His genius was to recover a way into the contemplative experience for ordinary people within the christian tradition. It was in the tenth conference that john main recognised the christian tradition of meditation which became the foundation of his major work. The process of meditation is the opening of the eye of the heart. Here a christian meditator explains them in mp3 format. Door to silence is the book i use along with the silence and stillness book also by john main. A rich treasury for meditation by john main, door to silence is arranged as.
Through books and retreats he promoted the practice of meditation as a way for modern people to develop a deeper spiritual life. Sep 20, 2019 the new wccm app is the perfect companion of the contemplatives that want to stay updated about the latest news of the community and have at hand the most useful resources we provide through our websites and social networks. John main s teaching has enriched the lives of many all over the world. John main describes his own spiritual journey on this way and shows how it is a path open to all who wish to open themselves to the wonder of god. John mains christian meditation inner explorations. From this was established the christian meditation centre in london.
In conferences ix and x on prayer, cassian transmits the wisdom of the christian desert on prayer. John main describes his own spiritual jourbaney on this way and shows how it is a path open to all who wish to open themselves to the wonder of god. For that reason it is simple and unlike any other forms of meditation. He founded the world community for christian meditation, a worldwide spiritual family linked through daily prayer, operating in 114 countries and with over 100,000 members worldwide. John main osb became a benedictine monk after serving as a diplomat in the far east and lecturing in international law.
John main and the practice of christian meditation one of the greatest challenges that christianity faces today is the practical rediscovery of its ageold traditions of prayer and contemplation, and one of the principal ways to do this in recent times was begun by the benedictine priest, john main. Father john main taught that meditation is as natural to the spirit as breathing is to the body. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. I facilitate a group that is part of the world community for christian meditation wccm founded on the teaching of fr. His genius was to recover a way into the contemplative experience. Main alleges that this technique was also taught by st. In 1975, freeman joined fr john main osb at ealing abbey in london, as part of the first experimental lay community dedicated to living a benedictine life with christian meditation as its contemplative practice. Practitioners close their eyes, sit still and upright and for 20 to 30 minutes and silently. Father john founded the benedictine priory of montreal, which became the centre of a worldwide meditation movement and inspiration for numerous meditation groups today. His books include the heart of creation, moment of christ, word into silence and word made flesh. The school of meditation is part of the world community for christian meditation, a global and inclusive contemplative community made up of thousands of weekly groups in more than 100 countries. Moment of christ, p when wonder becomes a fundamental attitude of our spirit it will confer a religious character to our whole. John main osb the world community for christian meditation.
John cassian and the anonymous author of the cloud of unknowing. Roche highlights three simple meditation techniques for beginners, along with topics such. John main osb 19261982 was born in london on 21 january 1926. The instructions john main gives for christian meditation are very simple. The gethsemani talks, p15 some years later through his reading of the teachings of the early christian monks, the desert mothers and fathers, and in particular in the conferences of john cassian, he was led back on to the path of meditation. John main john main used books, rare books and new books. Through regular meditation sessions and special events, offered in a spirit of friendship and openness to all, the john main center shares the gift of the contemplative path with the georgetown community and beyond. John main and the practice of christian meditation youtube. The new wccm app is the perfect companion of the contemplatives that want to stay updated about the latest news of the community and have at hand the most useful resources we provide through our websites and social networks. Books by john main author of word into silence goodreads. Meditation the john main center at georgetown university.
One of the greatest challenges that christianity faces today is the practical rediscovery of its ageold traditions of prayer and contemplation, and one of the principle attempts to do this in. Christian meditation john main 11th step meditation. It is an invitation to wait expectantly, aware of gods presence. Incongruently, john main s book describes meditation as reciting a mantra over and over again, trying not to think about anything, for 2030 minutes. John main 19261982, an english benedictine monk, pioneered the practice of christian meditation. It continues to encourage and help me to be able to meditate in the proper mode. Darren main is a yoga and meditation instructor and author. I wanted to learn about meditation and i picked up this book thinking it would help my buddhist mindfulness meditation practice. Wonder is one of the gifts of the holy spirit given to all christians at baptism.
