The Cloud of Unknowing: Session 2

Turning to the Mystics with James Finley

Center for Action and Contemplation

Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.8 • 1.8K Ratings

🗓️ 28 March 2022

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This is the second session that focuses on the mystical text, The Cloud of Unknowing. In the tenor of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, James Finley begins with a passage from The Cloud of Unknowing, and reflects on the qualitative essence of the spirit of this text, and finishes with a meditative practice. Resources: Turning to the Mystics is a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation. To learn more about Jim, visit jamesfinley.org  For the transcript for this podcast can be found here. The book being used for this season can be found here. Connect with us: We also produce other podcasts you might enjoy. To learn more about them and our other offerings, visit cac.org This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to a podcast by the Center for Action and Contemplation to learn more
0:05.0	visit caac.org.
0:08.0	Greetings. I'm Jim Finley. Welcome to Turning to the Mistakes.
0:23.0	Greetings, everyone. Welcome to our time here together.
0:28.0	Turning for guidance through the teachings of the Christian Mystic,
0:33.0	the anonymous author, the cloud of unknowing.
0:38.0	We've left off in our session so far,
0:44.0	exploring the author's guidelines for a way to practice contemplative prayer,
0:51.0	which is the basis for chapter three.
0:55.0	And these guidelines are very simple in a way, the author says,
1:00.0	to sit in this act and to be in this, to practice this contemplative prayer,
1:05.0	lift your heart up to the Lord with a gentle stirring of love,
1:09.0	desiring Him for His own sake and not for His gifts.
1:13.0	Center all your attention and desire on Him,
1:16.0	and let this be the sole concern of your mind and heart.
1:20.0	Do all in your power to forget everything else,
1:24.0	keeping your thoughts and desires free from involvement,
1:27.0	with any of God's creatures or their affairs,
1:30.0	whether in general or in particular.
1:34.0	Well, we saw in order to understand these guidelines.
1:38.0	We have to understand what the author of the cloud is
1:42.0	helping us to understand the face of living the Christian life
	...

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