No. 10 October 2006
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University of York, Sept. 16-17
York University, in warm mid September, was the setting for a wonderful
week-end of Christian Muslim dialogue organised by the WCCM. It was part
of the ongoing Way of Peace process that in the past has involved fruitful
dialogue with Buddhism.
The mixed Muslim Christian attendance of over 150 came mainly from the
UK but 3 of us travelled from Ireland (Rita O Connell, Margaret O Driscoll
& myself.
The programme worked around four talks, two from the Christian perspective
(Fr Laurence & Fr. Silonan, Romanian Orthodox) & two from that
of Islam (Dr. Reza Sha Kazemi & Dr. Musharraf Hussain). In between
we had a dialogue workshop. So much went on that I need to be very selective
in this short report.
I travelled primarily to fill out a little my sketchy knowledge of Islam
& to discover if dialogue might have a future particularly in the
context of Ireland. So what did I learn?
Firstly the word Allah: it simply means God in Arabic & Dr. Kazemi
advises that we not use it in English as it creates the false impression
of two Gods, one Christian & one Muslim.
We both worship the One God. In fact two of the most beautiful aspects
of Islam are its deep commitment to monotheism in emphasising the transcendence
and absolute oneness of Ultimate Reality & its presentation of the
whole of human life
as a submission to God in worship & act.
In the Sufi tradition, from which both speakers drew, true action is not legalistic but involves living out of love. "The role of religious teaching is to motivate us towards loving God" who is the "Loving" (Hussain). This requires that we strive (jihad) for spiritual growth.
Again another word much misunderstood in the west and abused by fundamentalists is Sharia. But in living out of love Sharia law is our guide.However it is only a means, not an end. God is the end (Hussain).
But relationship with God for Islam also has a contemplative dimension. It teaches that we all yearn for God and that we express this yearning in prayer. But, & this will resonate with meditators, "greater than prayer is remembrance" (Kazemi).The prophet Mohammed: this tending towards God that is beyond dogma. This which creates a sacred place, makes possible a sacred meeting beyond theological diatribe. (Kazemi).
So, on the positive side one can see that the contemplative elements
in Islam & Christianity open up deep & rich possibilities for
dialogue. While I could not obtain information of the presence of this
contemplative tradition among Muslims in Ireland, at least we have a starting
point from which to investigate further.
What of the negative? In truth the workshops and other "dialogue"
events of the week end did reveal the presence of a way of thinking that
mirrored extreme evangelism in Christianity. But they were far from being
in the majority.
There is no doubt that dialogue with Islam presents many difficulties as well as opportunities. But one thing is certain: we must engage in it or turn our backs on the reality of the modern world. The latter, in my view, is not an option.
Niall Kennedy, Tipperary.
I was delighted to visit Malaysia in August & attend the John Main Seminar (JMS) in Penang.
We were a group of 250 people representing 35 countries.
The trip had three parts 1) a silent retreat lead by Fr. Laurence 2) The JMS with Margaret Rizza: The Fire of Silence: Music & Mystics and 3) the post-seminar trip to Kuala Lumpur. This trip included a visit to some of the places John Main may have frequented.
In Kuala Lumpur we visited the orphanage where John Main met the swami who introduced him to meditation. This visit was for me a highlight of the trip, not least because of the welcome we received from the children; the beating of the drums was fantastic!
In Penang we stayed in a local Muslim owned hotel where the food was nice and the air conditioning heaven! The weather was excellent & I found the people there warm & friendly.
I could mention lots of small moments which I will cherish, however the most striking one was at the final mass in Penang. A representative from each country held the flag of their country in the Offertory procession. It brought home to me that the WCCM is truly a world wide community united in its variety & love of and for meditating the Main way!!
Matthew Campbell, Dublin.
This was the heading of an article in the Irish Times in April, following the retreat given by Fr. Laurence at Dzogchen Beara in Allihies, West Cork.
The mass was the culmination of a weekend on the theme of Spiritual Community attended by a capacity congregation in the dramatic cliff-top centre. It was full to overflowing with members of both the Christian and Buddhist communities.
Fr. Laurence spoke of John Mains vision of a community of love, which has a strong parallel to the Buddhist concept of mindfulness. Love and mindfulness both need to be reinforced by attention, again and again, which of course is central to the discipline of meditation.
He spoke of the benefit of a teacher who can create and maintain a sense of spiritual community. Prime examples are Jesus and Buddha, both of whom exemplified something of value they had found and which they could pass on to others. They also lead their followers into their own experience Buddha nature or God within oneself.
Andrew Warr responded from a Buddhist perspective, and spoke of the life of a community being in the sharing a vision.
While there are many similarities between the 2 traditions, there are differences of emphasis e.g. Buddhist contemplation versus Christian doing these need to be complementary.
The relevance of community to meditators is that when we meditate we are in solitude but we also meditate together and we are part of a world-wide community.
Peter Ng from Singapore spoke emotionally of his wife Patricia who died from cancer in 2005. She had received enormous help as a member of the Christian Meditation community.
He showed the DVD "The Art of Living & the Art of Dying", a moving insight into how Patricia came to terms with her illness and death - a defining tribute to spiritual community in practice.
Fr. Laurence will visit Dzogchen Beara again from
25 27 May 2007 watch for details.
Fergal McLoughlin ,Dublin
A very productive meeting took place between Archbishop Sean Brady and Fr. Laurence, accompanied by Phil McQuillan, Belfast Co-Ordinator and Fergal McLoughlin, National Coordinator
The Archbishop is keenly interested in the concept of "sacred space" and expressed his strong support for Christian Meditation.
As a result of the meeting Phil has been instrumental in arranging meditation sessions for children and adults in the North, particularly in Magherafelt and Newtownabbey.
A retreat in Larne 24/26March, a public talk in Belfast on 26 March and a weekend in Dzogchen Beara, Tibetan Buddhist Retreat Centre, West Cork
Just a wee word for now, to say a huge THANK YOU to Sr. Margaret Collier
who is in the process of handing over the reins of coordination of the
Cork Meditation groups.
Is it any wonder that it will take three people to fill her shoes!
Rita O Connell, Lilian Casey & Anne Forde have generously agreed
to take on the different parts of the Co-Ordinator role.
17th Dec. 06, Cork
An Afternoon of Reflection & Meditation
with Fr. Donagh O Shea,O.P.
Ursuline Sec. School,
Blackrock, Cork. 2.30-6pm
Further Information & Booking:
Rita 0214292404 or
Anne 021 4312413 or
Lilian 021 4544873
The following information may be of interest to individuals & groups
around the country.
"Emmaus Productions and the Ministry of Monica Brown have a range
of prayer and music resources which would be of great interest to Christian
Meditation and Prayer Groups". You way wish to explore this
for yourself.
Emmaus Productions, PO Box 9339,
Baldoyle, Dublin 13
Website
www.emmausproductions.com
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