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Meditation is found in many traditions. In this course we look at the Christian contemplative tradition. Here, meditation is called the prayer of the heart and is often referred to as “pure prayer” because it is a prayer without thoughts, words or images.
In this lesson we will learn how John Main, through his own journey of faith, recovered meditation as a form of prayer in the Christian tradition enabling modern people to make it part of their lives.
In this lesson we learn about the roots of meditation in the Christian tradition by going back to the Gospels where we will find the essential elements of Jesus’ teaching on prayer which reveal him as a master and teacher of contemplation.
In the Christian tradition there is a wonderful richness and variety of forms of prayer. For example: the Eucharist, the other sacraments, petitions, intercessions, charismatic prayer, scripture, devotional prayer. Whatever draws us into the presence of God can be called a form of prayer.
We meditate to follow the basic call of Jesus which is also the basis of Christian faith – to leave self behind so that we can journey with Christ in his return to the Father in fellowship with humanity and the universe.
St Paul says that the fruits of the Spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, fidelity, gentleness and self-control. The fruits of meditation are naturally part of the process of spiritual growth.
“I found it helpful to be validated in my own experience and the emphasis on practice, gentle practice and its associated discipline as being core to Meditation. . it is not a theory to be learnt but a practice to be lived. THANKYOU for the putting together of this, for our use!”
– Geraldine
“I was looking for a short course to recommend and I shall be recommending this.”
– Rodney
“The material and recommendations were excellent and familiar to me as a group leader. I look forward to sharing this with the who will come to our 6 week course. The revised materials and videos are excellent. It is always helpful to read and listen more.”
– Margaret K.
“This course showed me the importance of stillness of the body, and of the theological reflections.”
– Lisa P.
“Just thank you. WCCM making courses/reflections available online has made a difference regarding welcome and inclusion. It guided, with a sense of being accompanied, and gave a point to return to during the weeks of reflection. It gave a fresh perspective/beginning. It pointed towards written/audio resources that were helpful.”
– GT
“It helped me focus on my own meditation by starting each lesson with the practice. I especially liked the video of the meeting with the Dalai Lama, connecting the two spiritual practices for a better understanding of both. Father Laurence Freeman’s description and explanation of meditative practice is very easy to relate with and is encouraging to press on in times of stalemate with one’s practice. Thank you!”
– Sean O.
Expand your perspective by engaging in peer discussions around learning objectives, or start your own topic.
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Any gift, no matter how small, will help us sustain this work and achieve our mission of nurturing Christian meditation inclusively around a world in greater need than ever of contemplative wisdom.