Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation Author: | Language: English | ISBN:
B00FPUHBD4 | Format: EPUB
Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation Description
Sitting in stillness, the practice of meditation, and the cultivation of awareness are commonly thought to be the preserves of Hindus and Buddhists. Martin Laird shows that the Christian tradition of contemplation has its own refined teachings on using a prayer word to focus the mind, working with the breath to cultivate stillness, and the practice of inner vigilance or awareness.
But this book is not a mere historical survey of these teachings. In Into the Silent Land, we see the ancient wisdom of both the Christian East and West brought sharply to bear on the modern-day longing for radical openness to God in the depths of the heart. Laird's book is not like the many presentations for beginners. While useful for those just starting out, this book serves especially as a guide for those who desire to journey yet deeper into the silence of God.
The heart of the book focuses on negotiating key moments of struggle on the contemplative path, when the whirlwind of distractions or the brick wall of boredom makes it difficult to continue. Laird shows that these inner struggles, even wounds, that any person of prayer must face, are like riddles, trying to draw out of us our own inner silence.
Ultimately Laird shows how the wounds we loathe become vehicles of the healing silence we seek, beyond technique and achievement. Throughout, the language is fresh, direct, and focused on real-life examples of people whose lives are incomparably enriched by the practice of contemplation.
- Audible Audio Edition
- Listening Length: 5 hours and 1 minute
- Program Type: Audiobook
- Version: Unabridged
- Publisher: Audible, Inc.
- Audible.com Release Date:
- Whispersync for Voice: Ready
- Language: English
- ASIN: B00FPUHBD4
This book is a true gem. It is a wonderful guide for anyone seriously interested in contemplative prayer. Laird draws on the spiritual traditions of both Eastern and Western Christianity to produce a true classic, filled with practical guidance about the method of contemplative prayer, the difficulties and distractions (and how they can become gifts), and the way contemplation can teach us to deal with afflictive emotions and situations. Laird writes for the experienced person as well as (perhaps even more than) the beginner. He draws primarily upon the Jesus Prayer as his method, with nods to Centering Prayer as an alternative approach. He includes passages from some of the greatest writers on (and practitioners of) contemplative prayer in the Western Church and the Estern Orthodox tradition which may be less familiar to readers but has much to offer us. This book has real depth, and is obviously written by someone who knows the silent land well himself. It is a treasure!
By M. VanEtten
In this book Laird explains passages on the contemplative journey in ways that were new to me. (Perhaps I should admit here that I didn't even know there were identifiable stages of silence.) He names the doorway into each stage, the treasure one finds there, and what is entailed in opening the door - the riddle that must be solved before entering. As a student and practitioner of centering prayer for 15 years, I found these insights fascinating as well as wonderfully presented. But Laird doesn't just leave us with theories; he offers practical applications of his lessons. Here are real people struggling with real difficulties, practicing contemplative methods, solving the riddles, moving through the stages, gaining new freedom and joy. Laird offers not only mysteries and metaphors, but tools and tips! I would recommend this book to anyone on the contemplative journey.
By Barbara B. Hemphill
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