Life in the 21st century can be full of distractions, but one community in Centretown is learning to tune out all the noise. They practice Christian meditation – and there are more of them every year in Ottawa, say participants.
Now, they’re looking to pass on their practice of silence and serenity to the next generation.
“We live in this frenetic age of cyberspace where everything is noise and rushing,” says experienced meditator Paul Harris. “There’s such a volume of communications for young people, they’re being just swept along.”
Harris, 84, is an author of eight books on Christian meditation. His most recent publication is called Frequently Asked Questions About Christian Meditation: The Path to Contemplative Prayer.
Christian meditation is about letting go of your frenzied inner-monologue and getting in touch with the deeper presence of God that dwells within everyone, says Harris.
The process of Christian meditation is simple, he says. Find a quiet place, sit down and close your eyes. Then, breathing deeply, silently repeat a mantra, or prayer word, over and over. Try to clear your mind of thoughts, words or images.
This is something new Ottawa resident Angela Herzog says she had trouble with in her recent attempt at Christian meditation.
“It was definitely a big challenge,” she says. “It was hard to be gentle with myself instead of just getting frustrated.”
But as a graduate student in counseling at St. Paul University, Herzog says she understands the benefits of the practice.
“As a young adult you’re trying to figure out who you are,” she says, “so letting yourself slow down and being authentic like that . . . I think it’s huge.”
Though it’s also practiced in eastern religions, meditation has been part of the Christian faith since the 4th century, according to literature from the Canadian Christian Meditation Community. John Main, a Benedictine monk, is credited with reviving the tradition in the late 1970s in Montréal. It has since spread throughout the world.
There are now 42 Christian meditation groups in the Ottawa area. Four of them meet in Centretown, at St. John the Evangelist, St. Barnabus Anglican, St. Patrick’s Basilica, and in Harris’ home near Bay and Laurier. Community members say they are part of a non-judgmental network that encourages newcomers.
"There's no real rules or pressures,” says Krister Partel. He’s a Centretown resident who was recently appointed the national youth co-ordinator for Canada’s Christian meditation community. “No one's taking attendance, it's just kind of a nice calming way to be and relate with people."
Partel held his first youth meditation event on Oct. 17 at St. Joseph Parish downtown.
“I’d like (Christian meditation) to be a bit more mainstream,” he said after the event. “The turnout here was good and if it’s replicated across Canada, you never know, right?”
Harris says he shares Partel’s optimism. He’s been a member of the Christian meditation community for 27 years and says he’s seen the immense potential meditation has to strengthen young people’s faith and focus.
“Even if you’re distracted 50 times during your meditation, if you come back to your mantra 50 times, that’s 50 times you’ve chosen God over the distractions,” he says.
In June, Ottawa will host a national Christian meditation conference. As part of the conference, the current director of the World Community for Christian Meditation, Laurence Freeman, will hold a special youth retreat. The theme will be “Silence in the City” and it will focus on bringing spiritual meaning and balance to the lives of Canada’s youth.