Well, I did say I'd report on my experience with silence. To be honest, I've found it pretty hard. Hard to get down to it - as ever, sometimes anything seems preferable to locking myself in a room alone. Yet even when that feels attractive, actually achieving silence is quite a challenge in the context of a family home. And even when the conditions are right, there's a fair chance that I'll come over drowsy and drift through the time, feeling totally lousy about myself afterwards.
But these are just excuses: I'm a free man with plenty of choice over how I use my time, and, if I really want to (if I really, really want to), I can find a place of silence. I may have to go to another room, or even leave the house and sit in the part. I can even stand up, splash my face, or whatever to remain alert. I deceive myself.
The question is, how much do I want to hear God? I find that almost too uncomfortable to even contemplate right now.
I have to say, I'm very glad that it's now February, and as I decided at the start of the year, that means it's time to move on to a new discipline. Feeling the need for greater substance, something to get hold of beyond my own drifting thoughts, I've decided to use Lectio Divina (sacred reading). I've tried this before and found it really helpful, so I'm hopeful of a more positive experience in Feb.
1 comment:
Joining a meditation group can help. Also I prefer Thich Nhat Hahn's idea, as I understand it, that meditation is about tuning in to something deep within us. This can be understood as God, but it is also very much related with our self-conscious. He talks about looking deeply within ourselves in order to gain new insights. It can be uncomfortable, but it is deeply healing and can help us solve all sorts of conundrums.
Post a Comment