The Tao of Contemplation : Re-Sourcing the Inner Life Book

	Preface	ix
	Acknowledgments	xv
	A Note on Language	xvii
	Introduction	xix
Chapter 1.	The Inner Life	1
	Two Journeys	2
	The Route Home	5
	The Fruits of the Contemplative Life	6
Chapter 2.	Contemplation--The Natural Way	9
	A Taoist Twist	9
	The Natural Way	11
	Feeling Our Way Along	12
	True to the Essence	14
Chapter 3.	Clearing the Space	17
	Creating Open Space	17
	Letting Go of Structure	19
	Taking Time for Renewal	20
	Honoring the Empty Spaces	22
Chapter 4.	Return to Simplicity	25
	Simple Pleasures	25
	The Simplicity of Being	26
	Voluntary Simplicity	27
	Holy and Unholy Poverty	29
	A Misunderstanding of Abundance	31
Chapter 5.	The Middle Way	34
	The Capacity for Restraint	37
	Exploration: Gluttony	37
	Exploration: Practicing Restraint	39
	Renunciation Without Pain	40
	The Gifts of Detachment	42
	The Capacity for Enjoyment	43
	The Tao's Middle Way	44
Chapter 6.	Sometimes Two, Sometimes One	47
	The Path of Solitude	48
	Exploration: What It Means to Be Alone	49
	The Path of Conscious Relationship	50
	The Urge to Merge	51
	Sometimes Two, Sometimes One	53
Chapter 7.	Dropping into Silence	55
	Stepping Out of Mind-Spin	55
	Meditation and Contemplative Prayer	57
	Silence in Nature and in Our Lives	59
	Exploration: Sensing in Nature	59
	Exploration: Drenched in Silence	60
	Silence as Gift	62
Chapter 8.	Perfect Receptivity	63
	To Wait in Silence	63
	Empty Hands	65
	Exploration: Waiting with Empty Hands	65
	Yin Mind	66
	Contemplative Reading and Writing	67
	Contemplative Living	68
Chapter 9.	Open Presence	70
	Barriers to Openness	71
	Exploration: Who is the Enemy?	72
	Open Presence	73
	Living with an Open Heart	75
	Exploration: Open Presence	75
	Exploration: Exploring Your Fears	78
Chapter 10.	Healing into the Present Moment	80
	The Case for Transformation	80
	Following Your Experience	82
	Exploration: Staying with Your Experience	86
	Now and Zen	87
Chapter 11.	Letting Go	89
	Letting Go of Control	90
	Exploration: What Might Happen?	91
	Freefall	91
	Exploration: The Current	94
	Moving with the Tao	94
Chapter 12.	Self Dissolves	97
	What Is the Self?	97
	Exploration: Beneath the Surface	99
	Recognizing the Light	99
	The Experience of No-Self	102
	Resting in Emptiness	102
Chapter 13.	The Way of Love	105
	The Lovers of God	105
	Remembrance	108
	Loving God's Many Faces	110
	Praise and Thanksgiving	112
	Exploration: Thanksgiving Ritual	113
	Love in Action	114
Chapter 14.	Riches of the Night	117
	Mystical Union	118
	On the Way to the Beloved	121
	Bibliography	125
	Suggested Reading List	127
	Index	129
	About the Author	135