The School of Contemplative Life

Along with the Bhagavad Gita, Gandhi considered the Sermon on the Mount the greatest writing on nonviolence in history. He read the Sermon nearly every morning and evening for over forty years. Though not a Christian, he said its words went ‘straight to my heart.’ ‘The gentle figure of Christ – so patient, so kind, so loving, so full of forgiveness… I thought this was a beautiful example of the perfect human being.’  

A reflection on "The Cloud of Unknowing" and the power of contemplative prayer - how an ancient tradition leads us beyond thought into love, healing separation and restoring our oneness. 

A contemplative Easter reflection on Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and the resurrection. Discover how silence, surrender, and the practice of meditation open us to God’s presence—where letting go becomes the doorway to love, healing, and new life.

A reflection on Benedictine Monk, Bede Griffiths, and the meeting of Eastern and Western spiritual traditions, exploring how the journey into silence and the return to the centre reveals a deeper unity beneath all religions and offers a foundation for peace.

In this episode, we explore how the sacred can be found not only in spiritual practices but in the everyday tasks that fill our lives. Drawing on Zen and Benedictine wisdom, we reflect on the idea that enlightenment is not separate from the routines we often overlook, such as cooking or cleaning. Stories of Zen masters and Christian monks reveal how approaching each moment with mindful attention allows us to cultivate a life of wholeness, where prayer and compassion infuse every act. Listeners will be guided to see life as a continuous, sacred practice—one that invites a deep sense of stability, peace, and presence in each task. Join us as we explore how the practice of meditation can transform even the simplest of acts into a profound encounter with the divine.  

In this episode, we explore the transformative power of meditation and the understanding that God is not a separate entity to be grasped but is our very essence. Reflecting on biblical insights, particularly Jesus’ response to Philip at the Last Supper, we uncover how a dualistic mindset can obscure our awareness of oneness with the divine. Listeners are invited to let go of preconceived notions of God and simply rest in open awareness where we discover that true understanding comes not from seeking but from experiencing God as ever-present in our lives. This journey encourages a release from judgment and comparison, leading us to a profound sense of unity. Join us as we navigate this mystical journey and embrace the boundless love that connects us all.

Many of us have a difficult relationship with time.    We might wish we had more of it to finish that home project which never quite gets done. We might wish we were more efficient at using the time we do have, having chased our tail all day, before we fall into bed. We might regret the time we have spent on certain things in the past, or worry about what is likely to consume our time in the future.   It’s all too easy to feel like we are the victim of time.   In this podcast, we explore how we can transform our relationship with time through the wisdom of monasticism.

In meditation, we set out on a journey like no other.  Saying our prayer word, following our breath, we learn to travel light. Instead of packing, we unpack. Instead of trying to grasp hold of what cannot grasped, we allow ourselves to be held. Instead of worrying about finding God, or experiencing God, we allow ourselves to rest in God’s ever-present Presence.

The contemplative practice of Christian meditation has its foundation in the teachings and prayer life of Jesus. Jesus frequently withdrew to solitary or deserted places to pray. The Gospel writers skillfully record a pattern of solitary prayer, engaged compassion, and the creation of community. We don't need to find any special way of getting in touch with God. God wants to simplify us through the simplicity of silent prayer.

It takes trust to life attention off ourselves, to believe God has everything in hand. We have a tendency to want to complicate what is simple. All God wants to do, through the simplicity of prayer is simplify us, to lead us back from distractedness to wholeness. 

Religion means 'a way of getting back in touch', something that 'reconnects' and 'binds together.' It is especially important to remember some of the deepest meanings of this word at moments when some may wish to use it as a way of dividing people. Meditation helps us open up to the gift of contemplation, the gift of seeing clearly, and coming to awareness of our essential oneness with each other and all of creation.

Through meditation and self-compassion, we can gradually dissolve internal obstacles and develop a more harmonious relationship with ourselves and the world. As we learn to approach our thoughts and feelings with stillness and compassion, we unveil the ever-present peace within us.