CLF seeks to raise our awareness of our connectedness
In a world where materialism is the order of the day, and we have come to mistrust established institutions, it is vital for individuals and communities to find some methodology for grounding their lives. CLF seeks to raise awareness of our connectedness with Source and each other in ways that lend to wholesome growth and evolution.
Our Mission
To teach, to support, to journey with fellow seekers on the path to enlightenment.
Our Vision
Fostering Love and Personal Growth through Contemplative Self-Discovery.
The Path of Contemplation
Contemplation lies somewhere between Meditation and Concentration. The latter two may be considered extremes. The former is without concentration on any specific item, while the latter, as its name suggests, is based on a focused intention.
The Contemplative person, therefore, is a person who practices this method of engagement with the world and who seeks to be open and more self-aware.
The Standpipe
There are some precious things we journey through as soul travellers. One of these is the awareness of the presence, love, and care of others, others who are not our immediate family but are concerned for us for some reason. Looking back, one can see the Standpipe in the old Caribbean context. It provided a place where women gathered for their daily water supply for the family, where they shared their stories and received support. In many ways, these encounters lightened the burden of life’s challenges. It is here that many women found support and enduring love for their daily task of caring for their family. At CLF, we desire to be where people can experience the presence, love, care and support for their soul’s journey. Join us!
The Organization
The Contemplative Life Foundation was started in 2009 following a retreat by James Finley at Codrington College in Barbados. On that occasion, a look was taken at the life of Thomas Merton and Finley’s experience of being a novice under Merton. Given the sentiments expressed for an opportunity to journey as a community and share and learn, there was a need to go beyond the one occasion. The organization was formed, therefore, in an attempt to promote the practice of contemplation and other general meditation methodologies in the region.
Since these early beginnings, CLF has staged many other retreats and sought to bring persons who have significantly contributed to Contemporary Spirituality to the Caribbean community. In January 2017, CLF, in association with Codrington College, featured Cynthia Bourgeault in a retreat entitled – Known by the One as the One Being Known. The following year, the work continued with a Spirituality Symposium under the theme Timeless Spirituality, featuring John Dupuy, founder of iAwake Technologies.
