Laurence Freeman is a Benedictine monk and teacher and is Director of The World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) a global, inclusive contemplative community. He resides at the international centre of the WCCM at Bonnevaux Centre for Peace near Paris.

With Irish and English roots, he was educated by the Benedictines and studied English Literature at New College, Oxford University. Before entering monastic life, he worked with the United Nations in New York, in Banking and Journalism.

Fr. Laurence is a monk of the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveto Maggiore. John Main was his teacher and Fr. Laurence assisted him in establishing the foundations of the Community. Laurence is the author of a number of books on Meditation. He teaches meditation in religious and secular contexts and works in interfaith dialogue. He travels extensively teaching and leading Retreats dialogues. Laurence sees meditation as opening the common ground of humanity and developing the contemplative consciousness that he believes the world today needs for its survival. 

Books

Jesus the Teacher Within

Good Work: Meditation for Personal & Organisational Transformation

Christian Meditation: Your Daily Practice

Light Within: Meditation as Pure Prayer

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded June 5, 2021

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump

00:03:01 - The Roots of Meditation in Christianity

00:06:32 - The Roots of Meditation

00:09:49 - The Radically Simple Way of Meditation

00:12:42 - The Mantra in Christian Prayer

00:15:13 - The Cycle of Losing and Finding

00:17:42 - The Flowing Tradition of Christianity

00:20:53 - Rediscovering the Mystical Dimension of Religion

00:24:42 - The Growth of Contemplative Consciousness

00:31:19 - Transformational Effects in Your World and Work

00:36:30 - The Progressive Development of Consciousness

00:42:20 - The Relevance of Meditation to the Deeper Meaning of Life

00:50:16 - Pursuing Happiness and the Meaning of Suffering

00:55:27 - Nurturing a Community of Love and Faith

01:00:05 - The Influence of Consciousness and Leadership in Society

01:04:32 - The Loss of the Moral Consensus

01:09:51 - Ethical Integrity in the Spiritual Community

01:15:40 - The Fruits of the Spirit

01:20:44 - Jesus' Miracles and Compassion

01:26:03 - The Shared Divinity of Humanity

01:30:31 - The Emptying of God and the Fullness of Self

01:36:24 - The Question of Identity

01:40:51 - The Stories and Questions of Jesus' Life

01:46:05 - The Debate on Reincarnation and its Importance

01:50:46 - The Concept of Purgatory and Reincarnation

01:54:41 - The Practice of Meditation

01:59:25 - The Work of Meditation

02:03:08 - Introduction to Meditation

02:08:24 - Conclusion and Resources

02:13:18 - Daily Wisdom and Community Building

02:16:28 - Farewell and Future Endeavors