human race evolves through introduce the theme “Blessed” for the rapid changes in the world and this year’s annual aim so that each of into a new way of being alive. us will have the opportunity to use Each of us must realize that the icon in visual contemplation as Mary’s receptivity is within we open our souls to receive Christ, our own power to follow. She A Book of Wonders within. She represents the more exemplifies not just passivity or Daily Reflections for Awakened Living by Edward Hays feminine attitudes and responses weakness but rather a powerful, to life that are the very essence of strong and willing decision to trust the Sermon on the Mount. Each God to a degree that lets his Christ A Little Daily Wisdom Through the Year with St. Teresa of Avila month we’ll be contemplating come to miraculous birth in our by Bernard Bangley the Beatitudes and other wisdom own souls. It takes a strong will to gifts from Jesus’ teaching. “To say and mean, “Thy will be done.” be blessed” means to be favored Blessed are we who are learning Bookstore and Library Hours by God. Blessings therefore are to say “yes” to Love as the Way Open Monday-Friday 9 am-4 pm directly associated with God and of Life. Sunday 9:30-10 am & 11:30 am-noon

3 Blessed New Year by Barbara Cook

Every year at this time there is prayer to twice a day or adding more can make it happen time, don’t a lot of kidding about making and time in prayer. Then pray for the let time or money stop you. Pick breaking New Year’s resolutions; just desire to meet Divine Love more your dates, make a plan and watch look back at your own experience often in prayer. how the Spirit moves through your and it will probably be there. And If we wish to be transformed, Fr. life to help that wish manifest. yet they are helpful aids in aiming Thomas has taught that in addition If it feels a little intimidating, and keeping us on our path. A great to regular, daily prayer, we also need almost everything new to us feels Indian sage once said, “If we don’t to take time apart, to be with the a little scary at first because we are know where we are going, chances Beloved. Jesus was in perfect union stepping into the unknown. This are we will end up somewhere else.” with God, whom he addressed as unknown, however, is God, the So here we are beginning a brand Abba, Daddy in the most intimate Divine Mystery. This is Divine new year; nothing written on it relationship. Yet even he still took Love. There is no safer place in yet. It is a perfect time to look at time apart. Like any relationship, the universe. our lives and our spiritual and life our relationship with God grows Do the Welcoming Prayer aims to see where we are and what as we nurture it by stepping away process. Fr. Thomas is clear when direction we want to head this year. from ordinary life and spending he teaches, “Once we have said yes Then every one of us can make some time in communion, in deep to God, EVERYTHING is for plans to support our deepest aims. listening. That is why there are our healing and union with God, Am I doing Centering Prayer Centering Prayer retreats. if we say yes to it.” So let us say twice a day? Remember, Fr. Thomas Am I doing ten days of retreat “yes” to God and his plan for our Keating said that we do Centering a year? I need to if I want to be transformation and “yes” to the Prayer once a day for devotion and transformed into my Child of unfolding of his presence and action twice a day for transformation. No God Self. This year I can say “yes” in our lives. When we meet him recriminations; just feel into your to changing my heart through in silent intention; he enables us practice. See if you are into God’s attending Centering Prayer retreats to feel and release what we feel in plan for you to heal from your and participate in changing the the unconscious inner side of our past and move deeper into your heart of the world. This change selves. Silence makes room in our child-of-heaven Self. Or perhaps is something we can’t do on our beings for God to grow. Let us be you’re still warming up to your own; but when we consent to the the change we want to see in our relationship with yourself, God presence of the Holy Spirit and world, both locally and globally. and your neighbor. Pray about it. make ourselves available in deep You may feel called to deepen those silent listening, it changes us. May this be the best year of our relationships by increasing your If you don’t yet know how you lives in Christ. 4 Blessed 2016

