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LOTUS OF THE HEART
Brian K. Wilcox, a vowed Contemplative in the Christian tradition, offers an interspiritual work focusing on cultivating the Heart of Compassion. His book of mystical Love poetry is An Ache for Union: Poems on Oneness with God through Love. Brian integrates wisdom from the major spiritual Paths. May you always know that you are blessed!
*Christ the Redeemer in Rio..., Carlos Eduardo, Flickr
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Rather, they delight in the Sacred teaching,
musing quietly on it day and night.
*Psalm 1.2, The Psalms, Hebrew Bible
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The following words are from Lawrence Freeman, leader of The World Community for Christian Meditation, in reply to the question "Then what is contemplation?"
We really mean the experience of our own spiritual nature, finding our own heart and our own center. The meaning of that is that we find a direct and personal encounter with God in our heart.
St. Catherine of Siena said God is the center of our soul. That puts it very succinctly.
The early fathers of the church were immersed in this experience of contemplation. The theology of the doctrine that formed over the first five centuries or so of Christian history was a combination of contemplation and a reading of Scripture.
*Richard Vara. "FINDING YOUR SPIRITUAL CENTER: Making sense of meditation" ~ The contemplative experience is at the center of all religious tradition, expert says. 2006 Houston Chronicle.
Comments
Teresa of Ávila recommended the following meditation to another nun. She advised her to pray the Lord's Prayer, or Our Father, taking an hour with it. Teresa said spend a few minutes entering each phrase, until it becomes the prayer of your heart, and you become the prayer.
I find this meditation insightful and invigorating. I recall the Lord's Prayer, slowly, inwardly repeating each phrase. I feel the meaning and energy of each phrase, for words communicate aspects of Energy, of Grace. As I have done prayerful musing, the Prayer has taken on surprising, deepening energy and meaning.
The Jews of the Old Testament apparently came to practice this form of meditation. Psalm 1.2 reads...: "Rather, they delight in the Divine teaching, musing quietly on it day and night."
"Musing" is aptly rendered "meditation." The Hebrew term refers to a low, murmuring sound, and it was used for the sound the dove makes. Likely, the musing speaks of reciting Scripture slowly, as though chewing slowly to digest it.
When doing Slow Prayer, we are open to two things. 1) We are receptive to the Scripture unfolding new insights we have not felt and seen before. 2) We open to welcome the Grace-Energy communicated through the Scripture.
When doing this kind of prayerful meditation, we might sense an intuitive truthfulness through the Scripture, apart from any specific meaning discerned by the intellect. When this occurs, we accept that Meaning is being communicated at a level of consciousness deeper than the logical, reasoning mind. At some point, the mind may enter a quit Stillness. At this point, feel free to rest in the Presence silently and beyond meditation.
Spiritual Exercise
Do the Slow Prayer meditation with the Lord's Prayer or another scripture, a poem, or another written source that you connect with Grace. Remember, this practice is guided by your experience, not any strictness about time to expend on any part of the meditation. Enjoy the process, and let it unfold naturally for you. Spend as little or as long as you wish on each portion of the passage, and this pertains to the entire meditation process. Avoid any thoughts of the way it ought to go. Relax with the process, remain open, be receptive. Receive.
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*You are welcome to contact Brian at briankwilcox@yahoo.com .
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