I have just been reading the following by James Bone in new York.
The two surviving Beatles have reunited on stage to promote transcendental meditation among schoolchildren around the world. The reunion came at a concert to bring transcendental meditation to one million schoolchildren. "It started for us when we met the Maharishi in India, and it's going to get bigger and bigger and rule the world," McCartney told the crowd.
What a pity that our Catholic schools are not hearing much about their own tradition of meditation. The few that have been introduced to it are very happy and I would like to hear from some of them. The stillness and security that this practice brings is a blessing beyond description. All that is needed is to set aside a short time of silence and rest and let one of the Christian words of life enter the soul. The sacred word of Jesus will do infinitely more than a mantra from the Maharishi of India. Let the Jesus word linger in your heart in love.
3 comments:
http://www.observer.com/2009/daily-transom/ohmmm-even-lazy-moby-turns-out-star-studded-transcendental-meditation-benefit
The concert was fantastic (and was recorded for PBS) as this cast of legendary musicians flowed through set after set of inspiring rock and roll with many artists making guest appearances on songs for others. During the many stage set ups David Lynch, Laura Dern, Howard Stern and Jerry Seinfeld added comments and comedy on the positive influence Transcendental Meditation has had in their lives. Background film clips of youngsters in schools around the world who practice TM gave us hope for a new era of peace and happiness. A charming and delightful evening that transcended all my expectations! www.tm.org
I too am concerned about the proliferation of "Transcendental Meditation." It seems to me that meditation as taught in the Bible is to contemplate and fill ourselves with God's word so that we can be changed more into His image, as opposed to emptying our minds as a "path to God".
I don't think Jesus was talking about meditation when he said, "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first." However, I do believe that the principle here is that when we empty something, such as our mind, it must be filled with something good (i.e. His word), to prevent it from being filled with something worse.
Worship Mindfully!
Ricky Spears
www.MindfulWorship.com
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