It’s a myth! Spiritual and religious teachers convey that spiritual practices like meditation, prayer, and contemplation are easy. While the techniques are easy, the practice can be challenging. It’s time to bust the myth and address the realities of spiritual practice. The following is a text version of this posting.… Read More »The Unspoken Myth About Spiritual Practice
Do Christians meditate? That may seem like an odd question, but it’s a question I’m sometimes asked. Generally, the people who are asking want to know if Christians simply use Buddhist meditation techniques or if there’s a distinctive approach to meditation in the Christian tradition. With the predominance of Evangelic… Read More »Do Christians Meditate? What Is Christian Meditation?
Finding information on meditation and techniques is quite easy today. Classes are taught at Buddist sanghas, Christian churches, Jewish synagogues, yoga studios, health clubs, gyms…just about any place where people can gather. In metropolitan areas, there are often large outdoor meditation sittings where people of various traditions gather. From the… Read More »The Uniqueness of Christian Contemplative Prayer
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to participate in a training for Cognitive Based Compassion Meditation. Based on the classic Tibetan writings that are the basis for mind-training (lojong), Geshe Lobsang Tenzin of Atlanta’s Drepung Loseling Monastery developed this protocol in conjunction with researchers at Emory University. As I… Read More »The Contemplative Path: Communion with the Beloved
While there are many books written on meditation, some from particular religious traditions and others based on individual experience, it’s challenging to find a simple, practical guide for meditation. There are many people who just want to know how to meditate. For them, here’s a brief introduction to the process.… Read More »A Beginners Guide to Meditation
Dusk had fallen as I drove the residential street and turned into the parking lot. I carefully parked my car between two others. I walked to the front of the building and entered the door that led into the dimly lit church. Around the communion table, 30 or 40 candles… Read More »Sharing in Silence
