thesoulpurposedotorg

“How does Christian Meditation differ from Transcendental Meditation? I ask because I consider opening my mind and soul without being specific about what spirit I seek to be dangerous.”

B.P.

I do not know much about Transendental Meditation. However, I do understand your concern. Let me respond on several levels.

To begin with, I do not think the western mind is able to empty itself, both from my own spiritual practice and from what I have learned from others. Our culture effects our neurological system and we simply don’t have the outer structures that allow our minds to become totally silent and empty.

As way of background, the heritage of Christian meditation has been handed down from the Desert Fathers and Mothers; and has been taught through the monastic traditions of the Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican churches. Other forms of Christian meditation have come to us through the Quaker traditions. All involve a focus on the sacred teachings of scripture in one form or another.

Perhaps I can best explain this as silence being held in the chalice of God’s grace. Our minds have the quality of water – our mind takes on the form of whatever we focus on. In other words, what we think, we become.

The “chalice” is the structure we chose for our mind in meditation. The simplest structure is to chant a name of God. Here are some examples:

. Abba Father
. Lord Jesus Christ
. Om Jesu Christi (using Latin or another sacred language to trick your mind to focus on the sacred rather than on re-stimulated memories of what you think God is)
. El Shaddia, Adonia
. Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)

After a time of chanting or listening to a chant or sacred song, then the mind is ready for to bear the silence. It is in this silence that we can notice the presence of God.

Consider this story of Elijah from the Hebrew Scriptures (I Kings 19:11-12 NRSV)

(The Word of the Lord) said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.