I once heard someone describe secular meditation as emptying oneself out, but prayer to the on true God is an act of filling yourself up—pouring the Holy Spirit into your empty places. I rather liked that explanation. I too did the meditation thing before becoming a Christian, and now I pray every day. Like you say, not sure if I’m doing it right, but I’m doing it—and I find as I talk to God I get answers.
That having been said, and not wanting to be contradictory or pedantic, I feel compelled to make a couple notes, to writ:
* According to the spiritual teachings of St John of The Cross, St Teresa of Avila, Garrigou LaGrange, Johann Tayler, and Aquinas, Saurez, Billot, Marcel Lefebvre et Al, meditation is, in fact, a form of prayer. The Ignatian meditations exemplify poignantly that in meditation, one is active rather than passive.
* Contemplation, on the contrary, highest form of prayer, is passive rather than active.
* It is the false meditation style of the Buddhists that says we must empty ourselves, thinking of nothing.
Contrarywise, in Christian meditation, the mind is active and the antitheses of emptying ourselves.
* That having been said, there is, indeed, a place for the Eastern model of meditation:
Focusing on breathing, practicing being in the moment, etc (especially for those with any anxiety issues, among other variables.
* I heartily recommend, and cannot recommend enough, the work
"Achieving Peace of Heart" by Narciso Orals, S.J., published by Abbey Press.
Don't be deceived by the title -- It is a vademecum for re-educating the Will, the intellect, the emotional apparatus, and provides the best methods of relaxation, breathing exercises, and all the best the Eastern models of meditation can provide.and uses the most Catholic and Thomist methods of classical Swiss psychoanalysis tools that have proved extraordinarily more effective than the Freudian model, with a neglible ratio of attrition that typifies Freudian and pop culture methods of therapy (such as A.A., with an over 90 % attrition rate!).
* Please correct me if I've misunderstood your post, as I haven't yet had my morning coffee.
P.S. :. Your latest prayer style which you cited in the piece, is exemplary.
You'll benefit wonderfully from having a copy of
"Devoutly I Adore Thee:. The Prayers and Hymns of St Thomas Aquinas" published by Sophia Institute Press. Many of Aquinas' prayers included in the book, have been used by me since the 1970's, when I first entered the seminary (Séminaire St Pie X, Econe, Switzerland). So, almost 50 years later, those prayers are almost part of my DNA, so to speak.
Your comment isn't pedantic at all brother, on the contrary, I think it adds a lot of value to the conversation and I personally didn't know about some of the distinctions you mentioned so thank you for sharing them and explaining a bit about the different types of prayer. As mentioned in the article, I don't consider myself an expert on this subject so I truly appreciate the resources you shared and also the explanation. I'll make sure to take a look at the books you mentioned and add them to my reading list (which is at over 30 books already haha), but this is a topic that I'm actively looking to learn about.
For a long time I followed the "A.C.T.S." pattern of prayer -Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication, but lately I have been praying as Our Lord taught, focusing on each stanza, and adding intercession, praise, etc. I'm also reading EM Bounds and Andrew Murray's prayer books.
There is no ‘formula’ for prayer. But there is a pure and honest heart. I’ve found that praying honestly whether using ACTS or any other patterned prayer is where God meets me most visibly. Honesty. Truthfully. Faithfully.
It’s not a formula but the outworking of a relationship built on honesty and truth.
I agree, but sometimes it helps to have a template to get started with. I find life to be so cluttered at times, and I don't know where to start, so it does give me a clearing to seek His face.
It bothers me too when people confuse secular or buddhist meditation with prayer.
Your distinction between them as meditation being passive, and prayer being active, is excellent.
A clear distinction I like to make is that Buddhist meditation trains attention (almost like a gym exercise), and is focused entirely on internal stimuli. Thus it is both empty and emptying.
Meanwhile, prayer is contemplative, active communication and focuses on the ultimate external stimuli, that being God.
Where do you come up with you art work? I am asking as I am currently writing a book, journal, or whatever it is about 1. Becoming a Man of God and 2. Having a Warrior Mindset for GOD.
