James Finley Interviews - The Contemplative Way in Christianity

James Finley, PhD, spent six years in the cloistered Trappist monastery of the Abbey of Gethsemani. Finley leads retreats and workshops throughout the United States and Canada, attracting people from all religious traditions who seek a contemplative path in their Christian practice. He is also a clinical psychologist in private practice with his wife in Santa Monica, California.

James Finley is the author of Merton's Palace of Nowhere, The Contemplative Heart, and Christian Meditation: Experiencing the Presence of God.

Jami (my girlfriend) was listening to an audio program of his from Sounds True and I really liked his integration of Christian mysticism and contemporary psychology as a form of nondual practice. His work is not dissimilar to that of Father Thomas Keating (Centering Prayer) and Father Richard Rohr (his seven themes).

Here are two interviews he has posted as his site - each is a good introduction to his thinking.

The following interview was conducted by Sounds True and will give the reader a sense of Dr. Finley's understanding of Thomas Merton and the Contemplative Way. 

Thomas Merton and His Path to the Palace of NowhereSounds True

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The following interview was conducted by Gary Moon for Pathways Magazine and will give the reader a sense of Dr. Finley's understanding of Christian Meditation. 

Christian Meditation: Experiencing the Presence of God Pathways Magazine: April-June Issue 2000, Vol. 9, Number 2.