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Opening Minds, Opening Hearts

Opening Minds, Opening Hearts

Written by: Contemplative Outreach Limited
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About this listen

 Are you seeking to deepen your interior life through the practice of Centering Prayer? Do you have a desire to develop a closer connection to the divine as well as those around you?

Opening Minds, Opening Hearts is a podcast for both the curious meditator and long-time practitioner of Centering Prayer. On each episode, hosts Colleen Thomas and Mark Dannenfelser will reflect on the method of Centering Prayer with some friends of Contemplative Outreach who share their personal experiences of encountering God through the prayer, and through their work in the world. Topics discussed will include New Monasticism, the value of silence, the practice of contemplation and the call to social action.

Through this podcast, we hope to provide new perspectives on the future of this prayer in the rapidly changing spiritual and technological landscape. Centering Prayer is a practice and a gift and we are excited to share this blessing with our listeners.Contemplative Outreach Limited Christianity Ministry & Evangelism Spirituality
Episodes
  • S3 EP11: May We All Be One

    S3 EP11: May We All Be One
    Apr 6 2025
    As we wrap up Season 3 of the Opening Minds, Opening Hearts podcast, we find ourselves reflecting on a season that has been both challenging and enlightening. We’ve had the privilege of engaging in conversations with guests from a variety of spiritual traditions, each offering profound insights into the nature of Ultimate Reality and non-duality from their spiritual traditions.

    It has been all about expansion—of our hearts, minds, and understanding. We’ve explored how our contemplative practices open us up to new ways of seeing and being, helping us move beyond the boundaries of dualistic thinking. The idea of Ultimate Reality as a shared experience, something we can only begin to describe through stories, metaphors, and silence, has deeply shaped our reflections. Our guests invited us to consider how connection, kinship, and the experience of God weave through all of life.

    To connect further with us:
    • Visit our website: www.contemplativeoutreach.org
    • Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prayerofconsent
    • Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prayerofconsent
    • Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@prayerofconsent
    • To learn more about the founding theological principles of Contemplative Outreach, visit https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/vision/

    Stream and Download the Opening Minds, Opening Hearts Podcast NOW for FREE on Apple Podcast, Google, Amazon and Spotify!
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    32 mins
  • S3 EP10: Integrating Our Interspiritual Dialogues With a Lifelong Practitioner with Sr. Mary Margaret Funk

    S3 EP10: Integrating Our Interspiritual Dialogues With a Lifelong Practitioner with Sr. Mary Margaret Funk
    Mar 23 2025
    Welcome back, everyone! We’re so glad you’re joining us as we introduce our final guest of the season. It’s hard to believe how quickly this season has flown by, but we’re wrapping things up with a truly special guest in this episode. Sister Mary Margaret Funk is a Benedictine nun who has been deeply involved in interreligious dialogue and contemplative practices for decades.

    Sister Meg shares her profound insights on the teachings of Father Thomas Keating, her journey through various spiritual traditions, and the importance of understanding our thoughts in relation to God. We also explore the nuances of contemplative prayer, the significance of spiritual senses, and the universal quest for Unitive Consciousness.

    To find out more:
    • Check out Thoughts Matter and other books in the Matters Series written by Sr. Meg: https://litpress.org/Products/3572/The-Matters-Series?srsltid=AfmBOorbxobhc-pGCMe32NPCP7iuqPM7gXJukR8NqlF05IFqWCFYfbxd
    • Check out the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue website: https://dimmid.org/
    • Listen to the audio files created by Sister Mary Margaret Funk and Kathleen Cahalan which form the 100-day St. Enda Retreat (click on the dropdown arrow): https://stjosephmonastery.org/retreats/#stenda
    To connect further with us:
    • Visit our website: www.contemplativeoutreach.org
    • Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prayerofconsent
    • Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prayerofconsent
    • Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@prayerofconsent
    • To learn more about Father Thomas Keating’s guidelines for service and principles visit www.contemplativeoutreach.org/vision.
    Stream and Download the Opening Minds, Opening Hearts Podcast NOW for FREE on Apple Podcast, Google, Amazon and Spotify!
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    52 mins
  • S3 EP9: Divine Sight Through the Lens of Mercy with Abdul-Rehman Malik

    S3 EP9: Divine Sight Through the Lens of Mercy with Abdul-Rehman Malik
    Mar 9 2025
    Welcome to another episode of Opening Minds, Opening Hearts. This time, we are joined by Abdul-Rehman Malik, affectionately known as AR, an award-winning journalist, educator, and cultural organizer whose life story is deeply intertwined with themes of migration, faith, and social justice.

    As a lecturer at Yale Divinity School and the Yale Jackson School for Global Affairs, AR directs a leadership program focused on social justice and public service. His podcast, "This Being Human," explores the intersections of faith, culture, and social change, inviting meaningful dialogue and action. Through his work, AR embodies the belief that mercy, justice, and compassion are essential in navigating the complexities of our world.

    Join us as we reflect on the nature of Ultimate Reality, the importance of community practice, and the power of mercy in a fractured world, drawing on AR’s rich experiences across the globe.

    To connect with AR:
    • Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armalik/
    • Follow him on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/armalik
    • Follow him on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/armalik
    • Listen more on his podcast,This Being Human: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-being-human/id1549041471

    To connect further with us:
    • Visit our website: www.contemplativeoutreach.org
    • Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prayerofconsent
    • Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prayerofconsent
    • Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@prayerofconsent
    • To learn more about Father Thomas Keating’s guidelines for service and principles visit www.contemplativeoutreach.org/vision.

    Stream and Download the Opening Minds, Opening Hearts Podcast NOW for FREE on Apple Podcast, Google, Amazon and Spotify!
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
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