the friend online
11 July 2008

Reflection

Christian meditation - preview

Anne Austin shares the teachings of John Main, a Benedictine monk

'Sit down
  • Sit still and upright
  • Close your eyes lightly
  • Sit relaxed, but alert
  • Silently, interiorly begin to say a word
  • '

    Thus far, this could be kindly advice to a newcomer on settling into Meeting for Worship


  • But then it continues, 'We recommend the prayer-phrase “Maranatha”
  • Recite it as four syllables of equal length
  • Listen to it as you say it, gently but continuously
  • Do not think or imagine anything spiritual or otherwise
  • If thoughts and feelings come, these are the distractions at the time of meditation, so keep returning to simply saying the word… Meditate each morning and evening for between twenty and thirty minutes
  • ' ('How to meditate' from Word into Silence, by John Main, 2006)

    Anne Austin

    This is a preview of the full article - to see the whole thing, or to post a comment you need to login, or alternatively you could try a free sample!


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    News round-up
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    Bad Pyrmont – a Meeting house in the heart of Germany
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    Letters
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    Christian meditation
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    Another kind of silence
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    Jesus for Quakers
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