Judith Simmer-Brown’s Contemplative Reading Practice
Dr Judith Simmer-Brown is a professor of Contemplative and Religious Studies at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. The contemplative reading practice applies the three stages of developing wisdom as outlined in the Buddhist tradition (which are very similar to the Self-Inquiry steps we explored during our Gathering):
- listening (hearing teachings),
- reflecting, and
- contemplating (thinking more deeply about what one has heard or read) and integrating this understanding with one’s life.
You might like to watch her talk about contemplative reading within the academic context and then consider how you might use a contemplative reading practice to enhance your connection with whatever book you are reading at this time.
Reflection Question
How might bringing contemplative reading into your everyday life enhance your connection with yourself?
Practice: Suggestions for this Week
If you would like some structure for your Somatic Self-Compassion practice this week, you might like to do the practices from the Living Spiritually collection.
Lectio Divina – The Contemplative Society
This article is on the website of The Contemplative Society, an organization that encourages a deepening of contemplative prayer based in the Christian Wisdom tradition. Modern day mystic, Episcopal priest, writer, and retreat leader, Reverand Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault, is the founding Director of The Contemplative Society.
The article explores contemplative reading – Lectio Divina – within the Christian tradition.
Reflection Question
If you are not a practitioner within the Christian tradition, how might the invitations in this article resonate for your sense of spirituality and connection with yourself and a sense of something larger than yourself?
Articles
You can find articles on ritual in the Ritual category on the HeartWorks website.
Somatic Self-Compassion Community on Facebook
You can see articles to support your study and practice on ritual on our Somatic Self-Compassion Community page on Facebook.