I’ve attempted to renew my faith in God and of course in prayer since the passing of my mother. I spent a lot of time with her as she was waiting for the disease she had battled for years, through three surgeries and chemo to finally finish the fight. She talked a lot about faith and prayer as we would sit watching TV together. Her total lack of fear for her approaching demise was an inspiration to me. So calm, and assertive that Christ waited for her.
I was devastated by her death, thought I was prepared and I truly was not! At the start of Covid I went in the corral to pull a calf. Everything pixelated, turned red and then black.
When I regained consciousness my wife was holding my upper body and head against the corral panel. I mumbled to her “I’ve had the strangest dream. “ in my mind I had an image of a person with dark brown hair he had a sword at his hip
It seemed he prevented me from moving forward. I remember no words or explanation.
Now even awake that image was there and still in my mind. My skin had changed colour to a greenish grey I guess. I went a few feet and dropped again. They helped me to the truck. I sat there while they saved the cow and calf.😂 They got me to the house, cleaned up and in bed then took my B.P. It was low 40s. I lay there and that image was still front and centre in my mind.
I felt no fear. I actually felt elated, even euphoric? I was fully prepared move on. I still can’t understand those feeling or that image that remains with me. Was it a warning? Go back and do better, you’re not ready yet!
The emotions it created remain. NDE?
Prayer and that connection is much stronger than meditation to me now. The afterlife is real! Christ is real ! I know it. I pray everyday for guidance on the path the Father lays before.
What are your thoughts?
Oh the sudden affliction was caused by a drug reaction between prescription drugs and could have killed me.
I once heard someone describe secular meditation as emptying oneself out, but prayer to the on true God is an act of filling yourself up—pouring the Holy Spirit into your empty places. I rather liked that explanation. I too did the meditation thing before becoming a Christian, and now I pray every day. Like you say, not sure if I’m doing it right, but I’m doing it—and I find as I talk to God I get answers.
That's an interesting way to look at it, and I tend to agree!
Thank-you for posting this.
I always look forward to reading your posts.
That having been said, and not wanting to be contradictory or pedantic, I feel compelled to make a couple notes, to writ:
* According to the spiritual teachings of St John of The Cross, St Teresa of Avila, Garrigou LaGrange, Johann Tayler, and Aquinas, Saurez, Billot, Marcel Lefebvre et Al, meditation is, in fact, a form of prayer. The Ignatian meditations exemplify poignantly that in meditation, one is active rather than passive.
* Contemplation, on the contrary, highest form of prayer, is passive rather than active.
* It is the false meditation style of the Buddhists that says we must empty ourselves, thinking of nothing.
Contrarywise, in Christian meditation, the mind is active and the antitheses of emptying ourselves.
* That having been said, there is, indeed, a place for the Eastern model of meditation:
Focusing on breathing, practicing being in the moment, etc (especially for those with any anxiety issues, among other variables.
* I heartily recommend, and cannot recommend enough, the work
"Achieving Peace of Heart" by Narciso Orals, S.J., published by Abbey Press.
Don't be deceived by the title -- It is a vademecum for re-educating the Will, the intellect, the emotional apparatus, and provides the best methods of relaxation, breathing exercises, and all the best the Eastern models of meditation can provide.and uses the most Catholic and Thomist methods of classical Swiss psychoanalysis tools that have proved extraordinarily more effective than the Freudian model, with a neglible ratio of attrition that typifies Freudian and pop culture methods of therapy (such as A.A., with an over 90 % attrition rate!).
* Please correct me if I've misunderstood your post, as I haven't yet had my morning coffee.
+ Pax, frater!.+
P.S. :. Your latest prayer style which you cited in the piece, is exemplary.
You'll benefit wonderfully from having a copy of
"Devoutly I Adore Thee:. The Prayers and Hymns of St Thomas Aquinas" published by Sophia Institute Press. Many of Aquinas' prayers included in the book, have been used by me since the 1970's, when I first entered the seminary (Séminaire St Pie X, Econe, Switzerland). So, almost 50 years later, those prayers are almost part of my DNA, so to speak.
