One Heart One Mind

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

Most of us hear that line as a pious ideal. The Desert Mothers and Fathers heard it as an instruction. In the 4th century, they walked out into the Egyptian wilderness to take Yeshua at his word, and what they built there was not a theology but a practice: a grounded, day-by-day path for purifying the heart. Evagrius, one of the sharpest minds of the desert, distilled that path into practical steps anyone can follow. In this episode, Thomas walks through his teaching and asks what it would mean for us to take it just as seriously today.

The surprise at the end of the road? It isn't our effort that gets us there. It's Christ's mercy that carries us into what Evagrius called "pure prayer": total intimacy with the Divine.

If you are looking for mentoring and authentic companionship as you walk a path similar to the Desert Mothers and Fathers, we'd love for you to join Thomas and the Lower Lights community in the mountains of the high desert for a 3-day contemplative retreat this December. https://lowerlightswisdom.org/classes/p/3-day-contemplative-retreat-the-desert-mothers-and-fathers-december-2026

Whether we realize it or not, the Desert Mothers and Fathers are spiritual giants on whose shoulders we stand in the Christian tradition. In the harsh landscapes of Egypt, and later Syria and Palestine, they faced their own humanity and their demons to an astonishing degree, leaving behind a priceless body of teaching for purifying the heart and seeing God.

Join us in the mountains and high desert of Salt Lake City, December 3–5, for an immersive retreat in the life and teachings of the Desert Mothers and Fathers: 3‑Day Contemplative Retreat: The Desert Mothers & Fathers — Lower Lights

There is a renaissance afoot, unlike any we've seen before. It asks us to become something new and to take part in the birth of a new world. There will be pain and sorrow, yes, but a greater measure of joy. Join Thomas as he shares what this renaissance is teaching him, and what it asks of all of us.

If all of creation is the site of divine self-disclosure (theophany) — God's longing to be known — then perhaps nowhere is God more felt than in the divine qualities of the human heart. In part II, Thomas shares a personal account of how he came to know some of God's most profound qualities through his grandmother. He then expands the scope of theophany to include all of humanity — the qualities that you uniquely embody in this sacred world.

Join Thomas for a 7-day meditation retreat in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. October 19-26: https://lowerlightswisdom.org/upcomingevents/7-day-silent-retreat-2026-october

The wisdom traditions bear witness that the universe is not some cold place that is indifferent to you. Rather, teachings across the Abrahamic faiths suggest creation is more like a love letter from God — an invitation to intimately know God's divine being and to participate in ongoing creation. Theophany literally means "divine appearance," or "divine self-disclosure."

In part I of this two-part teaching, Thomas reflects on how the natural world reveals the divine qualities through beauty and majesty, and in so doing, calls us all into a deeper love.

Join Thomas for a 7-day meditation retreat in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. October 19-26: https://lowerlightswisdom.org/upcomingevents/7-day-silent-retreat-2026-october"

Wouldn't it be so nice if we could just sit around and meditate all day? But there's so much stuff to do — so many responsibilities to meet. Thomas introduces the wisdom pattern of Doing and Being through the story of Mary and Martha in this episode. We find that both styles of spirituality illustrated in the story are absolutely necessary. When we're fully present, life's demands stop pulling us away from the Divine — and start pulling us toward it.

Is your inner Martha on hyperdrive? Learn to bring a deep quality of Being into all your activity at a 7-day meditation retreat with Thomas, October 19-26: https://lowerlightswisdom.org/upcomingevents/7-day-silent-retreat-2026-october

One Heart One Mind is back! And now, we're on Youtube, too. Thomas kicks off the season with a wisdom teaching from Yeshua — the parable of the feast. Who in their right mind would say "no" to the most splendid party in town? It turns out, all of us. The master sends his servant out to invite guests to the royal banquet, but each one is too busy, and begs to be excused. How can we make sense of this? By understanding ourselves as those guests. Listen in as we learn to say "yes!" to the invitation that is always before us.

Come feast with Thomas at a 7-day meditation retreat in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. October 19-26:

https://lowerlightswisdom.org/upcomingevents/7-day-silent-retreat-2026-october

In the final episode of this season, Thomas speaks to the role of sincerity in prayer life. Many of us have a tendency to think we've got to do it all—that if we're going to grow spiritually, we've got to do it by the sweat of our brow. But in a world of Grace, a little sincerity goes a very long way indeed.

7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th)

3-day meditation retreat (December 11th-13th)

This is a continuation of last week's episode about committing more fully to life's challenging moments. Thomas explores the sacred, transformative element of suffering that we can turn to in times of agony and distress. The more willingness we cultivate to remain present through life's trials, the more we find Christ's Love invincibly present in us and through us as a catalyzing force making all things holy.

