Chapter 5: Inner Conditioning
CHOOSING PRESENCE PP. 47-54
Overview
In Chapter 5 - Inner Conditioning, author Jim Heaney discusses the concept of inner conditioning as a spiritual practice that helps individuals navigate suffering, pain, and build inner confidence in God's spiritual being. He emphasizes the importance of stillness and the breath as a path to inner peace, contrasting it with the negative ego's resistance to the present moment. Heaney highlights three key questions for self-assessment: understanding peace, recognizing its absence, and knowing how to return to it. He quotes Richard Rohr and Thomas Merton, underscoring the transformative power of presence and the necessity of consistent practice to maintain a contemplative state.
The present moment holds infinite riches beyond your wildest dreams but you will only enjoy them to the extent of your faith and love. The more a soul loves, the more it longs, the more it hopes, the more it finds.
— Jean-Pierre de Caussade, SJ, The Sacrament of the Present Moment
Practice Presence
Practicing presence is an essential daily practice while learning and developing a regular centering and contemplative personal routine.
Begin Your PracticeThe Morning Practice
The "Morning Practice" in the Practicing Presence app is the easiest way to develop a regular practice.
Chapter 5 Summary
Review Jim Heaney's summary of “Inner Conditioning” to anchor your understanding of the chapter.
