Genesis School for Contemplative Living

"Contemplative communities are more than ever necessary to counterbalance the deep resistance to maturity and evolution as a species. As Jung said in 1960, 'our technology is outpacing our consciousness'; we are at a crossroads and the coming together for contemplative practice and action is essential." -Brother Don Bisson

Genesis School for Contemplative Living, 2020 Cohort

Overview

Genesis’ second incarnation of the School for Contemplative Living will begin in September 2019. With five residential weekends, and in-person or online group meetings between sessions, the school is a nine-month formation program for the contemplative journey, rooted in the Christian wisdom tradition in an emerging, Interspiritual, ecological and socially-engaged framework. The GSCL qualifies for CEU credits through Our Lady of the Elms College.

Theological Approach

This program will be taught through Christian, Contemplative, Evolutionary, Prophetic, and Interspiritual lenses.

Learning Outcomes

To develop a daily contemplative practice

To develop a Rule of Life

To integrate skillfulness in daily life and dealing with difficult emotions; to cultivate an embodied spirituality

To have an intellectual and theological framework for understanding this moment in history.

To understand and apply the School lenses to your life circumstance: Christian, Contemplative, Evolutionary, Interspiritual, Prophetic.

Each residential weekend will have specific learning outcomes related to the content for that weekend.

Dates for the On-Site Sessions

September 26-29, November 15-17, 2019 and January 10-12; March 13-15, and May 14-17, 2020

Components

Five residential weekends

Reading assignments

Small group video conferencing between residential weekends

On-line message board / Q&A forum

15 minute mentoring session with faculty at each residential session

Practices

We will teach and experience a variety of contemplative practices including but not limited to:

Silence Practices Centering Prayer, Christian Meditation (John Main), Mindfulness, Loving Kindness, Teacher/family/Ancestors/benefactors, Prayer of the Heart, Mantram meditation, Practicing Presence/folk prayer; Lectio Divina.

Body Practices: BioSpiritual Focusing, Shinrin Yoku/Forest Air Bathing, Chanting, Qi Gong

Intended Audience

For beginners and experienced meditators alike.

For people from all and no faith background who are interested in the Christian contemplative tradition.

Fee Structure

Tuition for the nine-month program, materials, and room and board for five weekend sessions is $2,800 if paid in two or more installments, or $2,500 if paid in full by August 1, 2019. Financial aid is available.

Tuition & Materials	$1,245
Room and Board or Five Weekends/12 nights; 36 meals	$1,555
Total	$2,800

The School qualifies for 8 Religious Studies CEUs through Our Lady of the Elms College!

Application

For more information or to receive the application for the Genesis School for Contemplative Living by mail, contact
JComerford@GenesisSpiritualCenter.org
413-562-3627 ext. 105

You may download the application here: GSCL Application. Applications are due by midnight on Friday, May 31, 2019 with a $35 nonrefundable application fee.