Hey Friends - co-facilitating a Charis Meditation Circle has me tuning-in anew to what it means to listen and speak with maximum receptivity.
1) Listening itself can be a contemplative disposition, an exercise of attentiveness and reverence…which awakens our inmost self. Such listening is not only to the external words but beyond them…in a communion. What is transmitted is not only the words but all the intentionality and being of the speaker. Such listening is not hurried…is not analyzed… The deeper our inner silence as we hear something, the more we hear it and the more profound effect it has.
- Adapted from the CD Guidebook to Heartfulness (Transformation in Christ), Thomas Keating/Betty Sue Flowers interviews.
2) The things you do not have to say make you rich. Saying things you do not have to say weakens your talk. Hearing things you know before you hear them - those are you. Those are why you are in the world. - William Stafford, Poet
3) Silence is G_d's first language; everything else is a poor translation. - Thomas Keating, Monk
About Ronald L. Barnett
Welcome to Hey World - a home for my writings, much of it autobiographically-inspired. My hope is that they entertain, educate, and inspire. I’m simpatico with Enid Sinclair who told Wednesday Addams, ‘’I write in my voice. It’s my truth!” I hope you enjoy them. And if you subscribe and have comments, I’d love to hear from you.
I received the Doctorate in Psychology (concentration in human cognition and learning) and after 5 years working as a community-based mental health clinician, I worked in medical research with the National Institutes of Health for the remainder of my career.
I served Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. (CO) as a teacher, group facilitator, retreat leader, Chapter Coordinator, Board Member and Trustee and taught with The Miksang Institute for Contemplative Photography.
As of 2020 I retired, hosted the podcast All Things Contemplative, and still volunteer with CO. I also facilitate Charis Circles with the Charis Foundation for the New Monasticism and Interspirituality - and enjoy information technologies, photography, nature, swimming, biking, and kayaking.
