There are two movements: outwards to the world — opening the pores of this body to sounds, sensations, the other, the Other — moving to an opening in and to love; inwards to this body and attending to this body's voice, in tenderness and interest. "Breathing in I go back to the island within myself." … Continue reading Movements
Category: Prayer
Levels of Body Prayer
Relaxation Awareness of the breath Awareness of physical sensations Attend to the ‘stories’ this body has to tell, it's messages; learn to be at home Let this body tell you who you are Let this body be ((in) God) One never moves on from earlier stages, but one moves deeper into them as each new … Continue reading Levels of Body Prayer
Taking Refuge
Breathing in, I go back to the island within myself.There are beautiful trees within the island,There are clear streams of water,There are birds, sunshine and fresh air,Breathing out I feel safe.I enjoy going back to my island.Thich Nhat Hanh
How to pray
The anonymous, 14th century author of the Cloud of Unknowing gives this advice in chapter 3 on how to pray: This is what you are to do: lift your heart up to the Lord, with a gentle stirring of love desiring him for his own sake and not for his gifts. Centre all you attention … Continue reading How to pray
Reasons not to pray: 5
Reason 5: loss of control. Prayer requires me to give myself into the hands of the Other, but I'd much rather be self-determining. Richard Rohr says that there are five difficult messages we need to learn: Life is hard. You are going to die. You are not that important. You are not in control. Your … Continue reading Reasons not to pray: 5
Reasons not to pray: 4
This may be the next in an on-going, infinite series begun with Reasons not to pray: 1, 2, 3. Reason 4: the fear of emptiness, of nothing happening this time. Of course, nothing may happen, and there is nothing to be done about that. Indeed, if God is not an object in The Universe, if … Continue reading Reasons not to pray: 4
Reasons not to pray: 1, 2, 3
Why is prayer so difficult – desired and avoided in equal measure? I think there are three key reasons: Prayer is the time when we stop everything else we are doing. Often the first thing that occurs is an awareness of pain in myself or others: the physical or emotional or global pain, which is … Continue reading Reasons not to pray: 1, 2, 3
On religion and morality
Religion is not about morality. It is about having a view or vision of reality, which my be quite at odds with the common or habitual view (also called a trance state). Religious texts are more to inspire and shock a person out of their habitual view than to give moral imperatives. The new view … Continue reading On religion and morality