Resources for the Contemplative Journey
There are countless wonderful books, audio programs, and websites by wise and heartful people who have guided and inspired my way, and continue to support my journey and ongoing exploration of the inner life. My most important teachers: Thomas Merton, Fr. Thomas Keating, Matthew Fox, Pema Chodron, Thich Nhat Hanh, Andrew Harvey, Tessa Bielecki, Marion Woodman, Rabbi Rami Shapiro, Rev. Maxine Kaye, Neil Douglas-Klotz, Byron Katie, Ram Dass, Paul Tillich. Here are some of the resources that are treasured “friends.”
Fr. Thomas Keating: I have thirteen of Fr. Keating’s books, all of them extremely rewarding to a spiritual seeker. Among them are: The Mystery of Christ, Intimacy with God, Open Mind, Open Heart. Fr. Keating is a Cistercian monk in the Benedictine tradition. He is the founder of “Centering Prayer.” His books and audio programs have been great teachings for me.
Marion Woodman: Addiction to Perfection and The Pregnant Virgin gave me deep insights into my struggle with addiction and search for independence, to become an individual in my own right. She greatly enhanced my understanding of the spiritual journey. A renowned Jungian analyst and teacher, she has touched and changed many lives besides my own.
Robert Johnson: Another important Jungian whose book, WE, helped me understand the depth and meaning of romantic love and the suffering we endure through it.
M. Scott Peck: The Road Less Traveled, People of the Lie, and The Road Further Traveled have all guided, informed and affirmed my journey.
Neil Douglas-Klotz: He is an Aramaic scholar and spiritual teacher. His books and audio programs have given me a new, refreshing and surprising look into Jesus and Middle Eastern spirituality. He has radically reoriented my understanding of Jesus’ teachings. In fact, I was so excited by his work that I wanted to learn Aramaic. (But when I saw the instructional material I decided that would have to wait for another lifetime!). Blessings of the Cosmos, The Hidden Gospel, Prayer of the Cosmos.
Matthew Fox: Founder of the University of Creation Spirituality, he has worked for many years to shed new light into our understanding of the Christian tradition. Among his many books are Creation Spirituality, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, Original Blessing.
Thich Nhat Hanh; This brilliant Vietnamese Buddhist teacher has written many important books, the most recent that I read was Living Buddha, Living Christ.
Byron Katie: Founder of “The Work,” her teaching has changed my life by showing me how to look more deeply into troubling situations and emotions. Her essential book is Loving What Is.
Paul Tillich: Christian theologian and philosopher, Tillich, author of numerous books, wrote three that saved my life, pulling me out of a place of deep despair: Courage to Be, New Being, and Shaking of the Foundations.
This terrific community offers a wide-range of e-courses that touch every spiritual tradition you can think of and then some. They also have book reviews, a newsletter, and a number of other excellent features. spiritualityandpractice.com
Conscious Connections: Dr. Maxine Kaye, a dear friend and author of Alive and Ageless: How to Feel Alive and Live Fully Every Day of Your Life, offers daily inspiration for living joyfully and consciously. Always useful and uplifting. theconsciousconnections.com
Contemplative Outreach: This is “home” to Fr. Thomas Keating. This is a very fruitful sight. contemplativeoutreach.org
Sounds True: This community offer a vast collection of spiritual books, CD’s, music and more. They send a newsletter as well with free interviews with spiritual and leading-edge teachers of all traditions and interests. A fabulous resource. soundstrue.com.
Now You Know Media: I had no idea until I found this site that there were live recordings of Thomas Merton’s homilies and conferences, as well as other material about him. It was a wonderful find! nowyouknowmedia.com
Fr. Thomas Keating: The Contemplative Journey. In two volumes Fr. Keating reveals his deep understanding of human psychology and the spiritual journey as he guides us into our inner life to intimacy with the divine. This was an eye- and heart-opening program for me.
Tessa Bielecki, Wild at Heart: Former Carmelite nun and abbess of a monastic community, Tessa Bielecki presents a refreshing, new, invigorating, and expansive vision of the contemplative life and the Christian tradition.
Neil Douglas-Klotz: I AM: The Secret Teachings of the Aramaic Jesus. In this program, Douglas-Klotz presents the I AM sayings of Jesus (“I am the bread of life…”) as seen and heard from his native Aramaic tongue and Middle Eastern spirituality. This is an eye-opening, expansive, fascinating program that gave me a whole new way of understanding Jesus. Also by Neil Douglas-Klotz: The Hidden Gospel. He gives an interpretation of sacred texts drawn from Jesus wisdom from the Aramaic.
Matthew Fox: Radical Prayer. Fox gives us a new and dynamic way to see prayer—and its power for love and action.
