One of our first tasks as a human being—from the moment we’re born—is to form a healthy sense of self. Without it, we can’t navigate the world, form relationships, and move choicefully towards the things we want. At a certain point, though, our sense of self starts to get in the way. We start to mistake our possessions, even our ideas, for who we really are. Jesus, master teacher, saw this pitfall in our humanity and instructed us to turn away from these attachments, to accept the cross as he did. Contemplative prayer can show us the way. 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 3-day meditation retreat (December 11th-13th)
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Episode 19: Quality of Prayer
There is prayer, and then there is prayer. When you pray, do you ever get the sense that you’re not really praying? That nothing much is happening? Through the teachings of John Climacus, a 7th century spiritual teacher, and through personal story, Thomas speaks to the importance of attention in our prayer life. Ultimately, our quality of attention and quality of prayer turn out to be one and the same offering. Upcoming, in-person offerings with Thomas: 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)
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Episode 18: The Source of Life
What would it be like if, at will, we could “silence the mind and be aware at the core of our being.” Sufi Master, Kabir Helminski writes that from these depths we receive “help from the Source of Life.” As we learn to join ourselves with this Source—some would call it God—we find that it contains all the qualities of Spirit in potential, waiting to express through our unique vessel. Upcoming, in-person offerings with Thomas: 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)
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Episode 17: Die Before You Die
Jesus tells us that “unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone.” Rumi, the Sufi poet, echoes this wisdom, declaring that, “Except for dying…no other skill impresses God.” What does this mean? How do we “die before we die?” Prepare to enter the mystery in this episode and discover what “plentiful harvest” awaits on the other side of life. Upcoming, in-person offerings with Thomas: 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)
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Episode 16: All Things New
Father Richard Rohr shared at a recent gathering that his spiritual practice nowadays is to, “ look at something till I love it. It doesn’t take very long.” What could this mean? What would that be like? Thomas shares a related scripture in this episode and invites you to see with the eyes of love, and to marvel how all things are made new. Upcoming, in-person offerings with Thomas: 7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th) 9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)
What gifts can contemplative spirituality offer to a world that is crying out for a greater Love and Freedom? Animated by a vision of interspiritual dialogue, meditation teacher Thomas McConkie searches Christianity and the world’s Wisdom traditions for gems and insights into awakening, transformation, and the soul’s journey Home. One Heart One Mind is both a podcast and sacred space where you can come to rest, deepen your connection with the Divine, and let your heart be as big as it actually is.
One Heart One Mind is a proud member of the Faith Matters Podcast Network. Learn more at faithmatters.org.
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