With the intimate freshness of a personal teaching, this book presents the main practices of the mahayana buddhist path. Main began christian meditation groups at his monastery in london, england and, later, in montreal, canada. Nov 30, 2006 incongruently, john main s book describes meditation as reciting a mantra over and over again, trying not to think about anything, for 2030 minutes. Thats what i enjoyed most about this book main always is, first and foremost, a christian. He facilitates workshops and gives talks on yoga and modern spirituality throughout the united states and abroad and is the host of the internationally syndicated inquire within podcast and the living yoga series and teaches yoga on the labyrinth inside san franciscos iconic grace cathedral. One of the greatest challenges that christianity faces today is the practical rediscovery of its ageold traditions of prayer and contemplation, and one of the principal ways to do this in recent times was begun by the benedictine priest, john main.
The gethsemani talks by john main 1999, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. John main books list of books by author john main thriftbooks. Jan 01, 1982 these conferences were given at the abbey of gethsemani, and provide an introduction to the way of meditation in the christian tradition. John main osb served in the diplomatic service in the far east, and taught law at trinity college, dublin. That was over ten years ago and i havent stopped reading and listening to, john main. The rough idea of the book is that by reciting a mantra over and over again, you will silence the voices in your head, and discover your inner self. John main has 47 books on goodreads with 725 ratings. When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your father in secret. May 02, 2011 john main, osb teaches a mantrabased style of meditation similar to centering prayer that he learned from his hindu teacher, swami satyananda. His successor, the benedictine laurence freeman, has a long and close connection with georgetown and helped to found the john main center here in collaboration with the university and jesuit community. Basically, it is a way to empty the mind of thoughts and images, a way of coming to inner silence and stillness. John main has 47 books on goodreads with 724 ratings.
As john main pointed out, what we all require is the childs sense of wonder, the simple childlikeness to worship before the magnificence of creation. His genius was to recover a way into the contemplative experience for. The school of meditation the world community for christian. When i first started reading john main i was not a christian. Christian meditation for children and young people. Originally written in the 1990s for an audience that is resistant to traditional programs or following a rigid structure, jon kabatzinn provides a straightforward guide for people that are simply curious about mindful living. He left and studied law at trinity college dublin and then joined. Preparation for meditation by john main 19261982 by your. John main, and this book is a musthave, for both ones own daily meditation practice and for a group practice. These conferences were given at the abbey of gethsemani, and provide an introduction to the way of meditation in the christian tradition. See all books authored by john main, including word into silence, and moment of christ.
John main wccm world community for christian meditation. Her spiritual journey and specifically practice of christian meditation has been influenced by an inner calling to teach children this form of prayer. Educated at westminster choir school and by the jesuits at stamford hill, london, he served in the royal signals at the end of the war after which he joined the canons regular of the lateran for a short period. After youve read this page, learn more about john main here.
Essential writings modern spiritual masters modern. John main, osb 19261982, was a benedictine monk and priest who presented a way of christian meditation which utilized the practice of a prayerphrase or mantra. He is the director of the world community for christian meditation and of its benedictine oblate community. John main 19261982 his life and his teaching on con prayer inspire the world community for christian meditation. The john main center offers a contemplative sacred space in the heart of the georgetown university campus. The john main center for meditation and interreligious. He recovered the christian tradition of meditation as practised by the early desert monks and taught it as a spiritual discipline for people from all walks of life. In meditation, our stillness is not a state of mere passivity but a state of full openness, full wakefulness to the wonder of our own. John douglas main osb 21 january 1926 30 december 1982 was a roman catholic priest and benedictine monk who presented a way of christian meditation which used a prayerphrase or mantra. It details the attitudes cultivated in meditationranging from turning away from cyclic existence to developing love and compassion for all beings. John main, osb teaches a mantrabased style of meditation similar to centering prayer that he learned from his hindu teacher, swami satyananda. Laurence freeman osb born 17 july 1951 is a catholic priest and a benedictine monk of monastery of sta maria di pilastrello, in italy, a monastery of the olivetan congregation. A striking feature of the book is its emphasis on simplicity, on transcending.
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