Fear of our selves

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shakuhachi
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Shakuhachi

Guest
At least that is what it seems like to me when people speak of the “dangers” of things like Mindfulness Meditation, Contemplation, inner silence or thoughtless awareness even Centering Prayer. They are all methods to go deeper within ones’ self, one’s own being, ones’ own soul. We live on the surface. Most of our images and thoughts are near the surface. Our own apophatic tradition as taught by even a Doctor of the Church, St John of the Cross, tells us that we can go deeper. Is Christ not in “the Cave of the Heart”?

It seems to me that the scupulosity and self righteousness that can be associated with traditional pious methods are more dangerous than any contemplative method because they tend to be more about the surface where words and images are vulnerable to evil influence. In the deep quiet, when thoughts become more still, and awareness or mindfulness sits and waits on the Lord, St. John tells us there is no danger because Satan has no thoughts to work with, only the “Living Flame of Love” calling to us.

And it seems obvious to me that the world needs more of this deeper silence because what we see everywhere are people defending their thoughts, if not forcing them on others and arguing with them. The ego is invested in those thoughts, lives and dies by them. And the ego is not our truest self because it is only the surface. We are so much more. Who knows the depth of a soul? That is the truest an fullest self. Why fear it?
 
I don’t have the links handy, but I believe Pope Benedict and maybe some others came out pretty strongly against “New Age” meditation techniques influenced by Eastern religion. I think the people who get nervous of anything that might be coming across as Buddhist or “New Age” are reacting more to that than to a fear of looking inside themselves.

I was never into New Age, I thought most of it was kind of silly, like the 70s had Uri Geller and pyramid power. I never was too bothered by Buddhist techniques because I understood that the Trappists/ Thomas Merton/ St. Teresa of Avila/ St. John of the Cross used similar concepts. So I wasn’t aware until I started reading CAF that there was a Catholic controversy over such ideas.
 
It’s fine to look inward if they are looking at God residing within their soul. People can get confused though and actually just be looking at themselves, in effect worshipping themselves. That’s the danger of looking inward. I think this sort of prayer or spiritual exercise should only be attempted by those well advanced in the faith, probably someone who already has a priest or spiritual director they can talk to regularly to ensure they are not being led astray.
 
Here’s my view, from my own spiritual life.

I love God, and I want to be as close to Him in this life as He will allow me. And I love my wife and children and I want the same for those relationships. There are certain “rules” that govern my behavior and attitudes towards my wife and kids, if I want them to see me as a loving father/husband. I shouldn’t tell my wife she’s fat or a bad cook and I shouldn’t lose my temper with my kids and treat them like indentured servants. I liken this to our “obligations” as Catholics- attend Mass weekly, pray daily, etc.

But when it comes time for birthdays and Christmas and anniversaries I might agonize over what’s the “right” gift for my wife or kids. I ask myself a lot of questions- “What do I know they like? What would surprise them? What do they need? What have they told me they want over the course of the last few months or year?” I agonize over the gift because I love them and I want to somehow give that love and care a material manifestation, even if that ends up being a pack of hair ties.

What’s that got to do with my spiritual life? Well, when it comes to my daily prayer life I know that God wants me to pray, and hopefully I do so because I desire to and not to check off a box. But I can get caught in “agonizing” over the details, even to the point of scrupulosity. My intentions are good, but sometimes we all forget God just wants us to be with Him, to love Him, to do our best. And I think that’s where some of the attitude you’re talking about can come from, its from the place of someone who loves God and doesn’t want to offend Him or His Church. But if we study spiritual theology, and we read the writings of the Mystics we know that as our relationship with God grows deeper some of this fades, albeit while presenting new challenges.

There are also legitimate concerns presented when borrowing from other traditions. The way I see it, as Catholics we’re at the buffet table- everything we want or could want is there. Reading “The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying” or the Bhagvad Gita is like running to McDonalds; whatever you can get there, you’ll get it at the buffet. (Probably a weak analogy, forgive me).

A final thought, I know very few “contemplative” people. I’m lucky to have a great group of Catholic friends and who do take their spiritual lives seriously, but the majority of Catholics I know or rub shoulders with find contemplative practices difficult at best, if not impossible and totally foreign. So we also need to show the laity practical ways to incorporate the practices of our Tradition into their modern, busy lives. And this is where I shamelessly endorse the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
 
RKS89 said:
A final thought, I know very few “contemplative” people. I’m lucky to have a great group of Catholic friends and who do take their spiritual lives seriously, but the majority of Catholics I know or rub shoulders with find contemplative practices difficult at best, if not impossible and totally foreign. So we also need to show the laity practical ways to incorporate the practices of our Tradition into their modern, busy lives. And this is where I shamelessly endorse the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
Click to expand...
Yes, the ability to do contemplative prayer is a blessing or gift from God. A Catholic can make themselves open to it, work to retreat from the word and empty their mind of thoughts, but it’s up to God whether they can do this prayer or not. I am not able to do contemplative prayer, and I think most Catholics are the same. Very few receive this gift.
 
