________________
LAURENCE FREEMAN
teaching is that you choose a short word or phrase as your mantra, and that you repeat it continually. There are various phrases, words, or mantras that you could choose. The Cloud author suggests the word God, for example.
John Main felt that the word maranatha was a beautiful mantra for Christians, because it is the oldest Christian prayer. And it is in the Aramaic language that Jesus spoke. It is a scriptural word and prayer too, that Saint Paul ends the First Letter to Corinthians with. So it's a very suitable word. Also, the length and sound of the word are helpful in calming the mind. Another very ancient Christian mantra is the name of Jesus—which you find in the Jesus prayer tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
L.M.: It's also found in The Way of the Pilgrim.
L.F.: The hesychast tradition developed rather later in the Christian church. But the same understanding of the praying of one word is very clear.
L.M.: How does one go about Christian meditation, including the basic posture and breathing?
L.F.: We don't—John Main and those of us who follow in his traditionwe don't so much emphasize the technique aspect of it. It is more a simple discipline--not easy, but simple. We emphasize very much the simplicity of the practice. We would say, sit down: sit still with your back straight. So that you are in an alert, faithful, and comfortable posture. That also helps you to breathe properly. Close your eyes lightly—relax—and then, silently, interiorly, begin to say your word, say your mantra. When thoughts come into the mind--as they will in great number—just ignore them. Don't fight with them, don't waste any energy getting into conflict with them.
L.M.: Don't analyze them.
L.F.: Don't analyze them, just let go. Whether they're holy thoughts, or not so holy thoughts. Just let them go, simply let that level of mental activity go. Then, by continually returning to the word, gently but faithfully, you are led through the distractions, thoughts, and images to a deeper center, which we call the heart. In that center, we discover the peace of Christ. We discover Jesus at prayer in us. Now at the time of meditation we are not theologizing about
21
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
