Silence is God’s first language; everything else is a poor translation. – Thomas Keating
Contemplation is a vivid realization of the fact that life and being in us proceed from an invisible, transcendent and infinitely abundant Source. Contemplation is, above all, awareness of the reality of that Source. – Thomas Merton
The call to mediation, for the early Fathers [and Mothers] of the Church, was a call to purity of heart. A vision unclouded by egoism or by desire or by images, a heart simply moved by love. Meditation leads us to pure clarity — clarity of vision, clarity of understanding and clarity of love — a clarity that comes from simplicity. And to begin to meditate requires nothing more than the simple determination to begin and then to continue. – John Main
Can Christians meditate?
Yes! While the Buddhist perspective is generally responsible for secular meditation and mindfulness teaching here in the West, Christianity also has its own tradition of meditation practice.
For Christians, the practice of meditation is traditionally called contemplation or contemplative prayer. Much like Buddhist meditation, contemplative prayer invites silence, releases our identification with thoughts and life, and cultivates a deeper compassion for ourselves, others, nature, and that which connects us.
While the Christian tradition uses the words “contemplation” and “contemplative prayer,” it is highly appropriate to also use the word “meditation.” The Christian Benedictine monks John Main and Laurence Freeman are responsible for the global practice and movement aptly called Christian Meditation. Additionally, Centering Prayer is a sister practice led by Christian Trappist monk Thomas Keating. For an insightful look into the differences between the two contemplative practices, visit this brief yet rich article by Thomas Keating.
So, what’s the difference between prayer and contemplation?
Prayer and contemplation are two sides of the same coin. They are ancient practices intended to communicate with God, the Source of life. While prayer and contemplation cannot be sufficiently summed up in a few sentences, there is a helpful way to view the two:
- Prayer can be seen as communication with God through the use of language, images, and thoughts.
- Contemplation can be seen as communication with God with minimal or no use of language, images, and thoughts.
Both are essential; one is not better than the other. As always in spiritual and religious tradition, we find ourselves in both/and territory instead of either/or.