You are invited to join in community … to participate in intention and will to God … to renew your commitment to transformation into Christ, ... to move ever deeper together as a community Since, by virtue of my consent, of intention, practice and devotion. I have become a living particle All glory to God. of the Body of Christ, all that affects me  God is all in all. God is eternally revealing as the Trinity – must in the end Transcendent Father, Omnipresent Son and Immanent Holy help in the growth Spirit – active within us as the Divine Indwelling. of the total Christ.  Christ will flood into We are created in the image and likeness of God. Our basic and over me, me and my cosmos. nature, like God’s nature, is absolute good. ... May my acceptance  be ever more complete, Transformation into Christ, unity with the Living God, and participation in the evolution of all creation is possible in this more comprehensive, life. Indeed, it is the design and purpose of every human life. more intense! May my being,  We open ourselves to transforming grace through silent in its self-offering to You, prayer, the Eucharist, the Word and spiritual community. become ever more open and more transparent Excerpted from Statement of Beliefs, The Church of Conscious Harmony to Your influence! And may I thus feel Your activity Blessed are they coming ever closer, who have been granted the grace, the wish, the energy Your presence to follow the journey of Christ. growing ever more intense, Amen. everywhere around me. Amen. Teilhard de Chardin, Writings in Time of War

5 A Special Invitation ... To participate in the Tenth Man School My Father is at work until now, so I am at work. John 5:17

The sole aim of the Tenth Man School is to be a transforming agent of the Spirit, assisting the process and reality of theosis for one another, that each may 7406 Newhall Lane “know myself as Christ, as my Father knows me,” Austin, Texas 78746 fully human, fully divine, always guided by the Spirit 512.347.9673 512.347.9675 fax and rooted in Eternal Love. www.consciousharmony.org

Membership in the School is a declaration of intentional relationship MINISTERS to the Divine Mystery that is God and to all creation. It is a formal expression Tim and Barbara Cook of a personal hunger and commitment to be transformed into Christ

and to live a committed life in service of this aim. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Michael Begeman A formal member of The Church of Conscious Harmony Pamela Begeman Mary Anne Best may choose to deepen his or her commitment to transformation Eric DeJernett into Christ by becoming a member of the School. Donald Genung Jim McCune The term of this commitment is for 2016. Lauri Raymond

A School member commits to a Rule of Life and actively participates MUSIC in an intentional community that includes three lines of Work. Susan Boulden, Director The School’s Rule of Life is: [email protected] Sue Young 1. Twice daily Centering Prayer practice 2. Daily reading of Scripture YOUTH EDUCATION SERVICES Deborah Hale, Children’s Director 3. Daily reading of the Work of Inner Christianity [email protected] 4. Daily conscious movement (e.g., tai chi, yoga, walking) Jacque Botto, Asst to the Children’s Director Don Hale, Youth Director 5. Small group participation, as available [email protected] 6. Commitment to attend Centering Prayer retreats annually David Jenkins, Asst to the Youth Director 7. Seva group or YES program participation 8. Tithing OFFICE 9. Regular attendance at Sunday Services Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm Donald Genung, Business Mgr [email protected] The intention to participate in the Tenth Man School is to be submitted Lisa Genung, Office Mgr by January 24 (contact the office for an acceptance card). [email protected] Orientation and induction will be held February 5, 2016. BOOKSTORE Virginia Maxwell, Manager We are the recipients of a multi-faceted living Tradition, [email protected] the strands of which have been woven together into a new rope for us to jump for. ~Tim Cook NEWSLETTER Sandra Ely, Editor In the Name of the Transcendent Father, [email protected] and of the Omnipresent Son, Carol Hagar, Design and in the Name of the Immanent Holy Spirit. Amen. [email protected]

