Wow! Did you even read my Post! what did I say? I think your way off base here to be accusing me of Attacking contemplative prayer! I practice traditions derived from the Kabballah, And also use all sorts of Contemplative methods offered by Our Church. The type of meditation where one Empties their mind though, can be inherently dangerous. I would refer the OP to Sufjon, who is a practicing Hindu, who would agree with me on this. I was suggesting that if The OP wishes to proceed with this technique they should seek out the Guidance of One Who Is Knowledgable. You would have them take a journey, that to an uninitiated person can really mess them up. Ive been studying and practicing differing meditative techniques for over 25 years. To just jump right in to a higher form of meditation with no guidance is simply STUPID, and DANGEROUS. but what do I know?:coffeeread:
I wasn’t sure how to respond to your post, so I hadn’t yet. Please do not think I am addressing you personally unless, a) I name you or quote you, or b) the shoe fits.
First, I know nothing about Kaballah, or what beliefs it followers have. Personally, I don’t have any problem with exploring other traditions’ prayer forms, but many I’ve run across on this forum blow a gasket at the suggestion of doing anything that isn’t 100% Catholic origin and form. I wasn’t sure whether to show I am open to this sort of thing, or if that would discredit me with those “Not Catholic, then its definitely false and dangerous” people. I guess now that I’ve revealed my open-mindedness on the issue, which is offensive to some anyway (others have told me I shouldn’t have an open mind because my brains will all out) and let the chips fall. Here goes!
You know what? If the brains we have aren’t working, then let them fall out so God can fill us with new ones! As long as we cling to our accumulated mental trash, God has no room to bring in any of our new furniture. If we should cut off our metaphorical arm if it causes me to sin, then yes Lord, take my faulty, sinful brains too.
As far as having a director, I think it’s a good idea for anyone to have an SD on any topic. Quality ones are not necessarily easy to find, but it’s worth trying. Why, though, do so many people think that not having an SD guidance is so horrible when it comes to this particular prayer form, but somehow we don’t say anything about Catholics who follow all the rules and have no spiritual guidance at all. I’d venture to guess that more Catholics than not have not even heard the term, “spiritual journey,” much less know anything useful about it. To me, having 95% of the Catholics oblivious to any understanding of the workings of the heart (mystical theology) such that they think conforming to rules and parroting dogma is all there is, basically makes the Church somewhat less effective than she could be at bringing souls to God.
1 Cor 13:2:
And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.
But let’s take a look at what we’re talking about here. We’re sitting still, thinking nothing in particular on purpose, and trying not to pay particular heed to thoughts that pop up, Which is more dangerous and therefore should require guidance and training, going to Holy Communion while in the state of grace, or sitting quietly, lovingly gazing upon the Eucharist, with our mouths shut and no particular verbal prayer on my lips or mind? Catholics get training in the former, but not in the latter – which is essentially the same thing as a contemplative prayer form, just that not everybody knows to call it that.
Alan
