Methods of Contemplation

This week, we continue our season theme of "Tradition" - the ways in which some (mostly western) parts of the church have viewed prayer and liturgical practices. It can seem at times like the contemplative path or modern spirituality can be insular or too self-referential, ignoring the external world and societal change that we feel impelled to bring about via the concept of the Kingdom of God. This however, couldn't be further from the truth. For while outer change is beneficial, to make it lasting and not driven from our false sense of superiority, it has to come from the inside. One of the ways we are able to do this is intercessory prayer. Many people, especially those who are or have undergone a deconstruction of faith, can find intercessory prayer difficult. If that's you, think of these prayers as a type of Loving-Kindness Meditation, extended out to the world. Through this holding of others in our heart space, it changes the way we relate to them, and by extension, everything else.

This season, we've been focusing on the lens of Tradition as it pertains to prayer, meditation, and contemplation. We encourage those who were raised in the Christian tradition, or in western society in general, to invest time in getting to know these ancient methods as tools to assist you in growing closer to God. In doing this, you accept an invitation into the larger history of Christendom in its seeking of the Divine. If you weren't raised in this tradition, or if it brings up unpleasant feelings for you, it may be used as a learning tool to understand faith practices of others unlike yourself, or to reassociate certain words in a more positive and healing way.

In this episode, we introduce the practice of the prayer of Thanksgiving, as well as continue with a session of Imaginative Prayer. The attitude of Thanksgiving is an important one in any spiritual path, including Christianity. The very nature of reality is completely gratuitous, or given, and our task as spiritual seekers is simply to receive what is. However to receive, we must first surrender what we grip so tightly.

Sources used in this episode included The Worship Sourcebook, and The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life by Tony Jones.

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In this episode, we introduce the practice of Lectio Divina, or "divine reading" an ancient method of relating to scripture. In this process, we engage the text not buy studying it in an academic way, but instead by relating to it. We begin by Lectio (reading), followed by meditatio (meditating), and then oratorio (prayer). We end in a silent time of contemplation. This way of relating to the Bible, or your holy text of choice can draw you closer to it in a more intimate way, breathing life into the text, and letting the text breathe into you.

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In this episode, we explore an orienting prayer, as well as a practice known as The Jesus Prayer, or prayer of the heart. The early desert fathers thought this is what Paul the apostle had in mind when he said things like, "pray without ceasing". After constant repetition, the prayer absorbs you into itself, and you find it humming along with you everywhere you go.

This first episode of Methods introduces us to an Orienting Prayer, a prayer of Thanksgiving, and finally an Imaginative Prayer exercise, or "Ignatian Contemplation" as it might be recognized in the Jesuit community.