Christian Meditation - A Prayer of the Heart.

Have you heard of the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM)?
Why not Google it then to learn more?

I first came across meditation some 20 years ago. This was when Fr Laurence Freeman, a Benedictine monk, was visiting Singapore and gave an introductory talk at the Holy Family Church.

Today, WCCM has a Singapore chapter and will find practitioners in over 21 parishes!

What is meditation and what is Christian Meditation?

The Advanced Oxford dictionary defines meditation as:
1. the practice of thinking deeply in silence, especially for religious reasons or in order to make your mind calm.

2. serious thoughts on a particular subject that somebody writes down or speaks.

I prefer this one : Meditation is the process by which one goes about stilling of the mind and body. It means coming to the middle (medi or mid) of one's self. Meditation consists of 2 simultaneous processess which are paying attention and letting go. At first read, it would seem like an oxymoron. How does one pay attention and let go at the same time. And yet that is what is required, to pay attention to the one thing and to let go of one's attachement to the arising thoughts. If there be an objective, it is this: to cut free of the mind.

When your time of earth is done, the mind which is your ego, personal beliefs, history and identity will come to an end in death. What survives then? Its the Consciousness in which we are. Contrary to popular belief, we are not what we think. Because we are not our mind. And our mind is not separate from the body, although we think it. Although we think it, it does not make it so.

The confusion which arises from the statements is deliberate and intended for you to come to the stillness of mind and body and to cut free of the mind. An analogy : Stand a glass full of murky muddy water and in time the sediment and the water separate.

In Christian Meditation we say a few quick ideas:
a. meditation is prayer
b. prayer is communion with God
c. the God who resides in the heart and center of each of us is the Spirit
d. and the Spirit,prays unceasingly
e. and the Spirit of God is Love because God is Love.
f. and the meditation is a prayer of the Heart not the mind.

The various groups who do meditate in and around Singapore, practise the Sitting Meditation.It begins as a discipline,to practise balance, attention and detachment. To focus on the one thing that matters, the NOW, the present moment.

The technique is simple enough to learn in 5- 10 minutes and the cautionary disclaimer, a lifetime to master. And yet that is what we seek, eventually to meditate in our every action in our daily life e.g. walking, eating, sitting and yes even thinking.

1. Sit still.
Comfortably and aware of your body and the environment that it is in.
This begins the process of stilling the body.

2. Say a mantra.
A mantra is a prayer word. The mind is often likened to a forest of jumping monkeys and is difficult to still. To want to do so requires the mind to pay attention to one thing.

This paying attention to the one thing focusses the mind. Another analogy : the watch repair man, holding the time piece in one hand or grip, and the other hand with a tool. He is sitting as still as he could be, yet relaxed and yet working. The mantra is that tool to help you stay attentive to the task at hand. And the task at hand is all about being still, now in both mind and body, as you become increasingly more aware of the present moment.

The recommended mantra is one which is easy to repeat and does not lend itself to imagination and distracting thoughts. In the John Main tradition, we recommend MARANATHA. (John Main is the founder of WCCM). The word is Aramaic and the language of Jesus Christ. It is a four syllable word and lends itself to splitting it into Ma-Ra-Na-Tha, which we could time with our breathing e.g. Ma-Ra on the intake and Na-Tha on the out-take. A little practice will help you find your own rhythm.

We ask that you say this mantra in a loving manner and faithfully. Surrender to the internal listening of the saying of this word. We ask you to say the mantra for the entire duration of your meditation. And when you catch yourself no longer saying the mantra, to simply pick it up again and continue.

3. Meditate twice a day for about 20-30 minutes.
The recommendation to do this at dawn (beginning of the day) and dusk (beginning of the night. To bring you into the awareness of the period of the day. To remind you of the presence of the Living God, in you, and in the present moment.

These 3 steps are all that is required for this journey, which I hope you will begin with me today.

What makes Meditation Christian?
A simple question requires a simple answer, your Christian faith.

Write me if you would like to know more.