Meditation is not something new to the Christian experience, but is deeply rooted in Christian tradition. However, many Christians have lost touch with this ancient tradition of prayer.

Meditation involves coming to a stillness of spirit and a stillness of body. The extraordinary thing is that, in spite of all the distractions of the modern world, this silence is perfectly possible for all of us. To attain this silence and stillness, we have to devote time, energy and love.

The way to set out on this pilgrimage is to recite a short phrase, a word that today is commonly called a mantra. The mantra is simply a means of turning our attention beyond ourselves, a method of drawing us away from our own thoughts and concerns. The real work of meditation is to attain harmony of body, mind and spirit. This is the aim given us by the psalmist: “Be still and know that I am God”.

St Paul wrote that “we do not know how to pray, but the spirit prays within us” (Rom 8:26). What this means in the language of our own day is that before we can pray, we first have to learn to become still, to become attentive.

Only then can we enter into loving awareness of the Spirit of Jesus deep within our heart. Meditation, known also as contemplative prayer, is the prayer of silence, the place where direct contact with Christ can occur, once the never ceasing activity of the mind has been stilled. In meditation we go beyond words, thoughts and images into the presence of God within.

St John of the Cross says, “God is the centre of my soul”.  Julian of Norwich says:  "God is the still point at my centre".  Meditation is this daily pilgrimage to one’s own centre. 

Meditation is the other half of prayer. Normally we speak to God, thank Him and ask Him for things. In meditation we enter the silence, so that we can hear His voice and listen to Him.

“Children are born contemplatives and so contemplation is not only the goal of the Christian life but in a sense its starting point too,” Fr Laurence Freeman, a Benedictine monk and the Director of The World Community for Christian Meditation, has written in a foreword to the Like A Child series of books - a programme for teaching Christian meditation to children in primary schools.

Children are saying that they do not want merely to learn about Jesus and God in their religion lessons: they wanted to experience God in their heart. Christian meditation provides your child with an opportunity to start a journey of silence and stillness where he will experience the presence of Jesus within.

It may seem a paradox to many that children can be still and silent and enjoy it, but like adults, children also yearn for the experience of meeting God. Young children have a great openness to the presence of God in their lives and a real readiness for prayer.

 If they are taught when they are young to be still and silent so that their heart can be opened to the movement of the Spirit, the presence of Jesus and the embrace of God, they will have a gift which will continue to bring them great blessings throughout their life. 

It is important that even the smallest child learn to be still and not just be quiet. Being still is very different to being quiet. It is in their stillness that God can speak to their hearts and they can discover the love of God for each of them personally.

Respecting children as human individuals in their own right is still a novel idea. The idea, that children may have deep spiritual awareness before they are taught a religious faith, is only now starting to be acknowledged. At times we underestimate children. MEDITATE WITH YOUR CHILDREN. Meditation is very simple and your child will learn very fast. Children learn by example, so please meditate with them.

You just have to tell them: Sit down. Sit still and upright. Close your eyes lightly. Sit relaxed but alert. Breathe calmly and regularly. Silently, interiorly begin to say a single word. We recommend the prayer-phrase MA-RA-NA-THA.  

Recite it as four syllables of equal length.  Listen to it as you say it, gently but continuously.  Do not think or imagine anything - spiritual or otherwise.  If thoughts and images come, these are distractions at the time of meditation, so keep returning to simply saying the word.  

Meditate each morning and evening with your child when you wake up and before you go to bed. We recommend that your child starts meditating for five minutes adding slowly a minute whenever your child seems ready for more silence till you have reached your child's age.

Michel Legault, the National Coordinator of the Canadian Christian Meditation Community and member of the International Resources Group of the School of the World Community for Christian Meditation will be in Trinidad for a series of public sessions:
Monday, April 21 at 6:00 p.m. at St Finbar’s RC, Church, Morne Coco Road.
Tuesday, April 22 at 10 a.m. at Living Water Community, 109 Frederick Street, POS, and at 6.00 p.m. at the Holy Name Convent Hall, Queen’s Park East. The public is invited.
For further information call 678-8436 or 684-9827.