In 1975 Dom John Main OSB opened the fist Christian Meditation Centre at his monastery in London. He had recovered a simple tradition of silent, contemplative prayer in the teaching of the early Christian monks, the Desert Fathers.
It came clear to him that this tradition had relevance today not only for monks but for all people. Peter Ng is Chief Executive of the Singapore Investment Corporation, and a Trustee and Guiding Board member of the World Community for  Christian Meditation; his story is relevant for all us in today’s busy world.,

When Peter was in mid-life crisis, he came across meditation. It took him two years to adjust his lifestyle and routine to include two daily meditation periods.

From spending long hours after work pursuing trivial activities and socialising with business clients, he learned to say no. “In giving time to meditation, I have gained time because I have discarded the things in my life that are not important.” Another benefit: on business travels, the periods of meditation bring stability to his life.

“Meditation,” Peter said, “meets the needs of those who sense there is more to life than being producers or consumers.” He mentioned that John Main was well aware of the predicament of people in the modern world “rushing around with a flame in their hearts that is always on the verge of going out until they stop to meditate and then the flame flares up and burns brightly.” Meditation is an antidote to busyness.

Peter referred to John Main’s caution against becoming dehumanised and losing one’s freedom in the business world; to stop frantic activity and learn to be still. “Meditation put me on the road less travelled,” Peter acknowledged. 

Peter pointed out that one of the attributes of a business leader is possessing abundant energy resources. Speaking of the potential energy that flows from meditation, he confirms meditation as an energy source.

A common thread in many books on leadership qualities in business is the extent to which the leader transcends or lets go of the ego. That is, in Peter’s terms, learning to stand back and let God take over. “If we think we’re at the centre of the world we’ll never see anyone or ourselves as we really are. Because we aren’t at the centre of the world. God is.”

In John Main’s words, “When we meditate we move from self-centredness to God-centredness because meditation is an onslaught on the ego.” In today’s business world there is a renewed search for the ethical mind. Meditation helps to develop the ethical mind.  “The mantra,” Peter said, “is like the needle of a compass, keeping you on the straight course, toward God.

Then everything in our life becomes aligned on God. We are committed to ‘live out what saying the mantra brings us to’.” It was evident to his audience that the need for the ethical mind is a need that would be well served by following Peter’s worthy example.
Clare Duckworth  -West Bolton, QC

Talks on Christian Meditation will be held on:
April 21 – 6 p.m. at St Finbar’s RC Church, Morne Coco Road
April 22 – 10 a.m. Living Water Community, 109 Frederick Street, POS
6 p.m. – Holy Name Convent Hall , Queen’s Park East, POS
The public is invited.