Overview
Several years ago I started compiling excerpts from the writings of various Buddhist and Christian authors that I considered particularly relevant to my experience and understanding of formal contemplative practice (silent prayer/meditation). Subsequently, I organized a number of these excerpted quotations together into coherent pieces that could be read as if written by a single author directly pointing out key phenomenal elements of contemplative silence (i.e. ‘mindfulness’ for all you committed secularists) - regardless of the specific tradition in which that practice might take place or the language used to convey what one’s intention is there.
As Anglican contemplative Maggie Ross has noted, the insights and the processes of silence are open to everyone because the fundamental workings of the human mind are universal. In this respect I think it most appropriate that evocative and instructive reflections about the fundamental processes of ‘engaging silence’ be presented by a collage of voices speaking in unison across time and tradition. Likewise, with certain ecumenisms* in mind, I assembled the material presented here in what I call ‘contemplative collage’ form using quotations written in phenomenally descriptive/prescriptive language. Which is to say that though the wording in them is sometimes figurative, they do not include overtly religious terms, mostly - in a few cases I edited out certain words I did not consider essential to the practical point being conveyed. While this approach may render these collages less than completely inspiring for some, I believe it makes their content more widely accessible and practicable, regardless of whether one is committed to a traditional religious faith, uncommitted, or something in between.**
Finally, the title of this newsletter is taken from the opening line of the collage ‘Bewildered Mindfulness’, which refers to silent contemplative engagement with the bewildering array of self-generated contents in one’s mind.*** The intention in such engagement is neither to banish nor transform bewilderment, (though either can sometimes happen) but rather to open oneself to the discovery of pure goodness there by naturally inquiring into it for the benefit of all with composure and precision. For a more evocative elaboration on this last point see the excerpt from Ken McLeod’s book, A Trackless Path, in my post of the same title. ‘Thank you everybody’ for your engagement and please feel free to address any comments or questions to me, <geovock@gmail.com>.
* At the very least, a contemplative ecumenism between different faith traditions, as well as between the sacred and profane.
** In addition to the three contemplative collages presented here, Bewildered Mindfulness ; Engaging Silence ; and Nothing Doing, I will also publish occasional personal reflections and expository essays.
*** Here, for simplicity’s sake, as well as in the title of this newsletter, I use the word ‘mind’ in the sense of the Chinese/Japanese character, 心 (xin/shin) which though usually translated into English as mind, refers to both heart and mind, or heart/mind.