Christian Meditation: Weekly Teachings Podcast

Odcinki

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  Blessed are the Poor in Spirit - a Contemplative Perspective 23.05.2026 11min

  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 path of dispossession, of self-emptying in the pattern of Christ, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of slave, being born in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7). The path of self-emptying (kenosis) is the path by which we become fully human. However strange it might seem at first, to let go of all “the abundant riches of thought” is moment by moment to relinquish our need for control and turn to the stillness at the heart of all mental activity, to the still centre, which like the centre of a wheel remains still whether the wheel is turning or not: it is to turn to the silent wellspring of our life. “What poverty can be greater and more holy than that of the one who…recognises that their life and being are at every moment sustained by divine help?” says Cassian. The absolute poverty of meditation awakens us to the mystery of the Other in which our life is found – the mystery which remains closed to us as long as we remain closed-in upon ourselves. It’s not easy to speak about this this. It can only really be understood through our own experience. How can we put into words the path that invites us to go beyond all words? Well, we might not need to speak about this. Somehow, through grace, the path of becoming poor, of dispossession, brings about an inner harmony and peace that communicates itself. The poverty of the prayer word helps us to learn a completely new relationship with life. As we cultivate the power of ungrasping attention, awareness opens. We are increasingly able to live and love from the spaciousness of the heart, with a new capacity to see and hear, to understand and serve others. The person who perseveres in the simplicity and innocence of the practice, says Cassian, “is a danger and a menace to no one. They are satisfied with their simplicity.” They are content to be on the journey, to be always beginning. In other words, they are content to be human.
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  More from the Cloud of Unknowing - A gentle way of prayer 17.05.2026 17min

  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 thanked them and wrote, ‘And never worry about ‘going backwards’ or going forwards. God is our being. It doesn’t get closer than that.’ ‘And so I understand,’ they replied. ‘What a wonderful thing to know!’ What struck me most in this exchange was the sense of relief. After years of trying, something has begun to relax. The need to try and ‘feel’ something, to ‘connect with God’ through a particular kind of tangible experience, has begun to fall away. In many ways, this is not just one person’s story. It reflects something much more widespread. Remember St Paul’s words that we should ‘pray without ceasing’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Using the Cloud author’s language, if you interpret Paul’s words physically, you are likely to end up with a sore jaw, exhausted, and having annoyed everyone around you. If you understand his words spiritually, then unceasing prayer can be seen as an orientation of mind, a disposition of heart, a way of being that you can carry through the day.
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  The Prodigal Son - a contemplative perspective 17.05.2026 8min

  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.’
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  Overlooking the flower - the beauty we fail to see 17.05.2026 8min

  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.’
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  Jesus, Gandhi and the Work of Peace 14.04.2026 11min

  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.
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  Wisdom from the Cloud of Unknowing 10.04.2026 12min

  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.
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  Silence and Resurrection: an Easter reflection 07.04.2026 19min

  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.
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  The Marriage of East and West: a vision of global, spiritual friendship 25.03.2026 16min

  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.
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  Wholehearted Living: Discovering the Sacred in Each Task 28.10.2024 10min

  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.  
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  Finding God in Meditation: from duality to oneness 21.10.2024 6min

  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.
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  Embracing the Wisdom of Monasticism: Transforming our Relationship with Time 18.12.2023 7min

  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.
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  Travelling lightly, living fully 19.11.2023 8min

  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.
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  Solitude, compassion and community - walking in the footsteps of Jesus 31.10.2023 4min

  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.
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  Trusting in the simplicity of prayer 29.10.2023 9min

  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. 
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  Blessed are the peacemakers: religion and oneness. 25.10.2023 11min

  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.
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  Our Thirst for Peace 15.09.2023 6min

  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.