6 Annual Aim: Blessed Come, O you blessed of my Father! Matthew 25:34

Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Commute by Michael Begeman

The serpent promised a state of Truly, the Lord is waiting to be gracious to you. self-sufficiency obviating any need 30:18 for a God on high, implying that the knowledge and power of human beings in such a state will suffice completely – they will be “rich.” …on the Way to Work imbue me with the properties of In contrast to this Each morning as I drive to the Beatitudes. the first Beatitude proclaims: “Blessed are the poor in spirit work a series of chants and prayers That last phrase, ‘imbue me with for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven,” fill my car. These have evolved the properties of the Beatitudes’, is i.e., blessed are those who regard as poor over the years – some things get what this year’s aim is all about. To any knowledge of power without God – that is, added in and others get modified imbue is to permeate, saturate and any knowledge or power not of God – or dropped. They always begin the drench – to make it so that I am for they shall participate way the Liturgy of the Hours start those properties of the Beatitudes. in the divine creative work of God. Valentin Tomberg, Lazarus, Come Forth! at St. Benedict’s and countless other This, in its essence, is a prayer of monasteries: trust and surrender since some Oh God, come to my assistance. of the Beatitudes don’t seem so If a man feels in his inmost being that he knows nothing and is nothing Oh Lord, make haste to help me! inviting at first blush. We begin this and deserves nothing, As I near the end of my commute, year at the beginning of the Sermon if he longs to understand more the prayers also conclude. One of on the Mount: and to be different, if he feels that he is really nothing and the final prayers is directed to the Blessed are the poor in spirit, longs to be something, Holy Spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. if in fact in his mind, Divine light Shekinah, enter What is this ‘poor in spirit’ quality his spirit, his understanding, he feels his own ignorance, into my heart and flow through that is being asked of us? his own nothingness, my body bringing the joy of your Many things have been written then he is “poor in spirit.” creating light, life, love and about this passage. The net of it all He is empty, and so can be filled. Maurice Nicoll, The New Man presence. Awaken within me the seems to be that I must be poor of fruits and gifts of the Spirit, and my spirit (small ‘s’) so that I may 7 become rich in God’s Spirit (capitol child into our community and an exercise in self-observation to see ‘S’). Teachings about kenosis, acknowledging its participation where I yet need to ‘turn’ in order to self-emptying, self-surrender, and in the Divine Plan. Tim spoke of become poor in self-spirit, and full making the personality passive the innocence of children being a of God-Spirit. abound. The core teachings offered mirror for the rest of us. Suddenly at CCH – Centering Prayer and the something was coming through …on the Way to Bentonville Work of Inner Christianity – are that didn’t need translation. He After Christmas, the Gospel fully in support of this dismantling commented that looking at a child soon turns to the story of the project. reveals the original, essential nature Magi – the three wise men. At this Like the language of the first of every human being who has time last year, Pamela and I were Beatitude, the invitations to kenosis, ever been born – reflecting what recovering from the holidays, taking self-emptying, self-surrender, and Fr. Thomas Keating calls our basic some time apart in NW Arkansas, making the personality passive core of goodness. He described and enjoying hiking in the rolling didn’t evoke a quick “oh, yes!” when this nature as God-like, beautiful, hills of the Ozarks. Sunday came I first heard them…the response innocent, and fresh. And hand-in- and we stopped for Mass at the St. was more one of cautious, guarded hand with this, I saw that children Vincent de Paul Catholic Church curiosity. Over time, however, these are poor in self-spirit, and full of in Rogers. This is a large, modern ideas have grown more comfortable God-Spirit. This reminded me of church in a very nice neighborhood. to me, and the drive to assert my several scriptural passages: The circular sanctuary was filled personal agenda on my life and the …unless you turn and become with perhaps 500 people. Being world has weakened considerably. like children, you will not in the immediate post-Christmas I hear the words of those saints, enter the kingdom of heaven. season, everybody was especially wisdom figures, renunciates and (Matthew 18:3) gregarious, the children’s choir was teachers who have gone before me …Let the children come to still belting out familiar carols, and and am able to translate them into me…for the kingdom of Jesus was still lying in the manger. an understanding and daily practice heaven belongs to such as these. The gospel of the wise men that fits a working professional who (Matthew 19:14) was read and the priest began his is engaged a modern, urban, first- …whoever does not accept the sermon, telling entertaining stories world life. kingdom of God like a child of visiting his seminary classmates’ will not enter it. (Mark 10:15; homes in Christmas seasons past. …on the Way Home Luke 18:17) The sermon was pretty shallow and Driving home last week I I wonder, what is this nature of a directed mostly to the children, so I was streaming the recording of a little child that I am to become like? settled in for the duration – waiting Sunday service I had missed. [I Words that come to me in response it out until the Eucharist. (Note, at try to find alternatives to the news are: open, trusting, vulnerable, this point, that I was rich in little-s when behind the wheel.] The transparent, humble, present, just- spirit.) The priest turned the topic service I was listening to included as-I-am. Each of these words can to the day’s gospel, and asked the a Christening – blessing a new be the source of a personal inquiry, kids what gifts the wise men laid in 8 front of the baby Jesus. With some gold, and frankincense and of self-observation, and finally he coaxing he got the three expected myrrh. (Matthew 2:9-11) finished the sentence “…and give responses: gold, frankincense and As for me, the hair on my them your coat.” myrrh. arms stood on end when he went A flood of relief came upon me, He then asked “What other down on the floor, and I woke up and similar to what happened a few gift did the wise men lay in front of to the man of deep Being who was days before in the sanctuary, I was baby Jesus?” There was squirming… in front of me. In that moment left with a dose of self-knowledge, the kids had no idea. He asked the I experienced great humility, and and a simultaneous experience of whole congregation. Again, nobody in that humility great grace. The great humility. knew. And then, right there in transition from being rich in spirit Rogers, Arkansas, in front of 500 to poor in spirit (and thus rich in …Back Home people, dressed in his Christmas capitol-S Spirit) was palpable. I start my morning commute vestments, the priest went down on with this prayer, but it often returns the floor in a full body prostration. …Around Rogers to me throughout the day as I get He stayed there without moving for We made it a point to attend other glimpses of what in me is rich a couple of minutes. The moment this man’s evening weekday Mass. and poor: was electric – you could have heard This time there were just a couple Oh God, come to my assistance. a pin drop in the sanctuary where dozen of us in a side chapel. At the Oh Lord, make haste to help me! moments before had been pretty end of Mass he looked at everyone I can’t really pray it enough. restless. He finally stood, and present and spoke very deliberately. explained that the Magi came, not “Folks, it’s going to be bitterly cold ...Epilogue to give the symbolic gifts to Jesus, tonight. The forecast is for the low “Get up…it is time to move but to give themselves to God, and teens. There are people who live on. The world is begging for new that the total gift of ourselves is the on the streets here. This is the kind and more abundant life. The life only gift that God wants. of cold that kills people who are of the world is your life, and your And lo, the star, which they exposed.” He paused for a moment. life belongs to the whole of life. saw in the East, went before “On your way home tonight you Stop trying to preserve yourself; them till it came and stood over may see someone on a corner or lose yourself in something more where the young child was. shop entry with no place to go. If than yourself because you have When they saw the star, they you do, stop your car…” And then the power to Christify life, to help rejoiced with exceeding great there was that long silent pause he unify it, to raise it to a new level of joy. And when they were come had left us with in the sanctuary. ultra-humanity. … Omega love is into the house, they saw the The rich in little-s spirit mind in our midst, and this love is our young child with Mary His races, imagining the unimaginable power, our hope and our future. mother, and fell down, and request that was about to come, … Be the co-creator you are made worshipped Him. And when arguing with it, feeling helpless, to be: emblazon this world with the they had opened their treasures, squirming, protecting itself. The grandeur of God.” they presented unto Him gifts: long pause was enough for plenty ~Ilia Delio, Making All Things New, p. 190 9 The Work of Inner Christianity

