Thomas pokes his finger into the wound on the resurrected Jesus' chest with a look of disbelief on his face.

    Image: The Incredulity of Saint Thomas (detail), c. 1601-1602, by Caravaggio   

Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation

Seven Themes of an Alternative Orthodoxy

Seventh Theme: Reality is paradoxical and complementary. Non-dual thinking is the highest level of consciousness. Divine union, not private perfection, is the goal of all religion (Goal).

Pure Presence

Meditation 10 of 52

Wisdom is bright and does not grow dim . . . and is found by those who look for her.   — Wisdom 6:13

Wisdom is not the gathering of more facts and information, as if that would eventually coalesce into truth. Wisdom is a new, different way of seeing and knowing the “ten thousand things”. I suggest that wisdom is precisely the freedom to be truly present to what is right in front of you. Presence is wisdom! People who are fully present know how to see fully, rightly, and truthfully.

Presence is the one thing necessary for wisdom, and in many ways, it is the hardest thing of all. Just try to keep (1) your heart space open, (2) your mind without division or resistance, and (3) your body not somewhere else—and all at the same time! Most religions just decided it was easier to believe doctrines and obey often arbitrary laws than the truly converting work of being present. Those who can be present will know what they need to know, and in a wisdom way.

Adapted from The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See, pp. 59-60

The Daily Meditations for 2013 are now available
in Fr. Richard’s new book Yes, And . . . .

Give a CAC Bookstore certificate, an invitation to transformation and peace.

 
 

the Mendicant (mendicant: beggar) -- In the Franciscan Tradition -- a free, bi-monthly newsletter of the Center for Action and Contemplation


Learn the latest from CAC and the Rohr Institute in our newsletter,
the Mendicant:

  • Fr. Richard explores the Jesus Hermeneutic.
  • The sky fell and our chickens didn’t even warn us!
  • Co-conspirators inspire and challenge.
  • The Living School begins.

Read all at cac.org.

Did you get this message forwarded from someone else? Wish to sign up for CAC's email lists yourself? Subscribe to CAC email lists here.

You are receiving this message because you subscribed to the CAC’s “Daily Meditations and CAC Updates ” email list. You can unsubscribe or change your email preferences at any time. If you would like to change your email address, please email a request to techassist@cac.org with your current and new email addresses.

Please do not reply to this email. For more info about:

•  Living School, visit cac.org/rohr-inst.

•  CAC Events, visit cac.org/events.

•  CAC Bookstore, visit store.cac.org.

•  Supporting CAC, visit cac.org/support-cac.

•  Technical Help, email techassist@cac.org.