How Should A Meditation Group Be Structured?

This content first published in the Questions and Answers by Father Peter Murray section in Stillpoint Magazine, June 2024. The blogpost version contains some adaptions, such as inclusion of the Opening and Closing prayers.

The weekly meditation group is the heart and soul of WCCM, following on from the oft-quoted sentence in Matthew 18:20: ‘For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’

This saying is of course not exclusive to meditation groups for, as we know from our respective churches, there are many who come to pray together where they find support in their faith.

As a Christian meditation community we pride ourselves on the ecumenical nature of our community. It is the shared silence that is the binding force. As soon as we pray in words we become aware of the differences in our respective traditions and this creates an awkwardness. Even a simple practice like the sign of the cross can be exclusive.

Here is how meditation group meetings are structured:

1. The first part of a meeting is the teaching. The primary teachers are John Main and Laurence Freeman. There are others such as our own Ross Miller and those who featured on the CDs which were gifted to the worldwide community by Singapore.
   
   Others such as Thomas Keating, Richard Rohr and Cynthia Bourgeault are not wholly within our practice but can be used as a further reflection such as after the meditation. The same can be said of teachers from non-Christian spiritual traditions such as Thich Nat Hahn, the Dalai Lama and ancient teachers such as Rumi and the Upanishads.
   
   The beauty of John Main and Laurence Freeman is that in their teaching they always bring us back to the basics, namely the daily practice. While there is great wisdom outside our tradition, this should not take precedence over our own teachers. An ideal teaching resource is the Daily Readings from John Main, edited by Paul Harris, probably better known by its subtitle, Silence and Stillness in Every Season.

2. The meditation should begin with the opening prayer by John Main.
   
   "Heavenly Father, open our hearts to the silent presence of the spirit of your Son. Lead us into that mysterious silence where your love is revealed to all who call, 'Maranatha…Come, Lord Jesus'.”

   The silent meditation should be 25-30 minutes in length. Many groups seem to keep to 20 minutes. This is only recommended for beginners on the grounds that it takes approximately that period of time to come to a level of stillness. The teaching has always been that in one’s personal practice one should move to the optimum time of 30 minutes as soon as one is able.

   The silence is the key part of the meditation group.
   
   John Main frequently states in his teaching that when you enter into the silence you forget all the words he has spoken. Silence is the teacher.
   
   You learn by doing and it is the experience of meditating that is the real teacher. The energy of the communal silence is the builder of community. This is the work of the Holy Spirit binding us together. This is the gift that meditation is to our respective churches. What bound us together in the past no longer holds which is why meditation is such a gift.

3. The meditation ends with the closing prayer by Laurence Freeman OSB.

   "May this group be a true spiritual home for the seeker, a friend for the lonely, a guide for the confused. May those who pray here be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to serve all who come, and to receive them as Christ Himself. In the silence of this room may all the suffering, violence, and confusion of the world encounter the Power that will console, renew and uplift the human spirit. May all who come here weighed down by the problems of humanity leave giving thanks for the wonder of human life. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. AMEN."
   
   The sharing after must not be at the level of gossip. Some groups depart in silence. That is not recommended as a key aspect of our practice is to create community. This is where the leadership of the group comes into play.

   In the beginning stages people need considerable help. This is a time for questions and sharing. Meditation is a way of life. It is not just confined to the time you sit in silence. For many the only time they meditate is when they come to the group. That is a good start but the goal is to build up to twice-a-day which is the minimum to grow in the practice. As John Main often said, “You can’t do a bit of meditation.” However, we all have to begin somewhere.
   
   For many it takes years to build up to twice-a-day and that is fine. The goal is to keep on the path and if you stray off it, then it only takes one step back to continue on.