My Father is still working, and I also am working. John 5:17

Sermon on the Mount and Changing Our Level of Being

… your life is an expression methods as to how to change it. also, as you know, speaks of many of what you are, therefore your We spoke briefly of the Sermon other methods which have to be Being is what you are, and all that on the Mount as being a practical applied at the moment. All the happens to you in life is the result illustration of how to change one’s practical work, all the directions of your level of Being. … People level of Being, and we took the first given to you constantly in terms do not see that their level of Being saying: “Blessed are the poor in of the original teaching, belong to attracts all these things which they spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of methods of changing your Being. regard as having nothing to do Heaven.” Now bliss is a wonderful That is why I say to you so often: with themselves. But the Work thing to touch. The Work says that Do you know practically what the teaches that it is your level of Being we must practice non-identifying, Work teaches that you have to that attracts all this and keeps you and non-identifying begins with do? It is a very good thing when constantly under its influence. not identifying with yourself. Now a person reaches that stage in the Now I would ask you: “Do you if you are full of yourself you are Work when he or she realizes that understand about levels of Being? rich in spirit, but if you begin to it is about something absolutely Do you understand how deeply observe yourself through what the practical and that all these phrases, the Work is based on different Work teaches about identifying you these formulations, that they have levels from the Ray of Creation will become poor in spirit—that is, to listen to for so long, are real downwards and how everything is you will not identify with yourself instructions as to what they have to at a certain level of Being in this so much. What will the result do to change the level of Being at vast scheme of Being reaching up be? You will find what for you is which they are mechanically. to the Being of God?” The question bliss. You will find an enormous … As I said, we can understand then arises in a practical sense: relief, a strange kind of happiness what it means to be poor in spirit “How can we change our level of in no longer having to keep up in the right way. Being? What is it we have to do to the idea of yourself with which Maurice Nicoll, Psychological Commentaries change this level of Being that we you were formerly so identified. on the Teaching of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, pages 726-728. For more information and speak of as all having?” The answer Now here you have a quite direct experience with these teachings, you are invited to attend the Work of Inner Christianity class is that the whole Work is about practical method of changing held Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. at The Church of changing our Being and giving us your level of Being. The Work Conscious Harmony.

