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Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation

Seven Themes of an Alternative Orthodoxy

Fifth Theme: The separate self is the problem, whereas most religion and most people make the shadow self the problem. This leads to denying, pretending, and projecting instead of real transformation into the Divine (Transformation).

The Second Split

Meditation 33 of 53

In the second split we separate our bodies from our minds. The mind is given preeminence in almost all people. The mind starts steering, judging, analyzing, fixing, controlling, and trying to dominate body and soul. Most people think they are their thinking! René Descartes was only being honest when he said “I think, therefore I am”! That’s what contemplation can help you resolve. It allows you to find the deeper self—prior to thinking about it, prior to the judgments you make and the preferences you have, and your endless mental commentary on everything.

It really doesn’t matter what you think about things, believe it or not. This is a revolutionary and humiliating breakthrough for most people. What matters is WHAT IS. People with mental illness or Alzheimer’s are clearly people who deserve reverence because they are made in the image of God and yet their mind is debilitated. That should be telling us that you are not your mind. Your mind doesn’t make you human. You are something bigger than your thinking. Some do not overcome this split till the very last hours of their life.

Adapted from an unpublished talk in Assisi, Italy, May 2012

The Daily Meditations for 2013 are now available
in Fr. Richard’s new book Yes, And . . . .

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Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation

Seven Themes of an Alternative Orthodoxy

Fifth Theme: The separate self is the problem, whereas most religion and most people make the shadow self the problem. This leads to denying, pretending, and projecting instead of real transformation into the Divine (Transformation).

The Second Split

Meditation 33 of 53

Please take a couple minutes to consider how you might help us keep these reflections coming to your inbox. Center for Action and Contemplation sends Daily Meditations by Fr. Richard to over 80,000 individuals every day, every year, at no cost to recipients. And we can continue with your help!