Contemplative Outreach of Colorado’s 16th Annual Conference featured speakers Fr. Thomas Keating and Bob Mischke. Fr. Keating was formally in residence at St. Benedict Monastery in Snowmass, CO. Bob Mischke is a Contemplative Outreach instructor. He is a retired surgeon, and he also ran a Christian spiritual retreat center with his wife, Genca, near Idaho Springs, CO.
In his presentation, Fr. Keating discussed the human condition and Oneness in the world, emphasizing the Lenten season. He explained that the human condition must be viewed in the broader context of 13.7 billion years of an evolutionary plan that continues to unfold and has shifted from the biological to the spiritual level. He described Lent as an invitation for us to grow beyond our childish limitations and experience an “inner resurrection” in which we become more fully integrated human beings. We can fully participate in the Divine plan through this process, transforming ourselves and the whole human family.
In his talk, Bob Mischke drew parallels between Fr. Keating’s description of the false self and Tolle’s use of the term “pain body.” Bob explains that both Keating and Tollé teach that the most significant obstacle on our spiritual journey is “the tyranny of the mind,” or the over-identification with our thoughts. Centering Prayer teaches us to let go of the continual stream of thoughts through the practice of interior silence, while Tollé emphasizes being in the “present moment.” Mischke outlined a series of simple techniques suggested by Tollé that can help us return to the present moment amid the daily living.