10 January Calendar Visit consciousharmony.org Guidelines for Christian Life, Growth for a complete listing of events and Transformation SPECIAL EVENTS Fr. Thomas Keating, in his seminal work Intro to Centering Prayer Open Mind, Open Heart, Jan 16 9 am-3:15 pm lists 42 principles underlying the Christian spiritual journey. Pre-register in the office. Fr. Keating asks that these principles be read according Ego & The Dynamic Ground to the method of Lectio Divina. 7:30-9 pm (begins Jan 20) One principle will appear in these pages each month. Simple Explanation of Work Ideas Jan 21 7:30 pm Pre-register in the office. 18th Guideline Lessons in Truth Jan 27 for 9 classes 7:30 pm-9 pm Pre-register in the office.

The growing awareness of our true Self, along with the deep sense MONTHLY of spiritual peace and joy which flow from this experience, balances the 1st Sundays psychic pain of the disintegrating and dying of the false self. As the Bring non-perishables for Caritas motivating power of the false self diminishes, our true Self builds the Gurdjieff Music new self with the motivating force of divine love. Jan 19 7:30-8:30 pm

WEEKLY

Sundays Lectio Divina 8-9 am Worship Service 10-11:30 am Youth Program 10-11:30 am Seeds Fellowship 11:30 am

The way to find the real “world” is not Wednesdays Prayer Circle 10 am merely to measure and observe what is outside us, Contemplative Lunch noon-1 pm but to discover our own inner ground. Contemplative Communion Service 6-7 pm

For that is where the world is, first of all: in my deepest self. Thursdays 7:30-9 pm This “ground,” this “world” where I am mysteriously present Work of Inner Christianity Class at once to my own self Fridays 7:30-8:45 pm and to the freedoms of all other men, Devotional Service is not a visible, objective and determined structure DAILY with fixed laws and demands. It is a living and self-creating mystery Mondays-Fridays 7-7:35 am Centering Prayer Service in Theosis Chapel of which I am myself a part, to which I am myself my own unique door. Recordings of services are available Thomas Merton, Seeds, page 10. through the Bookstore and online at www.consciousharmony.org

11 THE CHURCH of CONSCIOUS HARMONY Non Profit A CONTEMPLATIVE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY Organization U.S. Postage 7 4 0 6 N e w h a l l L a n e A us t i n T X 7 8 7 4 6 PAID Austin TX Permit # 3386 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Christmas is only the beginning. Christmas shows us the Word Made Flesh in the form of this little infant, a form that grows into His full humanity, and then the sacrifice of that human nature for the healing and salvation, or nowadays if you’re into the scientific discoveries, evolution is the way of creation and then human development, including Jesus’ own humanity, develops and becomes more complete and full and capable of being shared with others, always from a motive of unselfish love.

... We are invited to become living cells or members in the Mystical Body of Christ, which is Christ resurrected and Body glorified, and consumed in the fire of the Spirit, Epiphany a fire that moves like a moving stream throughout the relationships in the Trinity and into which we’re invited to share. Rise up in splendor! That’s what’s meant by “grace;” a sharing in the divine life itself, Your LIGHT has come, which means the divine light, life and love. the glory of the Lord ... shines upon you. It’s impossible to imagine this, as Paul says, Upon you the Lord shines, “What God has prepared for those who love Him.” and over you appears His glory. Do you consent to become divine? That is the question of the day.

Isaiah 60:1 Thomas Keating, “The Prayer for Us All” A Blessing for the Epiphany, Awakenings