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News from New Mexico

A Monthly Newsletter from the Center for Action and Contemplation

Black Lives Matter

In the tradition of Jesus, St. Francis, and mystics from all traditions, our goal at the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) is to provide spiritual wisdom that supports both inner and outer transformation. In our view, we can only grow in our understanding of the sacredness of all life when we challenge and disrupt forces that reflect anything less. Action and Contemplation are inextricable.
As Fr. Richard shared recently, for those on a contemplative path, “The question is no longer ‘How can I maintain my special and secure status?’ It is ‘How can we all grow and change together?’ I think the acceptance of that invitation to solidarity with the larger pain of the world is what it means to be a ‘Christian.’”
This past week, in solidarity with activists around the world who are prophetically demanding justice for all Black people who have faced violence—George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and too many others—the CAC sought to amplify stories and messages from those most impacted by racialized violence. Our Daily Meditations also directly addressed contemplation and racism.
Anti-Blackness and racism are spiritual evils that impoverish us all. They demand both honest recognition and our participation in a systemic response. As an organization with a predominantly White staff and community, I also recognize our particular responsibility to be part of the solution.
In the coming weeks, we will continue to share messages from members of our core faculty and highlight other opportunities for our community to learn and engage further. I welcome all feedback and pledge to seek ongoing accountability to Black and other communities of color. We will continue to listen for what is ours to do.
In hope and solidarity,
Michael Poffenberger
Executive Director
Center for Action and Contemplation

A Time For Contemplative Action

In 1968, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and many others called for a “revolution of values” in America. They sought to build a broad, fusion movement that could unite poor and impacted communities across the country.

Today, the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival has picked up this unfinished work. People across the nation are working together to confront the interlocking evils of systemic racism, poverty, climate change and ecological devastation, militarism and the war economy, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism.

The most important word in our Center’s name is “and.” We need both contemplation and action. As Dr. King noted, “Prayer is a marvelous and necessary supplement of our feeble efforts, but it is a dangerous substitute.” Contemplation teaches us what is ours to do and how to do it without egoic, partisan motivations. Grounded in prayer, our work becomes practical and transformational.

We invite you to join us on June 20 for the Mass Poor People's Assembly & Moral March on Washington, DC: A Digital Gathering for the largest digital and social media gathering of poor and low-income people, moral and religious leaders, advocates, and people of conscience in this nation’s history.

Register today for the free digital gathering on June 20, 2020

New Episodes of Turning to the Mystics

Turning to the Mystics, a podcast with Center for Action and Contemplation faculty member James Finley, opens season two with a focus on Saint Teresa of Avila, the 16th century Christian mystic who taught simplicity, poverty, and contemplative prayer.

Teresa’s story inspires us to hold on to courage in troubled times. For most of her life she was plagued by pain and illness—from frequent fevers to a three-year paralysis. Through this, as in all else, Teresa learned how to let go of her own will and trust in God, writing that God gives no one more troubles than we are able to bear. Each episode in season two includes a reading from one of Teresa’s texts, reflecting upon that text and concluding with meditation and prayer.

Listen to Turning to the Mystics

Learn Immortal Diamond with Richard Rohr

Based on Richard Rohr’s bestselling book, this online course is for those longing to reconnect to their spiritual identity. When the ego is in the driver’s seat and we let it dictate our course, we move further away from our God-given calling. What better time to journey into who you really are—a spiritual being having a human experience—than right here, right now?

Apply for financial assistance by July 22. Registration closes July 29.

Learn more about this 10-week online course

What Do We Do With Evil?

This is a time of great collective and personal disorder, and we're each seeing that play out in ways never experienced before. In his book What Do We Do With Evil? Richard Rohr writes:

“We are all in the sin system together and we all pass on some of it through the woundedness that we cannot see in ourselves, but only in others, which is surely why we must love our chosen enemies (because there our shadow is trying to reveal itself to us). We are all on this journey together and we are all in need of liberation (which might be a better word than salvation)—together. Note that God’s intention is not guilt and shame for the individual (which actually disempowers), but solidarity with and universal responsibility for the whole.”

In these ongoing times of suffering and disorder, it’s clear that we have too long been complicit in systems of hate and oppression. In this timely book, Fr. Richard skillfully distills his teaching on corporate evil, sin, forgiveness, and love as an invitation to encounter evil with a contemplative, nondual mind. What Do We Do With Evil? challenges readers to look beyond personal moral failure to “increase personal responsibility and human solidarity.” Fr. Richard offers no easy solutions but leaves readers with principles and a process for resisting evil with contemplation and love.

Order a copy of What Do We Do With Evil?

Cynthia Bourgeault’s Introductory Wisdom School

Explore teachings from the earliest days of Christianity— but in ways that suit today’s world—with Cynthia Bourgeault and other spiritual seekers on the journey toward living in a Wisdom way. This online course integrates Cynthia’s teachings and contemplative practice to offer an embodied experience. Cultivate a Wisdom rhythm in your daily life through reflection and engagement with contemplative practices and teachings.

Apply for financial assistance by July 29. Registration closes August 5.

Learn more about this 14-week online course

Resources on Race and Social Justice

The topic of race and social justice is very important to the work we do at the CAC. These resources have influenced the thinking of our staff and teachers, and we encourage you to look through them, see what resonates with you, and to incorporate those sources to continue into your understanding of this issue. We've broken them up into categories so that you can choose the medium which is best for you.

Articles

Books

Film

Podcasts

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Image credit: The Center for Action and Contemplation offices in the South Valley of Albuquerque, New Mexico.