Meditation for Thursday 26th June 2025

There are numerous ways of meditating but all of them boil down to two types, analytical or placement meditation.

When we use our imagination, and the powers of reasoning to find our object of meditation this is analytical meditation. Mindfulness is analytical although perhaps a more accurate example is when we think about a problem, an issue or in some circumstances prayer.

Placement meditation, which is the usual kind we practice at Middle Park on Thursday evening is when we find our object and hold it single-pointedly. The object might be a mantra, breathe or mandala such as a painting, a candle or even the wall. For those new to meditation, we suggest the breath. Gently breathing in and out feeling the sensation of the air. This object is easy to discover as it generally calms our mind quickly, overcoming our distracting thoughts. For some people, the breath is not enough so we generally recommend that you combine the breath with a mandala e.g. gazing at a candle.

Many people like to begin their meditation practice with analytical meditation and gradually ease into placement or concentration meditation. For some the analytical meditation might well be prayer which gives way to placement or concentration meditation.

Usually, we find it difficult to control the mind as it seems it is like a balloon blowing in the wind going here, there, and everywhere. But we mustn’t be discouraged. I recently listened to a talk by Timothy Radcliff who last year was made a Cardinal by Pope Francis in which he said that although his vocation called for a great deal of formal prayer he probably only truly concentrated for 3 to 4 minutes in his day.

So, no need for us to be disheartened!

No matter what our age, occupation, or status in life, all of us need a sanctuary from the demands of today’s world, so with that in mind let us place ourselves in the present moment and meditate in a way in which we are accustomed.

Meditation

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For a listing of programs available through the Carmelite Centre go to www.thecarmelitecentremelbourne.org