About eight years ago I was invited to preach at the installation of a dear friend as rector of an Episcopal parish in California's Bay Area. The weekend was packed full of related events: receptions, dinners, workshops, even a welcome visit to the nearby vineyards. Returning home after so many goings-on, I was exhausted and my nerves were frazzled. San Francisco International Airport did not make things better. Sunday night business travelers were packed into the concourses. Lots of movement. Lots of noise. My usual pre-flight anxiety was kicking in when I noticed a young man sitting in a half-lotus pose near a water fountain. His back was ramrod straight. His eyes were closed. His hands were slightly open. He unknowingly conveyed tranquility and peace in the midst of all the craziness surrounding him. His presence was an invitation to me to slow down and breath in a focused and mindful way. And, instead of being carried along by the crowds, I found a sense of inner peace and equanimity. The memory of that experience has given me strength and comfort during many other anxious moments. It increased my interest in the practice of meditation for myself and others. Some spiritual direction clients ask for resources or even practices of meditation. Each of my sessions with clients begins with a tap or two on a Tibetan singing bowl followed by some silence. Often I am asked for written resources and I point to three authors, all Buddhist. The first is a nun, Pema Chodron. Her book How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind (Sounds True, 2013) has impacted my own meditation. Her mantra of "straight back, open heart" during meditation has been important to me as I have tried to find a good contemplative posture with arthritis, Another little book that I often tuck in the back pocket of my jeans is How to Sit (Parallax Press, 2014) by the great Vietmanese monk Thich Nhat Hanh. If you scroll back to my "What I'm Reading" page you will find a tribute to Thich Nhat Hanh, who just died last week. He keeps the practice of meditation simple. Here are his opening words: "The first thing to do is to stop whatever else you are doing. Now sit down somewhere comfortable. Anywhere is fine." The third go-to person for me has developed materials on non-violent communications. But he also trains people in meditation. Visit Oren Jay Sofer's website: http://orenjaysofer.com In last month's blog posting, I wrote about how many persons are developing a kind of non-binary approach to their spirituality. The description I often use of this new spirituality is "braided." So I was gratified to notice that the January 26, 2022 Christian Century two articles appear that are well worth reading: "Baptist and Buddhist" by Tony Coleman (pp 24-27) and "An Interfaith Congregation," an interview by the Century's Senior Editor Amy Frykholm of Imam Jamal Rahman of Interfaith Community Sanctuary in Seattle (pp 28 - 31). Finally, a word about my personal meditation practice. During the 2021 Spiritual Directors International Conference, I participated virtually in morning sessions of Interspiritual Meditation (ISM). Developed by Dr. Edward W. Bastian this method is described as "a seven step process drawn from the world's spiritual traditions." A detailed outline of ISM can be found in Bastian's book, Interspiritual Meditation (Albion Andalus, 2015) or on this website: https://spiritualpaths.net The App Store offers a great app called "Interspiritual Meditation" that includes guided meditations, lessons, chants, and other useful resources. I use it daily and appreciate the spaciousness of grounding meditation in the great spiritual and contemplative traditions.
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March 2023
AuthorDan Hoffman is an Indianapolis USA based spiritual director, supervisor of spiritual directors, and workshop/retreat leader. This occasional blog discusses things he is thinking about and wants to share. Comments are always welcome. |