Christian Meditation: Weekly Teachings Podcast

In the first Beatitude, Jesus points to the wellspring from which all the Beatitudes flow: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus is not speaking about the economically poor, but of those who know their utter dependence on God, who no longer need to exercise power and control over others and the world in order to sustain their sense of identity. In his Conferences on prayer, St. John Cassian, who was largely responsible for bringing our tradition of meditation to the West in the fifth century, says that we must hold onto our prayer word with the mind, “so that after saying it over and over again…it has the strength to refuse all the abundant riches of thought. Grasping the poverty of this little [word] it will come all the more easily to that first of all the gospel beatitudes, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven’ (Matt. 5:3).” (1) Notice how Cassian links the “poverty” of the prayer word with becoming “poor in spirit.” Meditation is a…

A member of our practice community recently emailed and said: ‘After years and years and years of ‘trying’ to connect with God, Jesus, the Bible, through different churches, and feeling a miserable failure because I wasn’t feeling the same as everyone else around me seemed to be, I think I’ve actually found what it was that I was looking for. It was inside me all along. It’s such a wonderful discovery and an absolute revelation.’ By coincidence (or perhaps it was spiritual synchronicity, or providence), I received this wonderful email just as I was completing my notes for a talk on the teaching of an extraordinary spiritual master, and some of what he has to say about spiritual ‘feelings.’ I emailed back, asking if I could include some of their words in the talk. They replied, ‘of course,’ and added: ‘The amount of times I have felt I was going backwards in my relentless attempt to go forwards when people said “The Lord has given me a word…” And now I feel I can relax and let it all unfold. Wonderful.’ I…

A contemplative reading of the story of the Parable of the Prodigal Son can yield a rich teaching for the practice of meditation and the cultivation of attention. Perhaps the most famous Christian teaching on ‘coming home’ is the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). Jesus speaks of a son who asked his father to give him the share of the property that he was due to inherit, left home, and went to a faraway country. In that distant place, the younger son squandered what he’d been given. The original Greek, however, offers a far deeper meaning. The Greek word commonly translated as ‘property’ (οὐσίαν) can also mean ‘substance’ or ‘essence’ or ‘being’ – the deepest reality of something. And the word commonly translated as ‘squandered’ (διεσκόρπισεν) can also mean ‘scattered’ or ‘dispersed.’

There is a beautiful story of a young monk so eager to do his tasks correctly that he was oblivious to what was hiding in plain sight. A little while ago, one of our practice community members emailed and said: ‘I’ve found myself suddenly and intensely seeing the beauty of so many things large and small, such as the cloud formations, flocks of migrating birds, the shapes of the leafless trees, and the way dew or rain drops shine on the spiders webs in the hedges. I’d ‘looked’ at all of them over the years before, but I’ve not ‘seen’ them as I have recently. My life has been so enriched by this. I can only put it down to my meditation practice.’

In his excellent book The Beatitudes of Peace, the prominent peace activist Fr John Dear recalls visiting Gandhi’s ashram on the outskirts of Ahmedabad in India. He writes of how he spent a whole morning sitting in silence on the floor of the veranda just outside Gandhi’s simple room with its tiny wooden desk, his spinning wheel and a large white pillow, overlooking the river and desert landscape that Gandhi loved. And how, as he sat there, he felt, ‘a profound peace and a renewed inner strength.’ Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Desmond Tutu, Fr John has spent many decades exploring what it means to live the Gospel as a path of nonviolence – not as an idea, but as a way of being. He recognises, as Gandhi recognised, that the work of peace does not begin in the world around us, but within us. Peace does not arise by accident.

A theme that comes through very clearly in many of the emails we receive is how important it is to know that to practice this way of meditation is to participate in an ancient tradition; and that this ancient way of silent prayer doesn’t just benefit us individually, but benefits all people, all beings. Chris Whittington draws out this theme with some wisdom-teachings from the anonymous 14th century author of The Cloud of Unknowing.

A contemplative Easter reflection on Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and the resurrection. Discover how silence, surrender, and the practice of meditation open us to God’s presence—where letting go becomes the doorway to love, healing, and new life.

A reflection on Benedictine Monk, Bede Griffiths, and the meeting of Eastern and Western spiritual traditions, exploring how the journey into silence and the return to the centre reveals a deeper unity beneath all religions and offers a foundation for peace.

In this episode, we explore how the sacred can be found not only in spiritual practices but in the everyday tasks that fill our lives. Drawing on Zen and Benedictine wisdom, we reflect on the idea that enlightenment is not separate from the routines we often overlook, such as cooking or cleaning. Stories of Zen masters and Christian monks reveal how approaching each moment with mindful attention allows us to cultivate a life of wholeness, where prayer and compassion infuse every act. Listeners will be guided to see life as a continuous, sacred practice—one that invites a deep sense of stability, peace, and presence in each task. Join us as we explore how the practice of meditation can transform even the simplest of acts into a profound encounter with the divine.

In this episode, we explore the transformative power of meditation and the understanding that God is not a separate entity to be grasped but is our very essence. Reflecting on biblical insights, particularly Jesus’ response to Philip at the Last Supper, we uncover how a dualistic mindset can obscure our awareness of oneness with the divine. Listeners are invited to let go of preconceived notions of God and simply rest in open awareness where we discover that true understanding comes not from seeking but from experiencing God as ever-present in our lives. This journey encourages a release from judgment and comparison, leading us to a profound sense of unity. Join us as we navigate this mystical journey and embrace the boundless love that connects us all.

Many of us have a difficult relationship with time. We might wish we had more of it to finish that home project which never quite gets done. We might wish we were more efficient at using the time we do have, having chased our tail all day, before we fall into bed. We might regret the time we have spent on certain things in the past, or worry about what is likely to consume our time in the future. It’s all too easy to feel like we are the victim of time. In this podcast, we explore how we can transform our relationship with time through the wisdom of monasticism.

In meditation, we set out on a journey like no other. Saying our prayer word, following our breath, we learn to travel light. Instead of packing, we unpack. Instead of trying to grasp hold of what cannot grasped, we allow ourselves to be held. Instead of worrying about finding God, or experiencing God, we allow ourselves to rest in God’s ever-present Presence.

The contemplative practice of Christian meditation has its foundation in the teachings and prayer life of Jesus. Jesus frequently withdrew to solitary or deserted places to pray. The Gospel writers skillfully record a pattern of solitary prayer, engaged compassion, and the creation of community. We don't need to find any special way of getting in touch with God. God wants to simplify us through the simplicity of silent prayer.

It takes trust to life attention off ourselves, to believe God has everything in hand. We have a tendency to want to complicate what is simple. All God wants to do, through the simplicity of prayer is simplify us, to lead us back from distractedness to wholeness.

Religion means 'a way of getting back in touch', something that 'reconnects' and 'binds together.' It is especially important to remember some of the deepest meanings of this word at moments when some may wish to use it as a way of dividing people. Meditation helps us open up to the gift of contemplation, the gift of seeing clearly, and coming to awareness of our essential oneness with each other and all of creation.

Through meditation and self-compassion, we can gradually dissolve internal obstacles and develop a more harmonious relationship with ourselves and the world. As we learn to approach our thoughts and feelings with stillness and compassion, we unveil the ever-present peace within us.