OUTSIDE THE BOX
APRIL 2010
A GOD BEYOND WORDS
by: Phil McQuillan
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OUTSIDE THE BOX |
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A GOD BEYOND WORDS |
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Many people suspect that at their deepest level they are unlovable and are frightened to be still - but silence teaches the reverse – that each person is deeply loved and lovable. Psalm 131 gives a delightful description “Lord, I have given up my pride and turned away from my arrogance. I am not concerned with subjects too difficult for me. Instead I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother’s arms, so my heart is quiet within me.” Meditation helps people of all ages and cultures to find a simple, practical and meaningful way to awaken and deepen their spiritual life. John Main, founder of the World Community for Christian Meditation, which exists to promote this surprisingly simple and yet powerful form of prayer, re-discovered it for himself when he was studying to become a monk. It is Christian Meditation and it is rooted in the Gospels and the early Christian monastic tradition of the Desert. It was written about by John Cassian in the 4th century and by the anonymous author of ‘The ‘Cloud of Unknowing’ in the 14th century. Meditation is a practice of ‘letting go’. We let go of our thoughts and anxieties, we also let go of any of our pre-conceived ideas about and images of God. This can seem strange and even wrong to religious people. If, however, we are willing to accept that anything we can say or can imagine about God is going to fall far short of the reality that is God – then we may consider that a different approach might be useful. One way to achieve this state of peace is by the repetition of a prayer word or mantra. The word recommended by John Main is ‘Maranatha’. This means ‘Come Lord’ and is the last prayer in the bible, it is Aramaic which is the language Jesus used. So it has a very special significance for all Christians. When we begin to pray in this way we are often shocked to find how distracted our minds are and how hard it is to concentrate on the task in hand. This should not come as any particular surprise really, as our minds have not been trained to be still. Meditation is a gentle form of prayer and we do not try to ‘beat down’ our thoughts with the prayer word – rather, once we realise that our mind has wandered, we come gently back to the repetition of our prayer word without anger or distress. Apart from the spiritual benefits, the physical benefits of meditation have been proven scientifically very many times. Heart patients are recommended to meditate. The practice helps to lower blood pressure. It helps people with depression and addictions. When meditating people achieve a deeper level of relaxation and 20 minute of meditation is as good for us as a full night’s sleep. The list of benefits is very impressive, with even schools introducing it for children as a way of achieving a calmer classroom. The best reason to meditate, however, as John Main asserts is because “God is”. Whatever our motivation, we should begin the journey as soon as we can. My personal journey with meditation began some 24 years ago, but I only really committed to it 10 years ago as a result of deep personal need. As Daniel O’Leary writes “we either come to God with our dancing shoes on – or on a stretcher”. It has been a huge blessing in my life and the lives of my children who tell me that they found I was happier and had more confidence once I started.
Currently. there are approximately 17 weekly meditation groups in
Northern Ireland, one in Carrickfergus and many in Belfast. Joining a
weekly group is most beneficial if you are serious about wanting to
meditate. A group may be no bigger than you and one other person, but it
can be key to sustaining a daily practice. By Phil McQuillan
(If you are seeking for a God beyond words you may like to check out the website for the World Community for Christian Meditation for some excellent online resources and/or just give Phil a ring. Tel: 028 9336 9906). |