The role of group leaders
John Main said “the best way to teach others how to pray is to pray with them”. The Christian Meditation group guides its members into the deeper meaning of meditation. It does this by connecting our personal experience to the friendship shared with fellow pilgrims on this path. ‘Meditation creates community’.
The group leader or facilitator serves the group for this purpose and ensures the right conditions for its gatherings. They also liaison between the group members and the wider WCCM community, the monastery without walls to which the group belongs.
The commitment and fidelity of the group leader are deeply valued within the community. There are presently nearly 3000 meditation groups worldwide to help sustain your daily practice.
Each group has its own personality but follows the common format and style. The group gathers quietly, there is a short teaching on meditation in this tradition followed by a meditation period between 20 and 30 minutes and then a short time to raise questions and for sharing about the teaching.
Teachings for Groups (formerly Meditatio Series)
The WCCM provides a series of short teachings for use in weekly meditation groups each quarter. There is a large archive of these teachings which are often used at the beginning of the group and before meditation.
A transcript of these teachings is also provided. Many group leaders print a copy off for their group for further reflection for the members of the group. To listen and download them go here.
Translations
The transcripts have been translated from English into Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish and Dutch. For the translations please consult National Websites.
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Online Groups
There are many online groups suitable for those who can not attend a physical meeting for any reason. You may search for an online group that matches your language and timezone below. Many regular meditators connect with one of these groups when they are traveling.
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The Weekly Teachings
Over a 3-year cycle, the Weekly Teachings, form an ongoing series that builds up into a solid foundation of the tradition in which we meditate. The Weekly Teachings may also provide the teaching element of the weekly group or be given to the members for their study in the following week. They can also be used for discussion after meditation.They can be copied and handed out to the group members or sent to them by email. Anyone can of course subscribe to the Weekly Teachings individually.
Each year has a central theme:
- Year One is the Essential Teaching
- Year Two deals with the certainties and uncertainties experienced in meditation
- Year Three deals with the Christian theology of meditation
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Resources for Introducing Meditation
These materials are based on Paul Harris’ book ‘Silence and Stillness in every Season’ and have been adapted by Sr Jill Shrivington with his permission.
These materials are very easy to translate into different languages.
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Resources for Purchase