1. Learning to Meditate Entering the River of God’s Great Love

2. Why are we here tonight? “For the yearnings for God that stir within you are but faint and distant echoes of God’s infinite yearnings for you…” (James Finley)

3. Basics of Meditation MIND Attitude Body

4. Body Sitting in Stillness ~ Natural and relaxed manner~ Sit straight~ Close or lower eyes~ Breathe slowly, natural and relaxed manner Hands comfortably positioned

5. Mind Present, open, awake Neither clinging to or rejecting thoughts as they arise Thought arises, thought endures, thought passes away Helium balloon floating by

6. Attitude Here I am, LORD… Resting in God who Rests in YOU Letting Go Childlike simplicity The graciousness of the RIVER Heartfelt sincerity

7. How Inept We Are! Be willing to recognize and accept just how restless our restless minds tend to be… Anchoring techniques – Focus on inhalation and exhalation – Repetition of a sacred word -

8. Non-judgmental Compassion Do not judge “how it went” or “how you are doing” This is a practice, there is no way to be better, do better. Holy Goal-less-ness!!!

9. Once in the River… You will GET WET!

10. God will teach you… “If God calls you to Him, then He implicitly promises to you all the graces you need to reach Him. You must be blindly faithful to this promise.” (Thomas Merton)

11. BE STILL Be still, and know that I am God. Be still, and know that I am. Be still, and know. Be still. Be.

12. The Value of Daily Meditation

13. The Soul Finds what it needs in silence

14. Developing Heart Cognition Heart thinking Realized oneness with all things, all people Developing Inner Witness Resting in God’s gracious love always

15. Meditation evokes and sustains awareness Shifts from those moments of awakening to a more sustained richness of seeing with your heart Subtle changes over time Developing Heart Cognition

16. Closing Psalm In you O Lord, I have found my peace. I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother’s lap, So is my soul within me. In you O Lord, I have found my peace.