Transcript THE WORLD COMMUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN MEDITATION …

PRESENTATION ON
“THE ESSENTIAL TEACHING”
By
PETER NG
NATIONAL CO-ORDINATOR, SINGAPORE
This presentation has 2 objectives:
(1) Understand clearly the essential teaching
(2) Communicate the teaching effectively
The “Essential Teaching”
 What is meditation?
 Why we meditate?
 How we meditate?
What is Christian Meditation?
1.
The word “meditation” comes from the Latin “Meditare”
which breaks down into the roots “stare in medio” – to
remain in the centre.
2.
“Contemplation” is “being in the temple” with God. The
temple is your own heart, where the Spirit of God dwells.
“Surely you know that you are God’s temple, where the
Spirit of God dwells.” (1Corinthians 3, 16).
“The Kingdom of God is Within you.” (Luke 17, 20)
Hymn: “God is Dwelling in my Heart.”
3.
The Theology of Christian Meditation
- The In-Dwelling Holy Spirit.
What is Christian Meditation?
4.
Meditation is not thinking about God, but being with
God.
“In meditation, we do not seek to think about God, nor
do we seek to think about His Son Jesus, nor do we seek
to think about the Holy Spirit. We are trying to do
something immeasurably greater. By turning aside from
everything that is passing, we seek not just to think
about God, but to BE with God, to experience Him as the
ground of our being.” (John Main, OSB)
5.
Meditation is about the whole person – body, mind and
spirit – at prayer.
6.
Meditation is the prayer of Attention, not Intention.
Why We Meditate?
1.
As we meditate, personal, the inner change, in us can
best be described in the words of St Paul as the harvest
of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:5)
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Fidelity
Gentleness
Self-Control
Why We Meditate?
2.
“Meditation can add a dimension of incredible richness to
your life. You will find that your meditation is the great
integrating power in your life, giving depth and perspective
to everything you are and everything you do. You begin to
live out of the power of the love of God, that power that is
present in our hearts in all its immensity in the spirit of
Jesus. The integrating power of meditation affects every
part of your life. All your life is aligned on Christ, and his
life and presence makes itself felt in every part of our life.”
(John Main OSB)
3.
“The reason why in the Christian tradition we meditate is
that we believe that Jesus has sent His Spirit to dwell in our
hearts. Or to use other words: The Spirit of God, the Spirit
of the Creator of the Universe, dwells in our hearts, and, in
silence is loving to all. Meditating is simply by being open
to the Spirit of Love, the Spirit of God.” (John Main OSB)
Why We Meditate?
4.
“The important aim in Christian meditation is to allow
God’s mysterious and silent presence within us to become,
more and more, not only a reality but the reality which
gives meaning, shape and purpose to everything we do,
everything we are.” (John Main OSB)
5.
“My brothers, I implore you by God’s mercy to offer your
very selves to him: a living sacrifice, dedicated and fit for
his acceptance, the worship offered by mind and heart.
Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present
world, but let your minds be remade and your whole
nature thus transformed. Then will you be able to discern
the will of God, and to know what is good, acceptable and
perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Why We Meditate?
6.
The offering of our very “consciousness” to God.
7.
Accepting the Gift of our Being from God, and
offering it back to him.
How to Meditate?
1.
The simplicity of meditation is expressed in the three
simple instructions on how to meditate:
a Meditate everyday, twice a day, morning and
evening, for between 20 – 30 minutes.
b Sit Still
c
Say Your Mantra
How to Meditate?
2.
Why we say the Mantra
“If anyone wishes to be a follower of mine, he must leave
self behind. He must take up his cross and come with
me. Whoever cares for his own safety is lost. But if a
man will let himself be lost for my sake, he will find his
true self. What will a man gain by winning the whole
world at the cost of his own true self? For what can a
man give that will buy that self back.” (Matthew 16:2526)
a
b
c
d
Transcend Distractions
Express our Faith
Come to Simplicity
Transcend our ego; to shift the focus of our
attention away from ourselves.
How to Meditate?
3.
How to Say the Mantra
a Sound the Mantra in your heart, clearly, gently
and continuously,
b Say it as an expression of faith and love
c If possible, combine the saying of the Mantra
with your breathing,
d Listen to the Mantra as your sound it.
Communicating the Teaching
1.
Share from your own experience
Tell your story
2.
Have empathy for the newcomer; remember your own
struggle
3.
Live the teaching
“Meditation is caught, not taught”
4.
The Art of Living and the Art of Dying