Resources on contemplation

Books & Videos

Here are some teachings on contemplative practices that I value:

• Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach

• The One Who Is Not Busy by Darlene Cohen

• Merton's Palace of Nowhere by James Finley

• Training in Compassion by Norman Fischer

• Mind Training Part 1 & Part 2 with Thupten Jinpa
  (Part 2 explains putting space between stimulus and reaction)

• Love and Living by Thomas Merton

• A Life of One’s Own by Marion Milner

Tools

These cards and images may help you discover different practices:

• The Tree of Contemplative Practices

• The Space Deck

• Compassion Cards

Exercises

Here are some instructions for exercises:

• Metta (Loving Kindness)

• Tonglen (Sending and Receiving)

• Just Like Me Meditation

Quotes

Here are some of my favorite quotes about contemplation:

• “Something you do on your own to bring yourself back to yourself.” — Norman Fischer

• “Careful attention and quiet wonder.” — Margaret Buchmann

• “Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish, or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep inexpressible certitude of the contemplative experience awakens a tragic anguish and opens many questions in the depths of the heart like wounds that cannot stop bleeding.” — Thomas Merton

• “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing.” — Annie Dillard

Beck's Writing

Here is a collection of posts I've written about practice:

• Contemplative Reading

• Freewriting

• Personal Retreat Guide

• Uncertainty

• Sabbath

• Contemplative Arenas

• Restorative Environments

• Slow Technology

• Morning Pages