+Pax+
Your comment isn't pedantic at all brother, on the contrary, I think it adds a lot of value to the conversation and I personally didn't know about some of the distinctions you mentioned so thank you for sharing them and explaining a bit about the different types of prayer. As mentioned in the article, I don't consider myself an expert on this subject so I truly appreciate the resources you shared and also the explanation. I'll make sure to take a look at the books you mentioned and add them to my reading list (which is at over 30 books already haha), but this is a topic that I'm actively looking to learn about.
For a long time I followed the "A.C.T.S." pattern of prayer -Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication, but lately I have been praying as Our Lord taught, focusing on each stanza, and adding intercession, praise, etc. I'm also reading EM Bounds and Andrew Murray's prayer books.
There is no ‘formula’ for prayer. But there is a pure and honest heart. I’ve found that praying honestly whether using ACTS or any other patterned prayer is where God meets me most visibly. Honesty. Truthfully. Faithfully.
It’s not a formula but the outworking of a relationship built on honesty and truth.
I agree, but sometimes it helps to have a template to get started with. I find life to be so cluttered at times, and I don't know where to start, so it does give me a clearing to seek His face.
Very true, sometimes (especially at the beginning of our faith journey), it's good to have some structure
Amen. You can't have a relationship with God without prayer.
Absolutely. Thanks for reading!
Is it possible to share this article with someone who isn’t on Substack? Or does someone have to have a Substack account to read it? Thanks 🙏
Yeah, absolutely! Just share the link with them
Definitely going to have to do this.
Let me know how it goes!
Will do
Really enjoyed this article, thank you.
It bothers me too when people confuse secular or buddhist meditation with prayer.
Your distinction between them as meditation being passive, and prayer being active, is excellent.
A clear distinction I like to make is that Buddhist meditation trains attention (almost like a gym exercise), and is focused entirely on internal stimuli. Thus it is both empty and emptying.
Meanwhile, prayer is contemplative, active communication and focuses on the ultimate external stimuli, that being God.
Yeah, I think that accurately summarizes the differences! Thank you for reading brother, glad you enjoyed the article! God bless you
Amen.
Where do you come up with you art work? I am asking as I am currently writing a book, journal, or whatever it is about 1. Becoming a Man of God and 2. Having a Warrior Mindset for GOD.
Thank you.
I use either Pinterest or MidJourney (AI). Congrats on your book brother, when will you release it!
Thanks for reading and supporting as well. God bless you!
Thank you. I am currently posting some content on my FB page under my pen name. I am looking to self publish by the end of the year.
I’ve attempted to renew my faith in God and of course in prayer since the passing of my mother. I spent a lot of time with her as she was waiting for the disease she had battled for years, through three surgeries and chemo to finally finish the fight. She talked a lot about faith and prayer as we would sit watching TV together. Her total lack of fear for her approaching demise was an inspiration to me. So calm, and assertive that Christ waited for her.
I was devastated by her death, thought I was prepared and I truly was not! At the start of Covid I went in the corral to pull a calf. Everything pixelated, turned red and then black.
When I regained consciousness my wife was holding my upper body and head against the corral panel. I mumbled to her “I’ve had the strangest dream. “ in my mind I had an image of a person with dark brown hair he had a sword at his hip
It seemed he prevented me from moving forward. I remember no words or explanation.
Now even awake that image was there and still in my mind. My skin had changed colour to a greenish grey I guess. I went a few feet and dropped again. They helped me to the truck. I sat there while they saved the cow and calf.😂 They got me to the house, cleaned up and in bed then took my B.P. It was low 40s. I lay there and that image was still front and centre in my mind.
I felt no fear. I actually felt elated, even euphoric? I was fully prepared move on. I still can’t understand those feeling or that image that remains with me. Was it a warning? Go back and do better, you’re not ready yet!
The emotions it created remain. NDE?
Prayer and that connection is much stronger than meditation to me now. The afterlife is real! Christ is real ! I know it. I pray everyday for guidance on the path the Father lays before.
What are your thoughts?
Oh the sudden affliction was caused by a drug reaction between prescription drugs and could have killed me.
Jesus already taught us how to pray. And your prayer is just his in more words than necessary.
Also, the idea that any particular prayer said any particular way will move the hand of God is approaching witchcraft.