Everyone can practice contemplative prayer; its only the deep levels of it that are pure Gift. We can all access certain levels of the “interior castle”.
 
OP: Aren’t you looking more at the practitioners and less at the practices? If so, that is a mistake! If you see arrogance and ego, you are looking at others but seeing yourself. That is true with each of us. It is our lifelong battle.

Silence is greatly needed on a daily basis for genuine growth in the spiritual life. Silence that is so difficult to find in this culture. The faith has the perfect tools for this, if we have the discipline to apply them. God is present in all of the noise, but disguised or obscured by it. He revealed Himself to Elijah in the still, small voice.

There is a spirit which is driving all sorts of corruption into the faith - mostly eastern practices which mimic the faith, but which place us in spiritual jeopardy. From the misapplication of labyrinths to yoga to eastern “centering” prayer and meditative forms there are assaults from every side. Remember that our battles are not against flesh and blood - but in the spiritual realm!

For this reason, the Church offers spiritual direction and guidance. Authoritative direction, not pop-culture fluff.

Not everything you mention is bad. Contemplative prayers and meditative prayer are simply excellent. Still, one must know the definitions so as to discern which is which and which is the best fit. Current attempts to mold Catholicism to eastern spirituality (or vice versa) are inherently dangerous. I will be hammered for this, but Thomas Merton was seduced by Buddhism, which in particular, teaches the emptying of self. How does that square with the Christian faith?

We are Tabernacles of the Holy Spirit! He fills us - He does not empty us. We do not divorce ourselves from this world, losing all hope, expectation and anticipation. Rather, we are filled with faith, hope and love. We are called to activity when we are not in silence - listening to the voice of God speak to us.

Whichever spirituality we choose is intended not only for personal growth, but to equip us to grow the Church. It must sqare with the teaching of the faith - which is not a fence to keep us in, but a barrier to keep evil out! It is there for our temporal and eternal protection. We cross over it at great risk.

If our confessors are not comfortable providing spiritual direction, they certainly know of many others within the faith who are.

Ask and you shall receive.
 
Last edited:
Jared2914 said:
It’s fine to look inward if they are looking at God residing within their soul. People can get confused though and actually just be looking at themselves, in effect worshipping themselves. That’s the danger of looking inward. I think this sort of prayer or spiritual exercise should only be attempted by those well advanced in the faith, probably someone who already has a priest or spiritual director they can talk to regularly to ensure they are not being led astray.
Click to expand...
Looking at themselves? There is nothing to look at. The whole point is to turn away form the self we think we are and turn to the infinite calling us deeper.
 
Yes we have contemplative practices with in our own Catholic Church. And that is because God is within all of us calling. Even other faiths, other traditions. We have that in common. Eww may understand and define God differently. But it is the same God on all of us.
 
po18guy said:
I will be hammered for this, but Thomas Merton was seduced by Buddhism, which in particular, teaches the emptying of self. How does that square with the Christian faith?
Click to expand...
It squares with Christian faith because Jesus said we must die to the self. Even he “emptied himself”. Yes, that is self will but self will is fully entangled with ego. Befor we can be filled we must be emptied. “You cannot put new wine into old wine skins.”

Poor Thomas Merton. He was able to see the common them of every good spirituality. And that is the “letting go” that is required for real spiritual growth. it is Christian, it is Buddhist. It is Hindu. It is Muslim.
 
Last edited:
That was sort of my point. Most people I know, Catholic or otherwise, simply won’t carve out the time in their daily lives to pursue contemplative prayer. Certainly one reason is because it isn’t easy. But we can all progress in contemplative prayer to a certain degree, and we should do our best to make prayer our primary work each day, within reason, ability and the dictates of our vocation.
 
Do you forget or overlook that Buddhism does not refill with anything? Christ lives in us. We are temples of the Holy Spirit, not empty vessels who have abandoned even despair.
 
Business is one thing very understandable, but fear is another. Even I, here trying to encourage contemplative prayer so easily get caught up in my activities. Yes, some very legitimate and responsible. But many just distractions.
 
We cannot speak of Buddhist fulfillment. It is not ours. For all we know Christ is just as present in the heart of a Buddhist and dwells with him just as securely without words or images. What is it like for a Christian to experience Christ within?
 
I hear you there. I’ve often said I’m a contemplative trapped in an active body. Which also suggests we who are not consecrated religious can be top contemplative, to the detriment of our daily duties and responsibilities. It’s a balancing act, one we can’t hope to attain to wit out God’s grace.
 
Yes, for me, I can hope for about 30 minutes a couple times a week and try to carry the fruits through the rest of my hours. But most importantly, when I seem to sense God’s grace calling me to a moment of stillness, to give that call a priority. It is so easy to ignore it.
 
Easier said than done. It’s a grace in itself to even know such a grace was offered. That’s why I like the Jesuit Examen so much.
 
I was never guided through them and didn’t seem to do well on my own with them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top