Cynthia Bourgeault: Wisdom Jesus. Episcopal priest, author and teacher, she presents a stimulating and challenging program that broadens and enlightens our image and understanding of Jesus. Another refreshing and expansive program.
BOOKS
Thomas Merton: New Seeds of Contemplation (probably the most important book I have read, and reread), Ascent to Truth, Seven Storey Mountain.Fr. Thomas Keating: I have thirteen of Fr. Keating’s books, all of them extremely rewarding to a spiritual seeker. Among them are: The Mystery of Christ, Intimacy with God, Open Mind, Open Heart. Fr. Keating is a Cistercian monk in the Benedictine tradition. He is the founder of “Centering Prayer.” His books and audio programs have been great teachings for me.
Marion Woodman: Addiction to Perfection and The Pregnant Virgin gave me deep insights into my struggle with addiction and search for independence, to become an individual in my own right. She greatly enhanced my understanding of the spiritual journey. A renowned Jungian analyst and teacher, she has touched and changed many lives besides my own.
Robert Johnson: Another important Jungian whose book, WE, helped me understand the depth and meaning of romantic love and the suffering we endure through it.
M. Scott Peck: The Road Less Traveled, People of the Lie, and The Road Further Traveled have all guided, informed and affirmed my journey.
Neil Douglas-Klotz: He is an Aramaic scholar and spiritual teacher. His books and audio programs have given me a new, refreshing and surprising look into Jesus and Middle Eastern spirituality. He has radically reoriented my understanding of Jesus’ teachings. In fact, I was so excited by his work that I wanted to learn Aramaic. (But when I saw the instructional material I decided that would have to wait for another lifetime!). Blessings of the Cosmos, The Hidden Gospel, Prayer of the Cosmos.
Matthew Fox: Founder of the University of Creation Spirituality, he has worked for many years to shed new light into our understanding of the Christian tradition. Among his many books are Creation Spirituality, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, Original Blessing.
Thich Nhat Hanh; This brilliant Vietnamese Buddhist teacher has written many important books, the most recent that I read was Living Buddha, Living Christ.
Byron Katie: Founder of “The Work,” her teaching has changed my life by showing me how to look more deeply into troubling situations and emotions. Her essential book is Loving What Is.
Paul Tillich: Christian theologian and philosopher, Tillich, author of numerous books, wrote three that saved my life, pulling me out of a place of deep despair: Courage to Be, New Being, and Shaking of the Foundations.
WEBSITES
Spirituality and PracticeThis terrific community offers a wide-range of e-courses that touch every spiritual tradition you can think of and then some. They also have book reviews, a newsletter, and a number of other excellent features. spiritualityandpractice.com
Conscious Connections: Dr. Maxine Kaye, a dear friend and author of Alive and Ageless: How to Feel Alive and Live Fully Every Day of Your Life, offers daily inspiration for living joyfully and consciously. Always useful and uplifting. theconsciousconnections.com
Contemplative Outreach: This is “home” to Fr. Thomas Keating. This is a very fruitful sight. contemplativeoutreach.org
Sounds True: This community offer a vast collection of spiritual books, CD’s, music and more. They send a newsletter as well with free interviews with spiritual and leading-edge teachers of all traditions and interests. A fabulous resource. soundstrue.com.
Now You Know Media: I had no idea until I found this site that there were live recordings of Thomas Merton’s homilies and conferences, as well as other material about him. It was a wonderful find! nowyouknowmedia.com
AUDIO PROGRAMS
(All of the programs listed below have come from Sounds True)Fr. Thomas Keating: The Contemplative Journey. In two volumes Fr. Keating reveals his deep understanding of human psychology and the spiritual journey as he guides us into our inner life to intimacy with the divine. This was an eye- and heart-opening program for me.
Tessa Bielecki, Wild at Heart: Former Carmelite nun and abbess of a monastic community, Tessa Bielecki presents a refreshing, new, invigorating, and expansive vision of the contemplative life and the Christian tradition.
Neil Douglas-Klotz: I AM: The Secret Teachings of the Aramaic Jesus. In this program, Douglas-Klotz presents the I AM sayings of Jesus (“I am the bread of life…”) as seen and heard from his native Aramaic tongue and Middle Eastern spirituality. This is an eye-opening, expansive, fascinating program that gave me a whole new way of understanding Jesus. Also by Neil Douglas-Klotz: The Hidden Gospel. He gives an interpretation of sacred texts drawn from Jesus wisdom from the Aramaic.
Matthew Fox: Radical Prayer. Fox gives us a new and dynamic way to see prayer—and its power for love and action.
Cynthia Bourgeault: Wisdom Jesus. Episcopal priest, author and teacher, she presents a stimulating and challenging program that broadens and enlightens our image and understanding of Jesus. Another refreshing and expansive program.