"When you pray, go into your private room and pray to your Father who is there in the secret place. " JESUS (Matthew 6:5)
To understand the meaning of meditation we need to understand better what “contemplation” means. In ancient wisdom contemplation was seen as the goal of life, the good life. But it was reserved for the elite. Only the educated and those on top of the social ladder had the time and leisure for contemplation. Jesus defended the contemplative dimension of life in the story of Martha and Mary.
This deeper dimension of the Gospel and Christian discipleship is necessary if we are to hold the active and religious aspects of Christianity in balance. In early Christianity the contemplative life was an integral aspect of Christian identity. Later, it became identified only with a more restricted, celibate and cloistered life and often viewed with suspicion. Yet Jesus called everyone to ‘be perfect’ in love and compassion like his Father, to leave self behind, to shed materialistic stress and anxiety, to find the ‘rest’ of contemplation in accepting his yoke, and to ‘pray without ceasing’.
Contemplation is an essential and universal element of the human person and human life. Martha and Mary are sisters, two complementary dimensions of the person, not just two personality types. Without Mary’s stillness at the centre, sitting at the feet of the teacher and listening, we become like Martha, irritable, complaining, discontented, distracted. In the end, we are not even very productive in the work we do. In fact, Mary and Martha are both working, one interiorly, the other exteriorly. Contemplation is not an escape from one’s life’s work. It is a part of our work and helps us to do the other part better.Mary and Martha are like two chambers of one heart. They don’t just complement one another; they need each other to realize fullness of life.
John Main found in the teachings of the first Christian monks of the 4th century a simple, practical and universal approach to meditation. It is one that can be embraced and practiced by people today of all ages and walks of life. In this simple insight, he opened a way for the recovery of the contemplative dimension for Christians of all traditions, East and West, Catholic and Reformed. It also opens the windows on a wider and deeper meeting between the contemplative religions of Asia with Christianity.
From that perspective we can begin to see how a global spiritual consciousness can be developed to help us work for peace, fight for justice, identify with the oppressed, love our environment and heal our social institutions and economy.
Source: The World Community for Christian Meditation
Christian Meditation: How do we do it?
To meditate find a quiet place and take a comfortable upright sitting position.
Gently close your eyes and begin to recite your prayer-word, or mantra, silently, interiorly and lovingly throughout the time of your meditation: "Ma-ra-na-tha." Say it as four equally-stressed syllables. You can say the word in rhythm with your breathing, fairly slow, fairly rhythmical. Maranatha is an Aramaic word (which is the language that Jesus spoke) and it means "Come, Lord." It is probably the most ancient Christian prayer. Both St Paul and St John use it: to conclude 1:Corinthians and the Book of Revelation respectively.
Listen to the mantra as you say it, gently and continously. You do not have to think or imagine anything, spiritual or otherwise. Meditation is not quiet reverie or passive stillness, but attentive wakefulness. When thoughts or images come at the time of meditation (they are distractions) return simply to saying your word. Don't try to dispel or repress distractions. Simply let them to by saying your mantra. Meditate each morning and evening for between twenty and thirty minutes.
"When you know you are praying you are not totally praying. When you do not know you are praying, you are truly praying" ST ANTHONY OF THE DESERT 4TH CENTURY
Some Humour: The Meaning of Life
On the first day, God created the dog and said:" Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of 20 years.
The dog said: " That's a long time to be barking. How about only 10 years and I'll give you back the other 10?"
So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey and said:" Entertain people, do tricks and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a 20 year life span".
The monkey said: "Monkey tricks for 20 years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back 10 like the dog did?"
And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said:
"You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of 60 years."
The cow said: That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for 60 years. How about 20 and I'll give you back the other 40?". And God agreed again.
On the fourth day, God created man and said: " Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you 20 years"
But man said:"Only 20 years? Could you possibly give me my 20, the 40 the cow gave back, the 10 the monkey gave back, and the 10 the dog gave back that makes 80, OK?
"OK," God said." As long as you're sure"
So that is why for our first 20 years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next 40 years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next 10 years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last 10 years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
And that my friends, is the meaning of life. Now you know!
Links
Christian Meditation Retreat Centre
www. TheChristianMeditator.com
Faith Book
Fellowship of World Christians 'Working Together in Union with Christ'
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