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I wish that meditative practices like this were more common in modern-day Western Christianity! You can still see a lot of this type of contemplation in Eastern

I wish that meditative practices like this were more common in modern-day Western Christianity! You can still see a lot of this type of contemplation in Eastern Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, but not so much in Western Catholicism. Also, I disagree with the writer that practices like this tend to "distance" yourself from death. I think that ascetics (Christian or not) are extremely, extremely aware of death in a way that average people are not. And I think that to these people, it's not some "immortality standard" which is just a checklist of rules, but a complete and all-consuming lifestyle that gravitates towards a single principle.

bmj 9y ago
I agree! The truth is, there is are contemplative traditions in Western Christianity, most notably from Ignatius of Loyola. His spiritual practices include the lectio divina, and deeply contemplative readings of Scripture. What's interesting is that the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) are Ignaetian, but you often don't here them talk about the contemplative nature of their order. There are lesser-known traditions in Anglicanism as well (Martin Thornton did much work in this area, though he is a bit more ascetical in his practices than Ignatius.
djtriptych 9y ago
Prayer is similar in many ways. Even the poses associated with prayer, hands pressed in front of the heart center, are quite common in physical meditative practices. There are codified names in yoga for all of the poses in the islamic prayer ritual as well (tadasana (mountain pose) and balasana (child's pose)). These are particular orientations of the body known to the ancients to align the mind towards meditation. It's not an accident. Nor is the fasting requirements common to various traditions, which are meant to quiet the gut, and thereby the mind, making meditation much easier. Even group singing/chanting can be considered meditative. Many monk traditions of course incorporate this as a formal meditation. So it's not too far off. Modern life obscures the original intent of course, but the meditative elements are there for any adherents.

bmj 9y ago

I agree! The truth is, there is are contemplative traditions in Western Christianity, most notably from Ignatius of Loyola. His spiritual practices include the lectio divina, and deeply contemplative readings of Scripture. What's interesting is that the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) are Ignaetian, but you often don't here them talk about the contemplative nature of their order. There are lesser-known traditions in Anglicanism as well (Martin Thornton did much work in this area, though he is a bit more ascetical in his practices than Ignatius.

djtriptych 9y ago

Prayer is similar in many ways. Even the poses associated with prayer, hands pressed in front of the heart center, are quite common in physical meditative practices. There are codified names in yoga for all of the poses in the islamic prayer ritual as well (tadasana (mountain pose) and balasana (child's pose)). These are particular orientations of the body known to the ancients to align the mind towards meditation. It's not an accident. Nor is the fasting requirements common to various traditions, which are meant to quiet the gut, and thereby the mind, making meditation much easier. Even group singing/chanting can be considered meditative. Many monk traditions of course incorporate this as a formal meditation. So it's not too far off. Modern life obscures the original intent of course, but the meditative elements are there for any adherents.