Mindfulness And Contemplative Prayer

[stuart allen]

'Christian mindfulness'...

being 'present'...'in the present moment'

the present moment is given by God...every beat of our heart, every breath we take

every sight we see, every sound we hear

all have been ordained...either Created (if Good) or 'allowed' (if not good) by God 

they couldn't exist/occur otherwise...God is Sovereign

God is in the present moment

He isn't in the moment that just passed, nor is He in the moment yet to come

His Power, Grace and Love are in this moment...though He is aware of every moment past, present and future

it is this moment He holds in being...constantly, eternally, lovingly 

He is here...He is now...He is Love

thus paying attention to the (God given) present moment is paying attention to God/His Love

that is prayer

 

the difference between Eastern mindfulness and 'Christian mindfulness' can be illustrated thus...

Bhuddist looks at a beautiful landscape and thinks 'wow...that's beautiful'

Christian looks at a beautiful landscape and thinks 'wow...that's beautiful...thank you Jesus, i love you'

 

in the monastic tradition it's sometimes put this way...do what you are doing

then when you look, you will see

when you listen, you will hear

it's only paying deliberate attention to the activity you are engaged in

and that may only be sitting quietly and breathing...in Gods Silent Peace and by His Given Grace

all our moments then become prayer

and that is the path to Contemplation

 

St Theresa of Avila called it 'finding God among the pots and pans' (i assume she was washing up!)

long before the current popular craze of 'mindfulness'

it isn't about an ALTERED state of consciousness

it's about a SIMPLE state of consciousness

 

my guess is that those who have become ill while trying to practice this very useful spiritual discipline, have much misunderstood it and sought an altered state of mind more in keeping with Eastern understanding

that of course is no place for a Christian to go

deliberately altered mental states can result in mental illness

deep meditative states can leave the individual at risk of very subtle enemy attack

 

i'm told children are being taught it in schools, no doubt that will be in it's secular humanist/Eastern form

with no mention of Him Who provides the present moment we live in/the air we breathe/the eyes that see/the ears that hear

that of course is cultivating ignorance of God

 

much love to one and all

Pax Christi