7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th)

3-day meditation retreat (December 11th-13th)

In a world moving at hyperspeed, it's difficult enough to find a moment to touch into genuine stillness. But even if we do manage to center ourselves in prayer and meditation, how do we remain still and centered throughout the full catastrophe of each day's events? Thomas shares a practice in this episode that will help you "train to remain" in stillness, to abide in a deep reservoir of Silence.

7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th)

3-day meditation retreat (December 11th-13th)

It is easy to assume that we know ourselves. After all, who could be more familiar with me than, well, me? But contemplation teaches us that there are many layers to the self, some superficial, but others so hidden from us that only God can know us at these extraordinary depths. Enter an exploration in this episode with guidance from St. Augustine and the wisdom teachings of Jesus to discover your True Self.

7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th)

3-day meditation retreat (December 11th-13th)

One of our first tasks as a human being—from the moment we're born—is to form a healthy sense of self. Without it, we can't navigate the world, form relationships, and move choicefully towards the things we want. At a certain point, though, our sense of self starts to get in the way. We start to mistake our possessions, even our ideas, for who we really are. Jesus, master teacher, saw this pitfall in our humanity and instructed us to turn away from these attachments, to accept the cross as he did. Contemplative prayer can show us the way.

7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th)

3-day meditation retreat (December 11th-13th)

There is prayer, and then there is prayer. When you pray, do you ever get the sense that you're not really praying? That nothing much is happening? Through the teachings of John Climacus, a 7th century spiritual teacher, and through personal story, Thomas speaks to the importance of attention in our prayer life. Ultimately, our quality of attention and quality of prayer turn out to be one and the same offering.

Upcoming, in-person offerings with Thomas:

7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th)

9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)

What would it be like if, at will, we could "silence the mind and be aware at the core of our being." Sufi Master, Kabir Helminski writes that from these depths we receive "help from the Source of Life." As we learn to join ourselves with this Source—some would call it God—we find that it contains all the qualities of Spirit in potential, waiting to express through our unique vessel.

Upcoming, in-person offerings with Thomas:

7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th)

9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)

Jesus tells us that "unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone." Rumi, the Sufi poet, echoes this wisdom, declaring that, "Except for dying…no other skill impresses God." What does this mean? How do we "die before we die?" Prepare to enter the mystery in this episode and discover what "plentiful harvest" awaits on the other side of life.

Upcoming, in-person offerings with Thomas:

7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th)

9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)

Father Richard Rohr shared at a recent gathering that his spiritual practice nowadays is to, " look at something till I love it. It doesn't take very long." What could this mean? What would that be like? Thomas shares a related scripture in this episode and invites you to see with the eyes of love, and to marvel how all things are made new.

Upcoming, in-person offerings with Thomas:

7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th)

9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)

At the heart of contemplation is an attitude of total surrender to the Divine. This is easier said than done, of course. In our minds, we may sincerely believe that we wish to do God's will in all things. But the moment the bitter cup is served, we often find ourselves protesting and howling at life's unfairness. Christ's prayer in Gethsemane is an archetype of perfect "willingness": the willingness to experience exactly what life gives us to experience in each moment, trusting that it is for our good. And it's not only Christianity where the virtue of "willingness" figures prominently. Listen as Thomas takes a comparative look at the Buddhist tradition's take on this "divine abode."

Upcoming, in-person offerings with Thomas:

7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th)

9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)

Today's episode offers a longer, deeper meditation to help you integrate the themes and skills from the past 7 episodes. Practice fasting not just from food and drink, but from thought and feeling. Consent to God's Presence and action within. Cling to nothing. Risk getting lost— forget even who you think you are. And trust that you hold in hand the only key you need to unlock the Divine Force in your life.

7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th)

9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)

In a sense, contemplative prayer is none other than the practice of deepening one's faith in God. But faith manifests in many guises. Perhaps a less obvious quality of faith is confidence. What does it mean to sit with a "restful confidence," fully trusting that God is bringing about a mighty work in you? Listen to this episode as Thomas draws from the inspired thinking of Sri Aurobindo as well as a favorite scripture of his from back home. May you live prayerfully, always with a "perfect brightness of hope."

7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th)

9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)

It feels assuring to know the answers to the most important questions in life. It takes more humility to admit we might not know where we're going, and at a deeper level, who we even are. Thomas reflects in this episode on the vulnerability of not knowing and shares a poem from Thomas Merton that shows this special kind of faith in action.

And now that Thomas is all done with graduate studies, he'll be dedicating more time to his teaching practice and the broader community. Learn more about two of his upcoming offerings:

7-day meditation retreat (September 30th - October 7th)

9-month deep dive in the contemplative life (still accepting applications)